World AS Day 2026: Not Only Back Pain

 

ASIF is calling on our members, partners, industry collaborators and the entire global axSpA community to come together, share their voices, and help raise awareness of the full realities of this misunderstood disease. 

Campaign Launch Webinars – Thank You for Joining Us 

Thank you to everyone who attended the World AS Day 2026 campaign launch webinars in February. It was heartening to see so many familiar faces and to meet new friends dedicated to improving the lives of people with axSpA. 

If you were unable to attend live—or if you’d like to share the discussion with colleagues or volunteers—the full recording is now available.

 

You will find: 

• Social media visuals 
• A ready to use social media schedule with template post content 
• Email and website banners 
• Logos 
• A guide to sharing your story 
• A guide to using AI to boost your campaign 

These materials make participation easy for organisations of all sizes—from small volunteer-led groups to large national associations. We encourage you to explore the toolkit and begin planning your World AS Day activities today. 

 

Videos & Translations

During the webinar, we unveiled the first video in a brand-new series created for this year’s campaign. More videos will be released soon, and we are delighted to see early interest in translations. The videos have been created to be used around the world. Please contact us to request translations (subtitles), to assist you in using the videos with your local community.

 

Share Your Events

We want to highlight the incredible work taking place across the globe. On the World AS Day webpage, you will find a simple form you can use to tell us about your events. 

Whether you’re organising a seminar, a community walk, a support group meeting, or an information day, we can publicise it and showcase the collective strength of the worldwide axSpA community.

 

Reflecting Lived Reality

The Not Only Back Pain theme was developed to help the world understand the full burden of axSpA. Too often, people living with the condition encounter scepticism or dismissal because others assume their symptoms are limited to ordinary back discomfort. 

But as our community knows, axSpA can influence every aspect of life. Many people live with: 

• Psoriasis, causing painful or distressing skin changes 
• Uveitis, which leads to eye pain and even vision loss 
• IBD, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis 
• Fatigue, which can be as disabling as physical pain 
• Anxiety and depression, often linked to the challenges of living with a chronic disease 

This year’s campaign provides a shared global platform to help the public, friends, employers, policymakers and healthcare providers understand that axSpA is so much more than just back pain. 

 

Together, We Can Change Perceptions of axSpA 

Thank you for being part of World AS Day 2026 and for helping to elevate the voices of people living with axSpA everywhere. Let’s make this the most powerful World AS Day yet!

 

We’re Here to Support You 

If you have questions or would like help planning your participation, contact Jo de Bry.

 

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