Trans+ History Week has returned for 2026 with a programme of national events, exhibitions and commissioned storytelling highlighting the long and often overlooked history of trans and gender‑diverse communities.
The awareness week runs from 4 - 10 May, anchored by Trans+ History Day on 6 May, which marks the anniversary of the 1933 Nazi raid on the Institute for Sexual Science in Berlin, the world’s first trans clinic.
The initiative, which is trans‑led and organised by Trans+ History Week CIC, aims to educate the public about the historic presence and contributions of trans, non‑binary, intersex and gender‑diverse people, while also investing in present‑day trans creatives. The organisation commissions new historical work and hosts community events intended to reflect on the past while shaping future narratives.
This year’s programme includes panel discussions, live podcast recordings, comedy showcases and social events across London, alongside new historical reporting produced in partnership with queer media platform QueerAF.
Running alongside the events is a national awareness campaign titled Reflections, featuring public installations and outdoor displays across the UK, including at Outernet London. The campaign uses water‑based imagery and soundscapes as a metaphor for resilience, continuity and reflection, emphasising that trans people “have always been here, and always will be”.
Speaking about the importance of the project, Marty Davies (she/they), Founder and Director, Trans+ History Week said:“Trans+ history runs deep, and it runs through everything. In calm waters and rough tides, Trans+ communities have always found a way — and we will keep finding it: fighting for our dignity, our rights, our community, and our right to simply exist.”
“Trans+ History Week is about telling that story, on our own terms – that matters more now than ever. In the face of erasure, Trans+ people have had to discover and claim our own history, making ourselves visible and refusing to disappear.
"I’ve been heartened to see tremendous allyship grow across sectors in response, as more and more people recognise the injustice our community is facing for what it is.”
First launched in 2024, Trans+ History Week has raised more than £100,000 to support trans‑led work and has invested in more than 100 trans creatives, including writers, illustrators, performers and journalists.
Further events and resources will continue throughout the week, with organisers encouraging members of the public to engage by learning about trans history and amplifying trans voices through conversation and cultural participation.
More info HERE
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