Organization: European Federation of Hard of Hearing People (EFHOH)
Title: World Hearing Day 2026: “Hear the Future” Event at the European Parliament and Hearing Access Week Campaign “Right to Connect”
Al title (for format and translation – not permanent:
World Hearing Day 2026: “Hear the Future” event at the European Parliament and Hearing Access Week campaign “Right to Connect”
Description:
To mark World Hearing Day 2026, a high-level event entitled “Hear the Future: Breaking Barriers for an EU Strategy on Hearing Loss” will take place on 4 March 2026 at the European Parliament in Brussels, hosted by Member of the European Parliament Katrin Langensiepen and co-organised by the European Federation of Hard of Hearing People (EFHOH) and the European Association of Hearing Aid Professionals (AEA).
The event will bring together lived experience, professional expertise, and policy perspectives to emphasise the urgent need for a structured European Union Strategy on Hearing Loss. The discussion will address early detection, accessibility, inclusion, and equal opportunities. Contributions from advocates, professionals, and international experts will explore educational inclusion, transition into employment, workplace accommodations, hearing care, and empowerment. Reference will also be made to the global strategy of the World Health Organization, underlining the importance of integrating hearing health within broader public health, disability, and social inclusion frameworks.
Audiometry tests will be offered prior to the policy discussion to reinforce the importance of awareness and early identification. Accessibility measures for the event include real-time human captioning and an audio induction loop to ensure inclusive participation.
Building on World Hearing Day, EFHOH will continue its advocacy through Hearing Access Week 2026, taking place from 9 to 15 March 2026 under the theme “Right to Connect.” Held annually during the second week of March, Hearing Access Week is a European awareness initiative aimed at raising awareness and promoting inclusion for people with hearing loss.
The 2026 campaign will mobilise organisations, volunteers, and advocates across Europe through coordinated communication actions. A social media toolkit with key messages, visual materials, and campaign hashtags will support outreach efforts. Supporters will be invited to share testimonials and use personalised campaign visuals to increase visibility and amplify the message of accessible communication environments.
Hearing access refers to the availability of services, technologies, and accommodations that enable hard of hearing and deafened people to access information, communicate effectively, and participate fully in society. Through high-level policy dialogue on 4 March and coordinated awareness-raising from 9 to 15 March 2026, EFHOH aims to strengthen recognition of hearing loss as a public health, social inclusion, and fundamental rights issue, and to promote structured, sustainable action at European and national levels.
Primary site: EUR – Belgium
Region: EUR
General Photos
“Hear the Future”: Event at the European Parliament
EFHOH Hearing Access Week 2026
Types of Engagement:
Live event: Yes
Screening: Yes
Traditional media:
Social media: Yes
Special needs populations:
Met with individual policymaker:
Participation of policy makers: Yes
Participation of influencers: Yes
WHO technical tool used: Yes
WHO educational and social media used: Yes