Purple Day is dedicated to epilepsy, one of the most common neurological diseases that affects around 50 million people of all ages worldwide. Unfortunately, patients constantly encounter social stigma, and ¾ of people with epilepsy living in low-income countries do not get the treatment they need. However, we have a global movement raising awareness of this condition and bringing vital support to patients. So, we had to ask: What is the most important information you need to know about this year’s Purple Day?

👉 Official Name: Purple Day
💚 Cause: Raise awareness of epilepsy and its impact on patients and society
📅 Next Date: March 26, 2026
🌐 Official Website: https://purpleday.org
🐦 Hashtag: #PurpleDay, #EpilepsyAwarenessDay

Keep reading to find out all the important information about Purple Day at a glance: its big picture, why it’s important, and how you can get involved. We’ll then share its brief history, three interesting facts about it, its future dates, and how you’ll never miss any important awareness event again.

The Most Important Information About Purple Day at a Glance

1️⃣ The big picture: Purple Day is a grassroots effort to increase international awareness about the prevalence of epilepsy and its symptoms while innovating ways for communities to support patients. Each year, people in countries around the world are invited to wear purple and host public awareness events. The understanding, insight, and compassion this day brings is vital, as in many parts of the world, people with epilepsy and their families still suffer from stigma and discrimination.

2️⃣ Why it is important: Epilepsy is not a rare disorder, as 1 in 26 people will develop it in their lifetime. Moreover, the cause is unknown in about 50% of cases, so the seizures, connected symptoms, and necessary treatments can differ from person to person, making medical care for this condition a must. Unfortunately, nearly 80% of epilepsy patients live in developing countries and don’t receive proper treatment – even though up to 70% of people with epilepsy could live seizure-free if properly diagnosed and treated. What’s more, the risk of premature death in epilepsy patients is three times higher than for the general population.

3️⃣ How you can get involved: On Purple Day, show your support by wearing purple, organizing an awareness event, or involving your community in dedicated activities:

1. Wear purple: The best way to celebrate this event is to wear something in the color purple, like a shirt, dress, jacket, or tie. Talk to your friends to wear this color together, snap a picture of your group, and share it on social media with the hashtags #PurpleDay and #EpilepsyAwarenessDay. Make sure to add valuable facts about epilepsy to help raise awareness. 
2. Join or create an event: You can participate in an official event for the celebration or use their ideas to get inspired and host an event in your community to stand up for people living with epilepsy. 
3. Involve others: Offer to set up a presentation in your workplace or school to educate about epilepsy. You can also hold a nice fundraiser for an epilepsy organization or volunteer with them. In addition, you can ask local politicians to wear purple ribbons on March 26. 

Below are our favorite charities that are relevant for Purple Day:

• Best Charities That Combat Neurological Diseases
• Best Charities That Combat Brain Injuries

A Brief History of Purple Day

When was this event established: Cassidy Megan, a young girl from Canada, created the idea of Purple Day in 2008, motivated by her own struggles with epilepsy. Her goal was to get people to talk about epilepsy to dispel myths and inform those with seizures that they are not alone. She joined forces with the Epilepsy Association of The Maritimes and The Anita Kaufmann Foundation to launch Purple Day internationally and reach even more patients and at-risk communities.

How has it developed since then: Today, Purple Day involves numerous ambassadors, organizations, businesses, and celebrities in over 100 countries to help spread the word about the symptoms of epilepsy. In addition, they can share their own stories as patients to help people understand their struggles and take action in their support. For example, in 2023, people in more than 85 countries on all continents participated in this event. Moreover, Canada is the only country in the world that officially recognizes Purple Day through the Purple Day Act implemented in 2012.

3 Interesting Facts About Purple Day

1. Why Purple?: Cassidy Megan chose this name for the event because purple is the official color for epilepsy and lavender is recognized as the international flower of epilepsy. The flower is said to symbolize isolation and loneliness, often associated with this condition. Interestingly, pure, essential lavender oil has a relaxing effect on the brain and helps against seizures, having strong anticonvulsant and antiepileptic effects.
2. More Than a Seizure: One seizure does not signify epilepsy – up to 10% of people worldwide have one seizure during their lifetime. Epilepsy is defined as having two or more unprovoked seizures at least 24 hours apart. It is also one of the world’s oldest defined conditions, with written records dating back to 4000 BC. Unfortunately, fear and social stigma have always surrounded epilepsy and the concept of seizure.
3. Stigmatizing Laws: In the United States, people with epilepsy were forbidden to marry in 17 states until 1956. During this year, 18 US states proposed the sterilization, on eugenic grounds, of people with epilepsy. Moreover, in the UK, a law prohibiting epilepsy patients from marrying was repealed only in 1970. And even today, many countries still regard epilepsy as a reason for annulling marriages or prohibiting them. 

Upcoming Dates of Purple Day

Purple Day is observed every year on March 26. 

Never Miss an Awareness Event Again

Sources

• United Health Organization: Epilepsy
• Science Direct: Epilepsy stigma: Moving from a global problem to global solutions
• Purple Day: home page
• Epilepsy Foundation: Addressing the Stigma Surrounding Epilepsy
• National Library of Medicine: Estimating risk for developing epilepsy
• Mayo Clinic: Epilepsy – symptoms and causes
• Epilepsy Foundation: Facts & Statistics About Epilepsy
• Purple Day: join the campaign
• Purple Day: quick facts
• Purple Day: events
• Purple Day: event ideas
• Purple Day: host an event
• Slideshare: epilepsy presentation
• UNICEF Australia: The 27 best ideas for your next fundraiser
• Purple Day: about
• Wikipedia: Purple Day
• Epilepsy Association of The Maritimes: home page
• The Anita Kaufmann Foundation: home page
• Purple Day: purple day ambassadors
• Purple Day: partners and organizations
• Purple Day: participants
• Instagram: Purple Day Everyday Post
• Epilepsy Society: 12 things you didn’t know about epilepsy
• National Library of Medicine: Aromatherapy for the brain: Lavender’s healing effect on epilepsy
• National Library of Medicine: The History of Epilepsy: From Ancient Mystery to Modern Misconception
• Online Library Wiley: The History and Stigma of Epilepsy
• Africa Health Organization: Epilepsy Fact Sheet