Aid to the Church in Need announces Red Week 2026

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) will host Red Week from November 15 to 22, 2026, an international mobilization to highlight the persecution of Christians globally. The initiative involves lighting up 130 cathedrals and approximately 1,000 churches and public buildings in red to symbolize the blood of martyrs.

Key participating locations include the Austrian Federal Presidency, the Christ the King statue in Lisbon, the Basilica of Knock in Ireland, and Santa Maria Cathedral in Sydney. The European Parliament buildings in Strasbourg are scheduled for illumination on November 23. Significant participation is expected in the Netherlands, Germany, and the Philippines, where all 87 dioceses are set to observe Red Wednesday on November 25.

According to ACN’s 2025 report on religious freedom, approximately two-thirds of the global population lives in countries where religious freedom is not fully guaranteed. The report identifies serious violations in at least 62 countries, including instances of physical violence, imprisonment, and the destruction of Christian property.