Hiroshima peace commemorations 2026

In late July 2026, Danish sportswear brand Hummel announced peace‑themed uniforms for the Balcom BMW PEACE MATCH, a U‑15 soccer friendly between teams from Hiroshima and Nagasaki scheduled for 7 August. The kits incorporated symbols of the atomic‑bomb sites and the event was positioned as part of the HiFA Peace Memorial series, which also includes a peace‑learning program and additional youth tournaments throughout the year.

On 6 August, the annual Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony took place. During the worldwide broadcast, elementary‑school students Yu Kakizaki and Kazuki Kono delivered a “Commitment to Peace” speech, emphasizing the duty of younger generations to remember the 1945 bombing and promote a nuclear‑free future. Global community groups supported the day with activities such as poster‑making contests featuring themes like paper cranes, a “tree of hope,” and a “globe without weapons.”

Following the match, Hummel launched the ‘2026 Peace Replica Shirt’ in collaboration with Art Rights, the organization managing the copyrights of sculptor Nishio Kitamura. These replica uniforms, designed under the theme ‘Passing Peace,’ feature the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome and the Nagasaki Peace Statue, alongside the numbers ‘86’ and ‘89’ to commemorate August 6 and August 9. Available in orange and blue, a portion of the sales proceeds will be donated to the Hiroshima Football Association to fund peace-related educational activities for future generations.