Cancer Council calls on Australians to help fund the next 40 years of breakthroughs
One of Australia's most iconic and enduring fundraising campaigns, Daffodil Day, returns on Thursday 20 August 2026, marking 40 years of Australians coming together to support life-saving cancer research and stand alongside those affected by cancer.
Since the first Daffodil Day in 1986, generations of Australians have worn yellow, sold daffodils, donated, volunteered and fundraised, helping transform cancer outcomes across the country. Four decades later, the campaign remains a powerful symbol of hope, resilience and progress.
Today, approximately one in two Australians will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85. Despite remarkable advances in prevention, early detection and treatment, cancer continues to impact almost every Australian family.
To mark the 40th anniversary, Cancer Council invites Australians to celebrate the progress made over the past four decades while helping fund the discoveries that will shape the next 40 years. Whether through hosting a fundraising event, taking part in the Daffodil Day Dip, dressing in yellow, purchasing a bouquet of daffodils, or making a donation, every contribution helps fund world-class cancer research, prevention programs and support services.
The impact of community support since Daffodil Day began has been extraordinary. In 1986, the five-year cancer survival rate was approximately 46 per cent. Today, that figure has risen to 72 percent, meaning nearly three out of four Australians diagnosed with cancer will survive at least five years after diagnosis.
Cancer Council has been at the forefront of that progress, investing more than $47.3 million in cancer research in recent years and funding more than 650 researchers annually. Thanks to sustained investment in research, prevention and treatment, more than 61,000 Australian lives have been saved over the past two decades alone.
“As the iconic Daffodil Day celebrates its 40th anniversary, we must continue investing in pioneering research and keep building on the four decades of hard work that has helped save so many lives and reduced the impact of cancer on our community,” Cancer Council Head of Fundraising, Lyrian Fleming-Parsley, said.
“From Australian researchers, supported by Cancer Council, showing that a simple, less invasive test could detect bowel cancer early to the latest AI-powered cancer decision support, the generous support of the Australian public has helped achieve so much against cancer – but there’s still a long way to go.”
“Cancer Council’s Daffodil Day brings Australians together for a special cause. Please dig deep and help us reach this year’s target of $5.5 million because every dollar helps save lives.”
Among the many ways Australians can getinvolved, the Daffodil Day Dip continues to grow as a powerful demonstration of solidarity and hope. Participants take to icy waters in honour of the mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children, friends and loved ones affected by cancer, while raising vital funds for future breakthroughs.
As Daffodil Day celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2026, Cancer Council is reflecting on a legacy built by communities across the country. More than a fundraising campaign, Daffodil Day has become a national movement that has united millions of Australians around a shared goal: a future where fewer lives are impacted by cancer.
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