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, will return 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 is inviting 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 will help 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 per cent, 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 get involved, 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 celebrates its 40th anniversary, 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.
More than 63,000 fundraisers and donors supported Daffodil Day in 2025, demonstrating the enduring generosity of Australians and the ongoing importance of investing in cancer research and support services.
This August, Australians are encouraged to honour the legacy of those who have contributed to Daffodil Day over the past four decades, celebrate the progress made possible through research, and help fund the next generation of discoveries that will save lives for years to come.
Ways to get involved in Daffodil Day 2026:
- Donate
- Take part in the Daffodil Day Dip
- Volunteer
- Host a fundraising event
- Buy a bouquet of daffodils
Every dollar raised will help Cancer Council continue investing in world-class cancer research and support the vision of a future free from cancer.
To donate, register a fundraiser, sign up for the Daffodil Day Dip, sign up to volunteer, or find your nearest Daffodil Day stall, visit daffodilday.com.au.
Cancer Council research milestones
1980s: Helped pioneer Australia’s bowel cancer screening program, improving early detection and saving lives.
1990: Launched the landmark Health2020 study, revealing how diet, exercise and lifestyle influence cancer risk.
2000s: Supported research that led to the world-first HPV vaccine, helping prevent cervical cancer globally.
2006: Cancer Council research underpinned Australia’s first national SunSmart campaign.
2009: Cancer Council-funded research transformed understanding of ovarian cancer treatment, paving the way for more personalised therapies.
2010s: Identified genetic variants linked to inherited breast cancer risk, improving prevention and early detection.
2011: Led advocacy for Australia’s world-leading plain tobacco packaging laws.
2015: Funded the development of a breakthrough tool to detect residual leukaemia cells in children.
2017: Research underpinned Australia’s transition to five-yearly HPV cervical screening.
2020s: Funding innovative research including home blood tests to monitor cancer recurrence and new immunotherapies for childhood cancers.
2021: Launched The Daffodil Centre, a world-leading cancer control and policy research partnership.
2022–2025: Research informed national prostate cancer early detection guidelines, breast density screening policy, vaping reforms and AI-powered cancer decision support.
2025: Established the Australian Research Centre for Cancer Survivorship through a landmark partnership with UNSW to improve long-term outcomes for people affected by cancer.
Australian cancer facts and figures
- Almost one in two Australians will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 85
- It’s estimated that over 170,000 Australians were diagnosed with cancer last year – that’s more than 466 per day
- It’s estimated that almost 53,500 Australians died from cancer in 2025
- It’s estimated that close to one million of Australia’s population will have been diagnosed with cancer in the last 10 years
- Thanks to advances in cancer research, prevention, and early detection, five-year cancer survival rates have risen to 72% – an increase of more than 25% since the 1980s
- The most common cancers in Australia are prostate, breast, melanoma, bowel, and lung cancers
- Blood cancers account for 12% of cancers diagnosed. Blood cancers are particularly common in people under the age of 19, accounting for an estimated 40% of all cancer cases, but with a high survival rate over 90%.
- Cancer incidence rates for people in their 30s and 40s are increasing – particularly across thyroid, breast, prostate, bowel and kidney cancers
- Cancer diagnoses are expected to surpass 200,000 by 2034 due to an increase in population size and an aging population
Funds raised from Daffodil Day can go a long way
- $30 Can help equip cancer researchers with essential chemicals and lab equipment to conduct life-saving research.
- $50 Can help pay for the collection and processing of a blood sample to enable us to discover more about how cancer develops.
- $100 Can help fund up to two hours of a research assistant’s time.
- $200 Helps fund DNA sequencing in a cancer gene, giving us the tools to improve cancer treatments and save lives.
- $200 Can help pay for the collection and ongoing storage of a tumour sample used in studies to improve the way we prevent and detect cancers.
- $250 Provides up to one week of scholarship funding for a PhD research student, enabling them to provide critical support to a research team.
- $250 Can pay for a lab assistant for a day to support a researcher with vital laboratory testing.
- $250 Helps fund a clinical trial of new immunotherapies for patients with chemo-resistant cancers.
- $500 Can support one undergraduate student to work in a lab on a cancer research project for one week, inspiring the next generation of cancer researchers.
- $1,000 Pays for analysis of two gene samples.
- $5,000 Can help purchase materials for a lab-based cancer project for one year.
