Inter Faith Week 2026 launches with nationwide call to celebrate unity in diversity

Inter Faith Week 2026 has officially launched at the Nishkam Civic Association in Birmingham, with organisers calling on people across the UK to celebrate the country's rich diversity of faiths and beliefs. Running from 8 to 15 November, this year's campaign is themed "Lighting the Way for a Shared Future". The week will showcase the work taking place across Britain to build connections between people from different faith backgrounds and strengthen community relations.

Backed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the programme includes national events such as a youth roundtable at 10 Downing Street and a reception for parliamentarians. Hundreds of community-led activities are also expected to take place across the country.

Carrie Alderton, Chief Executive Officer of the Faith and Belief Forum, said: “Inter faith encounters can be transformational experiences. Having the opportunity to understand how someone else sees the world, what motivates them, what inspires them, it can help us transform our understanding of others and ourselves and make us feel more connected to our local community.

“In a context of polarisation, division and a crisis of belonging, interfaith encounters become a vital civic practice."

Florence Eshalomi MP, Minister for Homelessness, Democracy, Communities and Faith, added: “At a time when global and local challenges affect us all, it is more crucial than ever to applaud the extraordinary inter faith work taking place in communities across the country".

“Attend a shared meal; take part in a multi faith walk; join a debate. By connecting in these ways, we can discover our shared values, build lasting hope, and strengthen our resilience against those who seek to divide us."

One of the week's flagship events will see young adults aged 18 to 35 take part in a special roundtable discussion with the Faith Minister at No. 10 Downing Street. Alongside the national programme, Inter Faith Week has funded 20 grassroots projects across England through its microgrant scheme. The initiative supports organisations using creative approaches to bring people together and encourage conversations across faith and cultural divides.

Among the projects receiving funding this year is House of Rainbow, which is working with Manchester City Council to create a space for LGBTQ+ people of faith to share experiences and build connections. Community radio station Voice FM is producing a series of intimate audio stories featuring people from different faith backgrounds coming together around the dinner table.

Elsewhere, Coastal Wealth is combining environmental action with interfaith dialogue through community litter-picking projects in Yorkshire, while Loughborough Council of Faiths is supporting young people to create performance pieces exploring social cohesion and diversity.

In Leeds, Community & Education Centre is bringing together West Indian/British Caribbean, African, Polish, Bangladeshi and Sikh communities to explore the legacy of the Windrush generation and what it can teach about resilience, belonging and faith.

Carrie Alderton said: "The Inter Faith Week microgrant winners are from all over England, and from multiple different sectors and civic spaces. They show us that interfaith experiences aren't just reserved for our religious leaders. Interfaith experiences can be accessed anywhere, as long as we're brave enough: schools, faith communities, workplaces, universities, radio stations, and comedy clubs."

Organisers expect hundreds of organisations to take part in this year's campaign, with events taking place in towns and cities across Britain. Members of the public are encouraged to find activities in their local area and take part.

The campaign has also received backing from religious leaders across the country.

Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Levy, Co-Leads of The Movement for Progressive Judaism, said:

"British Jews have long played a leading role in building bridges between faith communities in the UK. Progressive Jewish synagogues across the country every year connect with mosques, churches and other faith institutions in their communities. This year's Inter Faith Week theme, 'Lighting the Way for a Shared Future', resonates deeply with the Jewish value of tikkun olam: repairing the world. By coming together and encountering each other in our shared humanity, with authentic respect for an interest in one another's traditions and values, we can build a more cohesive country and a brighter world for all people."