Alzheimer's Memory Walk 2026 to Draw Thousands Across 40 Locations as Ireland Marks World Alzheimer's Month
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland's flagship annual fundraiser, the Memory Walk, is set to bring thousands of families, carers, and supporters together across more than 40 locations nationwide on Sunday, 20 September, as Ireland marks World Alzheimer's Month with a nationwide show of solidarity for the 64,000 people currently living with dementia on the island.
Background
Dementia is one of the most significant public health challenges facing Ireland in the coming decades. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland estimates that approximately 64,000 people are currently living with some form of dementia in the Republic, a figure that is projected to rise to around 150,000 by 2045 as the population ages. Alzheimer's disease accounts for the majority of cases, but vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia are also significant contributors to the overall burden.
The Memory Walk has been a cornerstone of the Alzheimer Society's fundraising calendar for many years, growing steadily in scale and ambition. The 2026 edition, supported by Aviva as headline sponsor, is the most geographically extensive to date, with events confirmed in every province and in counties ranging from Donegal in the north-west to Wexford in the south-east. The walk was officially launched at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, with local champions and ambassadors coordinating events in their own communities.
The funds raised through the Memory Walk support a range of services that are often the difference between a person with dementia remaining at home and being admitted to residential care. These include day care centres, home support visits, family carer training programmes, Alzheimer Cafés — informal social gatherings that provide respite and connection for people with dementia and their families — and the national helpline, which operates on 1800-341-341 and receives thousands of calls each year from people seeking guidance and support.
Key Developments
Registration for the 2026 Memory Walk is open, with adult participation costing €20 and children aged 14 and under able to join for €5. The walks vary in length from 1.5 kilometres to 5 kilometres, making them accessible to participants of all ages and fitness levels. Most events are scheduled to begin at 11am, though start times vary by location.
Dublin events will take place at Malahide Castle, Cabinteely Park, Deer Park in Mount Merrion, and Balbriggan FC. In Cork, walks are planned at Blackrock Castle, Mallow Castle, Macroom Town Park, Bantry Bay, Blarney, and Beara. Galway participants will gather at Salthill Promenade, while Kerry walkers will take to the paths of Killarney National Park. Events are also confirmed in Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Donegal, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, and Wicklow.
The Alzheimer Society has emphasised that the walk is as much about raising awareness as it is about fundraising. September is World Alzheimer's Month, an international campaign that seeks to challenge the stigma and misinformation that still surrounds dementia in many communities. In Ireland, surveys consistently show that a significant proportion of people with dementia delay seeking a diagnosis due to fear of the label, and the Memory Walk is part of a broader effort to normalise conversations about the condition.
Why It Matters
Ireland's dementia challenge is acute by European standards. The country has one of the fastest-ageing populations in the EU, and the health and social care system has historically been slow to develop the specialist dementia services that other countries take for granted. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland fills a significant gap in provision, delivering services that the HSE does not currently fund at the required scale. Without the income generated by events like the Memory Walk, many of those services would simply not exist. The 2026 walk comes at a particularly pressured moment for the organisation: the HSE's projected deficit of €700 million has led to warnings of cuts to community health services, and the Alzheimer Society has been vocal in its concern that dementia supports could be among those affected. The public response to the Memory Walk is therefore not merely a gesture of solidarity but a practical act of sustaining services that tens of thousands of families depend upon.
Local Impact
In communities across Ireland, the Memory Walk has become a focal point for local solidarity around dementia. In Galway, the Salthill Promenade walk regularly draws several hundred participants, many of them families who have personal experience of the condition. In rural counties like Leitrim and Roscommon, where specialist dementia services are thin on the ground and distances to day care centres can be considerable, the funds raised locally are particularly significant. The Alzheimer Society's home support service, which sends trained workers to assist people with dementia in their own homes, is especially valued in rural areas where residential care options are limited. Participants are encouraged to register through the Alzheimer Society's website and to share their involvement on social media using the campaign hashtag to amplify the reach of the event.
What's Next
The Memory Walk on 20 September will be followed by a series of Alzheimer Café events throughout October, which is also Dementia Action Week in Ireland. The Alzheimer Society is also preparing its pre-budget submission for Budget 2027, calling for a significant increase in HSE funding for dementia services and the establishment of a dedicated national dementia office within the Department of Health. A response from the government is expected in the weeks following the October budget announcement.
