Race Equality Week 2026

02 Feb 2026

#ChangeNeedsAllOfUs

This week marks Race Equality Week, the annual campaign to reflect on, learn about, and take meaningful action toward racial equality in the workplace and beyond. This year’s theme is #ChangeNeedsAllOfUs, highlight that lasting, positive change requires participation from everyone. 

Why Race Equality Week Matters

Despite progress over time, racial inequality still shows up in many areas of life, including recruitment practices, employment, opportunities for progression, pay, and everyday experiences at work. We’ve seen this in our Your Voice Matters colleague survey results in 2025: while 79% of all respondents answered favourably to the statement ‘Individual differences (e.g. cultures, backgrounds, ideas) are respected at the University’, the figure among Black, Asian and Minoritised Ethnic colleagues was lower, at 72%.

All of us can help build a workplace culture where every colleague feels respected, supported, and empowered. 

Get involved

Book Launch with author Janet Alder: 'Defiance: Racial Injustice, Police Brutality, A Sister's Fight for Truth' 

Janet will be speaking about her book Defiance: Racial Injustice, Police Brutality, A Sister’s Fight for the Truth, a powerful account of her fight for justice following the death of her brother, Christopher Alder in the hands of police. This has been organised by the MIE Anti-Racist Education Network, and School of Environment, Education and Development EDI.

Wednesday 4 February, 1.00pm, Ellen Wilkinson Building

Sign up here

A Night in Sudan

Join Manchester Museum for 'A Night in Sudan' in collaboration with the MIE Anti-Racist Education Network, where you can learn about and taste delicious Sudanese cuisine, have a guided tour of the museum and view stunning Sudanese artefacts and artwork. Dress in your finest cultural attire for a truly spectacular evening! 

Wednesday 11 February, 5.30pm, Manchester Museum

Sign up here

Let’s Talk Race: Realities of race, racism and ethnicity in contemporary Britain

The first of our Let’s Talk Race podcasts, recorded in September 2025, opens discussion around why people find it challenging to talk about race and racism, drawing upon previous events in Manchester and the UK to highlight the importance of having these conversations. Panellists include President Duncan Ivison, Professor Dawn Edge, Dr Sheena Kalayil and Sarah Fox. 

Check it out here 

Further information

• Check out the Race Equality Matters website for more details on how you can get involved and contribute, this week and beyond. 
• Race E quality Charter – find out more about what this means for our University, presented with the Silver award in 2023. 
• Colleague networks
• Multi-faith chaplaincy
• We will be announcing later this week, our new Academic Lead for EDI (race), who will drive forward the work that Professor Dawn Edge has carried out over many years to make our university more inclusive.
• Colleagues can undertake online training ‘Let’s Talk About Race in the Workplace’: Lets talk about race in the workplace - Equality diversity and inclusion