In 2026, the theme is beautifully simple and deeply powerful: “Our Friendship.”
At a time when the world can often feel divided, the idea of friendship, across borders, backgrounds, beliefs and generations — feels especially meaningful.
Why World Thinking Day Matters
World Thinking Day began in 1926 as a way for Guides and Scouts around the globe to think of one another and give thanks for their shared movement. It falls on the birthday of Olave Baden-Powell, the first Chief Guide, and her husband Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Scouting movement.
Over the past century, it has grown into a truly international celebration involving more than 150 countries. It’s a day to:
Learn about different cultures
Support global projects
Reflect on shared values
Raise funds for guiding initiatives worldwide
But at its heart, it has always been about connection.
2026 Theme: “Our Friendship”
The 2026 theme invites girls and leaders to explore what friendship really means, not just in a personal sense, but as part of a worldwide community.
Friendship in guiding is:
The new Brownie making her first promise
The Ranger supporting a younger member
The international pen pal or jamboree connection
The lifelong friendships that begin around a campfire
It’s also about understanding that girls in the UK share experiences, challenges and hopes with girls in Kenya, Canada, India or Brazil.
“Our Friendship” reminds us that guiding isn’t just local, it’s global.
How Units Can Celebrate
Whether you’re a Rainbow unit in a village hall or a Guide group meeting in a city centre, there are countless ways to bring the theme to life.
1. Friendship Across Borders
Explore guiding traditions from another country. Cook a simple international snack, learn a song from abroad, or exchange letters or videos with another unit.
2. Acts of Kindness
Encourage members to perform small acts of friendship within their community, writing thank-you notes, supporting a local charity, or checking in on someone who may feel lonely.
3. Friendship Crafts
Create friendship bracelets, badges, or a collaborative mural representing what friendship looks like to your group.
4. Story Sharing
Invite members to share stories of how guiding has helped them build confidence, resilience and meaningful relationships.
A Wider Reflection on Friendship
In the UK, where many communities are wonderfully diverse, World Thinking Day offers a gentle reminder that understanding begins with listening.
Friendship doesn’t require identical views or identical lives. It asks for respect, curiosity and kindness.
For young people growing up in a world of social media and digital communication, “Our Friendship” also opens a conversation about:
Supporting one another in safe spaces
Building real-world confidence
Friendship Beyond the Movement
While rooted in guiding, World Thinking Day’s message extends far beyond uniforms and badges. It’s a reminder for all of us, parents, leaders, teachers and communities, that friendship is an active practice.
It requires effort.
It requires empathy.
It requires presence.
In 2026, perhaps the most meaningful way to mark World Thinking Day is simply to reach out, to someone new, or someone we haven’t spoken to in a while.
World Thinking Day 2026’s theme, “Our Friendship,” feels both timely and timeless. It celebrates the small, everyday bonds that quietly shape young lives, and the extraordinary global network that links girls across continents.
In a world that can sometimes feel uncertain, friendship remains a steady, hopeful thread.
And that is certainly something worth thinking about.
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