Catholics from across the United States will gather in the nation’s capital this week for the 53rd annual March for Life, a public witness that continues to unite prayer, testimony, and advocacy in defense of unborn life.
According to EWTN News, the 2026 March for Life will take place on Friday, Jan. 23, with tens of thousands expected to participate. Organizers describe the march as “the largest annual human rights demonstration in the world,” a claim highlighted on the March for Life website and echoed in EWTN’s reporting.
This year’s theme, “Life Is a Gift,” invites participants to reflect on the inherent value of every human person. The theme emphasizes “what lies at the heart of the pro-life movement, an unshakeable conviction that life is very good and worthy of protection, no matter the circumstances,” according to the event’s website, as reported by EWTN News. Organizers further explain that “‘Life Is a Gift’ invites everyone to embrace life as something to be cherished and celebrated from the very beginning.”
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The March for Life began in 1974, one year after Roe v. Wade legalized abortion nationwide. While the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision returned abortion policy to individual states, EWTN News reports that the organization continues its work at both the state and federal levels. “The March for Life is not just a protest … It is a celebration of each and every life, from the moment of conception,” organizers state, adding, “We envision a world where every life is celebrated, valued, and protected.”
Friday’s events will begin on the National Mall with a pre-rally concert, followed by a midday rally and a march to the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C.. EWTN News reports that the concert will feature Sanctus Real, while the rally will include musical performances, testimonies, and addresses from national leaders.
Among those scheduled to speak are Vice President JD Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, according to EWTN News. Jennie Bradley Lichter will also address the crowd at her first march as president of the March for Life organization. EWTN notes that Lichter previously served as deputy general counsel at The Catholic University of America and in the White House during the first Trump administration.
Personal testimonies will also be featured, including accounts from pro-life advocates and students. EWTN News reports that Sarah Hurm will share her experience with chemical abortion reversal, while Elizabeth Pillsbury Oliver, president of Georgetown University Right to Life and a Catholic convert, will offer a student perspective on how faith strengthens pro-life witness.
The March for Life is part of a larger weekend of prayer and formation. According to EWTN News, the National Prayer Vigil for Life will be hosted by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, beginning with an opening Mass on Jan. 22 and concluding with a closing Mass on the morning of Jan. 23.
Additional events include Life Fest, hosted by the Knights of Columbus and the Sisters of Life, as well as the Cardinal O’Connor Conference, the nation’s largest student-run pro-life conference, which will take place on Jan. 24, according to EWTN News.
Together, these gatherings reflect a renewed commitment among Catholics to defend life not only through public witness, but through prayer, sacramental life, and the joyful proclamation that every human life is a gift.
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