The world is changing. The way we see skin is changing. Now it’s time for the world’s most visited homepage to reflect that.
For years, the vitiligo community has been working toward one simple, powerful symbol: a Google Doodle for World Vitiligo Day on June 25. Our latest 2024 push proved something important — when we show up together, people listen. Now we’re taking the next step, with WVD 2026 returning to Chandigarh, India.
This isn’t “just a Doodle request.” It’s a cultural opportunity.
From stigma to strength: a movement that keeps growing
World Vitiligo Day began as a grassroots initiative in 2011. It has grown into a global movement that unites patients, families, clinicians, researchers, artists, and advocates across dozens of countries — with a rotating headquarters that brings the spotlight to new regions each year.
In 2026, that spotlight lands in India — home to one of the largest vitiligo populations in the world — and returns to Chandigarh, a place deeply tied to the movement’s story.
Why a Google Doodle? Why now?
A Google Doodle is not decoration. It’s recognition. It tells millions of people, in one glance: you are seen.
Definitions
Google Doodle: a special edition of the Google homepage logo used to highlight events, achievements, and cultural moments.
It matters because:
- The scale: an estimated 100 million people live with vitiligo worldwide (estimates vary by methodology and region).
- The impact: India has one of the largest vitiligo populations globally, and the social burden can be heavy. Visibility helps replace myths with understanding.
- The aesthetic: Chandigarh is a city built on design, clarity, and modern identity — an unusually good match for a theme like “From Stigma to Strength.”
Our 2015–2024 legacy: the push continues
We’ve pushed for a Google Doodle before — in 2015, again in 2016 and 2024 — with limited traction. But that was a different era. Since then, the movement has grown up: more countries onboard, more clinical progress, more public visibility, and a much stronger global signal around June 25.
WVD 2026 is another chance to build on that momentum — with a stronger story, a bigger stage, and a homecoming that carries meaning.
How you can help make it happen
Google listens to patterns. We help create them.
- Send a Doodle proposal to Google:
Email: doodleproposals@google.com
Subject line idea: Google Doodle proposal — World Vitiligo Day (June 25, 2026) - Post your vision:
What should a vitiligo Doodle look like? Share your idea and tag Google. Use #WVD2026 and #VitiligoDoodle.
- Tell your story:
One short post is enough. The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is presence.
India is ready. The community is ready. Chandigarh is ready.
Google — the canvas is yours!
Yan Valle,
Professor h.c., CEO VRF
Suggested social blurb
Should World Vitiligo Day get a Google Doodle? With WVD 2026 returning to Chandigarh, India, we’re making the strongest case yet. Read, share, and help us put vitiligo on the world’s biggest homepage. ⚡️🌍 #WVD2026 #VitiligoDoodle #FromStigmaToStrength
Suggested letter
This sample letter is designed to be professional, emotionally resonant, and clear about the “why” and “when.” It’s written to be sent to doodleproposals@google.com.
Subject: Google Doodle Proposal — World Vitiligo Day (June 25, 2026)
To the Google Doodle Team,
I am writing to propose a Google Doodle for June 25, 2026, in honor of World Vitiligo Day (WVD).
Since its inception in 2011, World Vitiligo Day has grown from a grassroots effort into a global phenomenon. It is a day dedicated to the estimated 100 million people worldwide living with vitiligo — a skin condition that is often misunderstood, but which carries a story of incredible resilience, diversity, and “Stigma to Strength.”
Why June 25, 2026, is the perfect moment:
- A decade of momentum: after initial outreach to Google in 2015, 2016, and then in 2024, our movement has reached a historic tipping point, now supported by legislative recognition in numerous regions.
- The Chandigarh connection: in 2026, the Global Headquarters for WVD returns to Chandigarh, India. This “City Beautiful” was designed by Le Corbusier on principles of clarity and modernism — making it a strong aesthetic and symbolic match for a Google Doodle.
- Massive global reach: in 2025, the WVD campaign generated over 60 million views on social media in a single day, demonstrating a deep, worldwide appetite for visibility and education.
- Universal message: a Doodle would not only celebrate those with vitiligo but also promote the universal values of inclusion, self-acceptance, and the beauty of human difference.
We envision a Doodle that incorporates the iconic architecture of Chandigarh with the vibrant, dappled beauty of vitiligo skin patterns — a celebration of a “Canvas for 100 Million.”
Thank you for your time and for considering this opportunity to put vitiligo on the world’s biggest stage.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Location/Organization, if applicable]
[Link to your social media or personal story]
How to use this
- Copy & paste: use the text above as your base.
- Personalize it: add one sentence about why this matters to you personally.
- Attach visuals: include a moodboard or a sketch so the Doodle team instantly “gets the vibe.”
