World MS Day 2026: how 30 May was marked across Serbia and what MS Platforma did

May 31, 2026

A round-up of World MS Day 2026 in Serbia — from "Belgrade in Orange" and MS Platforma Serbia's activities, to Novi Sad, Niš, Smederevo and Kragujevac, and the closing message of the global "My MS Diagnosis" campaign.

May 2026 — World MS Day

World MS Day is marked on 30 May every year and brings together more than 100 countries around a shared goal — raising awareness about life with multiple sclerosis. 2026 is the final year of the three-year global "My MS Diagnosis" campaign led by the MS International Federation (MSIF), focused on the challenges of an early and accurate diagnosis (MSIF, 2024–2026). Yesterday, on Friday 30 May 2026, the day was also marked across Serbia — through lighting actions, public talks, street stands and media campaigns. This article summarises what happened and how MS Platforma Serbia marked the date.

"Belgrade in Orange" — five years in a row

The "Belgrade in Orange" initiative, launched by MS Platforma Serbia back in 2018, this year marked its fifth consecutive year of continuous delivery since 2021. On the evening of 30 May the following were bathed in orange light: the Belgrade City Assembly, the Old Palace, the Palace of Serbia and the Beograđanka building, joined by several private office buildings in the city centre. Orange is the official colour of World MS Day and a symbol of visibility — both of the disease itself and of the more than 9,000 people living with MS in Serbia.

What MS Platforma Serbia did

On 30 May, MS Platforma Serbia ran several parallel activities:

- An information stand in central Belgrade with leaflets on early MS symptoms, orange ribbons, and conversations with volunteers and patients.

- A public talk "My MS Diagnosis" at the Belgrade Youth Centre, with patient testimonies about how long their diagnostic journey took, and an introductory talk by a neurologist on the importance of starting DMT therapy early.

- A media appeal — press releases for RTS, N1, Tanjug and several print outlets, calling on the public to recognise the invisible symptoms of MS (fatigue, cognitive issues, sensory changes) and urging institutions to shorten waiting lists for high-efficacy medicines.

- An online campaign across the Platform's social channels, with video testimonials and the hashtags #MyMSDiagnosis and #BelgradeInOrange.

More on the organisation's history and mission: [MS Platforma Serbia — partners and regional branches](/en/blog/svetski-dan-multiple-skleroze-30-maj-ms-platforma-srbije).

Commemorations in other Serbian cities

Novi Sad. The MS Society of Vojvodina organised a public gathering at Liberty Square, with orange balloons and information leaflets. In the evening, the Banovina building (Vojvodina Assembly) was lit in orange.

Niš. The local MS patients' association marked the day with a short walk through the Niš Fortress and a discussion at the City Hall about access to rehabilitation in Banja Koviljača, Igalo and Banja Junaković.

Smederevo. MS Platforma Smederevo, following the tradition since 2019, had a gathering accompanied by pupils from the musical school from Smederevo.

Kragujevac. The local MS society organised a discussion with neurologists from the Kragujevac Clinical Centre on the practical aspects of starting and switching DMT therapy.

Banja Luka and Sarajevo (region). Regional partners of MS Platforma — associations from Republika Srpska and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina — joined the "My MS Diagnosis" campaign with a joint statement.

The "My MS Diagnosis" message in 2026

MSIF's global campaign centres on three key messages in its closing year:

1) MS diagnosis is often delayed for years. In Serbia the average time from first symptoms to a confirmed diagnosis is still measured in months, and often more than a year. Early diagnosis changes the course of the disease.

2) Early diagnosis opens the door to early therapy. Today's guidelines (ECTRIMS/EAN 2024) clearly recommend early initiation of high-efficacy DMTs for most newly diagnosed patients with active RRMS. See: [DMTs for MS in 2026](/en/blog/dmt-lekovi-multipla-skleroza-2026), [MS medicines in Serbia and RFZO prescription](/en/blog/lekovi-za-ms-srbija-rfzo-recept).

3) Patient voices must be heard. Without systematic involvement of patient organisations in shaping health policy — from the medicines list to access to rehabilitation — there is no progress. MS Platforma Serbia has been doing exactly this for years.

What has changed between 2018 and 2026

In summary, these are the most important changes that have shaped the past eight years of World MS Day in Serbia:

- The number of patients on DMT therapy covered by RFZO has grown from a few thousand to around 6,000 (MS Society of Serbia, 2025).

- The list of available medicines has been expanded with newer molecules (ocrelizumab, ofatumumab, cladribine, siponimod, ozanimod), although first-line access to high-efficacy DMTs still involves administrative steps.

- MS Platforma Serbia has become a member of EMSP (European MS Platform) and actively participates in regional initiatives.

- The "Belgrade in Orange" initiative has grown into a national practice, with more cities joining each year.

- Digital patient communities (online groups, podcasts, blogs like this one) have helped spread reliable information and reduce isolation.

How to get involved

If you want to support the community beyond 30 May:

Follow and share content from MS Platforma Serbia and regional associations on social media. Donate to local associations or buy an orange ribbon at their next event. Volunteer at the next activity — information stands, patient transport, translations, IT support — there is always a need for help. Talk about MS with people around you. Visibility starts with a conversation.

World MS Day 2026 in Serbia was the best-organised yet — with five cities actively involved, sustained media attention and strong messaging on early diagnosis. The "My MS Diagnosis" campaign ends this year, but the work goes on: MS Platforma Serbia is already announcing a regional conference in autumn 2026 and the continued orange lighting of city buildings next May. Thank you to everyone who was part of yesterday — patients, families, doctors, volunteers and the institutions that joined in. More: [MS Platforma history and 2018–2026 timeline](/en/blog/svetski-dan-multiple-skleroze-30-maj-ms-platforma-srbije), [MS clinics in Serbia](/en/blog/klinike-multipla-skleroza-srbija-drzavne-privatne-rehabilitacija), [patient rights in Serbia](/en/blog/prava-pacijenata-ms-srbija-rfzo).

Sources

MS International Federation — World MS Day & "My MS Diagnosis" campaign 2024–2026: https://worldmsday.org/. European MS Platform (EMSP): https://emsp.org/. MS Platforma Serbia — official posts and statements from 30 May 2026. MS Society of Serbia — annual report 2025. RTS, N1, Tanjug — media reports on World MS Day in Serbia. Thompson AJ, et al. "Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: 2017 revisions of the McDonald criteria." Lancet Neurol. 2018: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29275977/. This article is informational and reflects publicly available information about the commemorations on 30 May 2026; it does not replace medical advice from your neurologist.