A global celiac disease awareness campaign.
Since 2020, celiac disease organizations around the world have come together to shine a light on the seriousness of this disease. This year, as in years past, we’re lighting up landmarks in green to raise awareness of celiac disease, gluten-free food insecurity, the need for more research and so much more!
May is Celiac/Coeliac Awareness Month, May 8-14 is Coeliac Awareness Week in the UK, and May 16 is internationally recognized as Celiac Awareness Day.
What is celiac disease?
Celiac disease (sometimes called celiac sprue, non-tropical sprue, or gluten-sensitive enteropathy) is a serious, autoimmune condition triggered by consuming a protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye. When a person with celiac disease eats gluten, the immune system begins to attack the villi of the intestines. Damaged villi (see photo at left) make it nearly impossible for the body to absorb nutrients, which can lead to malnourishment and a host of other issues including osteoporosis, infertility and the onset of other autoimmune diseases.
Landmarks we’re lighting up for celiac disease in 2026
| City | Landmark | Date | Courtesy of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landmarks coming soon! | May 16 |
| City | Landmark | Date | Courtesy of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airdire, AB | Airdire City Hall | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Calgary, AB | Calgary Tower | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Calgary, AB | Telus Spark | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| AB | Strathcona County | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| AB | City of St. Albert | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Edmonton, AB | High Level Bridge | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Lethbridge, AB | Lethbridge City Hall | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Medicine Hat, AB | Saamis TeePee | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Vancouver, BC | Science World | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Vancouver, BC | Vancouver Convention Centre | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| BC | YVR Airport Control Tower | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Dieppe, NB | Dieppe City Hall | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Moncton, NB | Moncton City Hall | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Riverview, NB | Town of Riverview Sign | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Niagara Falls, ON | Niagara Falls | May 16, 10:15 pm to 10:30 pm | Beyond Celiac |
| Nicolet, QC | École nationale de police du Québec | May 16 | Cœliaque Québec |
| Québec City, QC | 410 Charest Street East | May 16 | Cœliaque Québec |
| Québec City, QC | 511 St Joseph Street East | May 16 | Cœliaque Québec |
| Québec City, QC | Complexe Jules-Dallaire | May 16 | Cœliaque Québec |
| Charlottetown, PEI | Charlottetown City Hall | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Summerside, PEI | Summerside City Hall | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| City | Landmark | Date | Courtesy of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landmarks coming soon! | May 16 |
| City | Landmark | Date | Courtesy of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alessandria | Arco di trionfo | May 16 | AIC Piemonte |
| Asti | Ospedale Cardinal Massaia | May 16 | AIC Piemonte |
| Avezzano | Palazzo Municipale di Città | May 16 | AIC Abruzzo |
| Belluno | Fontana Piazza dei Martiri | May 15-17 | AIC Veneto |
| Bra | Palazzo Garrone | May 16 | AIC Piemonte |
| Caldogno | Villa Caldogno | May 16 | AIC Veneto |
| Caltanissetta | Fontana del Tritone | May 17 | AIC Sicilia |
| Caltanissetta | Palazzo Comunale | May 9-17 | AIC Sicilia |
| Campobasso | Municipio | May 16 | AIC Molise |
| Campofilone | Palazzo Comunale | May 16 | AIC Marche |
| Castelnuovo del Garda | Facciata del Municipio | May 16 | AIC Veneto |
| Castelnuovo Rangone | Torrione (Torre civica) | May 16 | AIC Emilia Romagna |
| Catanzaro | Il Cavatore | May 16 | AIC Calabria |
| Cesena | Fontana Masini e Orologio del Comune | May 16 | AIC Emilia Romagna |
| Cingoli | Torre Civica e Loggiato del Palazzo Comunale | May 16 | AIC Marche |
| Civitanova | Corso Umberto I e albero in P.zza Conchiglia | May 16 | AIC Marche |
| Drapia | Castello Galluppi | May 9-17 | AIC Calabria |
| Ferrara | Fontana di Piazza della Repubblica | May 16 | AIC Emilia Romagna |
| Firenze | David | May 16 | AIC Toscana |
| Imola | Selciato di Piazza Matteotti | May 16 | AIC Emilia Romagna |
| Isernia | Fontana Fraterna | May 16 | AIC Molise |
| L’Aquila | Fontana Luminosa | May 16 | AIC Abruzzo |
| Livorno | Palazzo Comunale | May 16 | AIC Toscana |
| Lucca | Piazza del Giglio | May 16 | AIC Toscana |
| Mandanici | Duomo di Santa Domenica V.M | May 16 | AIC Sicilia |
| Merano | Kurhaus | May 16 | AIC Alto Adige |
| Mesenzana | Palazzo Comunale | May 16 | AIC Lombardia |
| Mestre | Ca’ Collalto | May 15-17 | AIC Veneto |
| Mestre | Torre Civica | May 15-17 | AIC Veneto |
| Milano | Palazzo Pirelli | May 16 | AIC Lombardia |
| Novara | Cupola di San Gaudenzio | May 16 | AIC Piemonte |
| Pavia | Palazzo Mezzabarba | May 16 | AIC Lombardia |
| Perugia | Torre degli Sciri | May 17 | AIC Umbria |
| Pescara | Torre Civica di Palazzo di Città | May 16 | AIC Abruzzo |
| Polverigi | Palazzo Comunale | May 16 | AIC Marche |
| Porto San Giorgio | Fontana di Viale Cavallotti e Viale Don Minzoni | May 16 | AIC Marche |
| Pozzallo | Spazio cultura “Meno Assenza” | May 9-17 | AIC Sicilia |
| San Benedetto del Tronto | Monumento al Pescatore | May 16 | AIC Marche |
| Santa Teresa di Riva | Palazzo Comunale | May 9-17 | AIC Sicilia |
| Sarnano | 3 Torri storiche del borgo | May 16 | AIC Marche |
| Sassari | Palazzo Ducale | May 16 | AIC Sardegna |
| Sassoferrato | Palazzo Comunale | May 16 | AIC Marche |
| Siena | Cappella marmorea – Torre dei Mangia | May 16 | AIC Toscana |
| Teramo | Fontana dei Due Leoni | May 9-17 | AIC Abruzzo |
| Teramo | Nuova fontana luminosa | May 9-17 | AIC Abruzzo |
| Termoli | Municipio | May 16 | AIC Molise |
| Todi | Palazzo dei Priori | May 16 | AIC Umbria |
| Torino | Mole Antonelliana | May 16 | AIC Piemonte |
| Torino | Palazzo della Regione Piemonte | May 16 | AIC Piemonte |
| Vallefoglia | Palazzo Comunale | May 16 | AIC Marche |
| Vercelli | Balcone del Palazzo Comunale | May 16 | AIC Piemonte |
| Verona | Palazzo della Gran Guardia | May 16 | AIC Veneto |
| City | Landmark | Date | Courtesy of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ciudad de México | Monumento al ángel de la independencia | May 16 | Celiacos Unidos México y Familia sin gluten |
| Ciudad de México | Monumento a la revolución | May 16 | Celiacos Unidos México y Familia sin gluten |
| Hermosillo Sonora México | Congreso del Estado de Sonora | May 16 | Familia sin gluten y Celiacos unidos México |
| Hermosillo, Sonora | Hospital Cima | May 16 | Familia sin gluten y celiacos unidos México |
| Hermosillo, Sonora | Palacio de Gobierno de Sonora | May 16 | Familia sin gluten y celiacos unidos México |
| Hermosillo, Sonora | Palacio Municipal de Hermosillo | May 16 | Familia sin gluten y Celiacos Unidos México |
| Monterrey | Unidad Deportiva Oriente | May 15 | Familia sin gluten y celiacos unidos México |
| City | Landmark | Date | Courtesy of |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | San Diego Convention Center | May 16 | National Celiac Association |
| Plantation, FL | Palm Tree Lighting in the Plantation Walk Plaza | May 16 | National Celiac Association |
| Omaha, NE | Davis Global Center | April 16 | National Celiac Association |
| Niagara Falls, NY | Niagara Falls | May 16, 10:15 pm to 10:30 pm | Beyond Celiac |
| Dublin, OH | Dublin Link Bridge | May 16 | National Celiac Association |
| Philadelphia, PA | PECO Building | May 15 | Beyond Celiac |
Other landmarks we’ve previously lit up: Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer statue), Niagara Falls, CN Tower, Olympic Stadium (Montreal), Calgary Tower, Rawche rock at Ramly el Baydu (Beirut) and many more.
Get Involved with Shine a Light on Celiac Disease
Visit
one of the landmarks while they’re lit up. Post photos on social media with the hashtag #ShineALightOnCeliac
Share
facts about celiac disease on social media. Remember to use the hashtag #ShineALightOnCeliac
Donate
to your chosen celiac disease foundation. Scroll to the bottom of this page for a list of participating orgs.
Participating celiac organizations
Shine a Light on Celiac 