World Anaesthesia Day 2026: Before, During and Beyond Surgery

World Anaesthesia Day, on 16 October 2026, celebrates the essential role of anaesthesiologists throughout the patient journey – before, during and beyond surgery. Anaesthesia is one of the greatest discoveries of modern medicine. In fact, many of today’s operations, especially for the very young, very old, or very ill, would not be possible without it. Relief of pain and suffering is central to the practice of anaesthesia. The word anaesthesia is coined from two Greek words: "an" meaning "without" and "aesthesis" meaning "sensation". 

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World Anaesthesia Day commemorates the birth of anaesthesia on 16 October 1846, when doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital demonstrated the use of ether for the first time on a patient. In doing so, they changed surgery forever, proving that patients could undergo procedures without the torture of pain previously associated with them. An ancient Italian practice was to cover a patient’s head with a wooden bowl and beat on it repeatedly until the patient lost consciousness. Presumably this method resulted in a number of side-effects the patient would not have found beneficial. Opium and alcohol were regularly used to produce insensibility, both of which also had a number of negative side effects, and neither could dull the pain completely. Few operations were possible, and speed was the determinant of a successful surgeon. Patients were often tied or held down, and the abdomen, chest, and skull were effectively inoperable. Surgery was a last and extremely painful resort.

On October 16, 1846, an American dentist, William Morton, proved to the world that ether causes complete insensibility to pain during an operation performed in front of a crowd of doctors and students at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Morton instructed the patient to inhale the ether vapour and, once the patient was suitably sedated, a tumour was removed from his neck. The patient felt no pain.

This Demonstration Transformed Medical Practice

News of Morton’s demonstration spread quickly in the pre-technological world. Within two months, London doctors Francis Boott and James Robinson had performed a tooth extraction using ether and two days after that, Robert Liston performed an amputation. Their exploits were written up the following January in the London Illustrated News, which reached Australia in May 1847.

Anaesthesia Arrives In Australia And New Zealand

Launceston doctor, William Russ Pugh, and Sydney dentist, John Belisario, fashioned ether inhalers based on the diagram in the newspaper. On June 7, 1847, Pugh successfully performed two operations under ether anaesthesia while Belisario performed two dental surgeries. Both had journalists present. Ether was first used in New Zealand on September 27, 1847, when Colonial Surgeon James Patrick Fitzgerald performed a dental extraction on a prisoner at the Wellington gaol. On the same day, Fitzgerald also performed New Zealand’s first general surgical operation on an anaesthetised patient. During both procedures, the ether was administered by Mr. James Marriott, an optical instrument maker, using a vapouriser of his own design.

Ether anaesthesia not only resulted in a better surgical experience for the patient, but it also allowed doctors time during surgery to develop more refined and complex surgical skills. The Geoffrey Kaye Museum of Anaesthetic History has an online curated exhibition dedicated to early anaesthesia: Despite an increase in the complexity of surgical operations, modern anaesthesia is relatively safe due to high standards of training that emphasise quality and safety. In addition, there have been improvements in drugs and equipment. Increased support for research to improve anaesthesia has resulted in Australia and New Zealand having one of the best patient safety records in the world.

Despite 180 years having passed since that first anaesthetic procedure, and the countless breakthroughs that have followed, nearly 5 billion people still lack access to safe anaesthesia practices. In light of this ongoing neglect, global awareness days like World Anaesthesia Day serve as powerful advocacy tools to mobilise political will, educate the general public, and reinforce the achievements of the global anaesthesia community. Each year, for World Anaesthesia Day, the WFSA (World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists) focuses on a different aspect of anaesthesia care. This helps to highlight the varied, diverse, and critical roles that anaesthesiologists play in patient wellbeing.

2026 Before, During And Beyond Surgery

This year ‘Before, During and Beyond Surgery’ has been chosen as the theme for World Anaesthesia Day, fitting in with the WFSA Presidential Theme2026-2028.

2026 Anaesthesiology In Health Emergencies

This year ‘Anaesthesiology in Health Emergencies’ has been chosen as the theme for World Anaesthesia Day, fitting in with the WFSA Annual Theme.

2026 Workforce Well-being

This year ‘Workforce Well-being’ has been chosen as the theme for World Anaesthesia Day, fitting in with the WFSA Annual Theme.

2026 Anaesthesia & Cancer Care

In line with our 2026 Annual Theme, World Anaesthesia Day 2026 was focused on anaesthesia and cancer care. Celebrations included a special webinar with global oncoanaesthesia experts.

2026 – Teamwork

To mark the Year of Health and Care Workers 2026, WFSA’s decided to use World Anaesthesia Day 2026 to celebrate teamwork and the skills and attributes of those who we work alongside and rely on. Teamwork is a vital component of an anaesthesiologist’s everyday work. Without it, clinicians are not able to provide the necessary level of patient care and safety to which they aspire.

With the hashtags #WAD2026 and #TeamAnaesthesia, social media platforms are filled with anaesthesia professionals sharing photos of their colleagues and celebrating the attributes that these teams bring to making safe patient care possible.

Occupational Wellbeing of Anaesthesiologists

WFSA initiated a campaign that focused on the importance of Occupational wellbeing. Anaesthesiologists experience high levels of occupational fatigue, burnout syndrome, chemical dependency, mental depression, and suicidal ideation. There is a link between occupational health and patient safety, with occupational fatigue being one of the main factors in a high prevalence of crises.

The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists worked with the members of the societies and the wider global anaesthesia community to create a conversation around occupational wellbeing. And to unite and empower anaesthesiologists globally to improve patient care, safety, and universal access to safe anaesthesia, perioperative medicine, pain management, and trauma care.