National Playlist Day Highlights

Hundred of memories shared. Thousands of playlists made. Countless connections through meaningful music. 

National Playlist Day was founded in 2022 to shine a light on the impact a playlist of meaningful songs can have for people living with dementia. Each year since, the awareness campaign has grown with supporters across the UK inspired to share the soundtrack of their life. 

Learn more about how we’ve celebrated, shared and created musical memories in support of people living with dementia in our previous campaigns below! 

2025

Sir Alex Ferguson shares musical memories with the BBC…

2024

Pop up gigs and playlists on the BBC…

In 2025  Sir Alex Ferguson officialy became an Ambassador for Playlist for Life and helped us share our message with millions of people across the UK and beyond. Interviews with Sir Alex sharing his own family's experience of dementia and meeting Ken and Mil, a couple affected by dementia aired on the BBC. This heart-warming conversation — along with footage of Sir Alex dancing with Mil — went viral, powerfully demonstrating how, when words fail, music can still speak to people living with advanced dementia. Partners across the UK got involved, raising awareness on social media and beyond. Grassroots community groups in our Help Point network celebrated by running events such as themed radio shows, silent discos, musical quizzes and creating group playlist to help people in their communities connect.
Click to view the interview
This third year's award winning campaign saw Scottish band, The Bluebells and dementia inclusive choirs from Glasgow and the surrounding area, perform their hit track, Young at Heart, in Glasgow’s famous Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. Their joyful performance captured the attention of museum visitors and Scottish national press, including the STV News at 6. Sir Alex Ferguson also supported the campaign for the first time, giving a very special interview on BBC Breakfast, discussing dementia, football, memories and the songs that have soundtracked his life. Joining Sir Alex were our lived experience ambassadors Anne, who lives with dementia, and her daughter Emma. They spoke about Anne’s playlist, and how it supported Anne to live well.  Thousands of people also used our brand new Playlist Maker to get started on the soundtrack to their life!
Click to view the concert

2023

Live music, murals and merch…

2022

Launch of the first National Playlist Day…

For the second year of the campaign we got creative! We brought together people living with dementia, families, carers, supporters of Playlist for Life and music fans for a concert in Glasgow’s famous Old Fruitmarket venue. It was a special evening of music and memories with performances from Alzheimer’s Scotland Every Voice Choir, The Bluebells, The Twilight Sad. We co-created a new mural in Glasgow with people living with dementia.  The mural incorporated lyrics from the songs on people’s playlists and a QR code for passers-by to scan and access our free resources. Thanks to the amazing team at SWG3 and artist Molly Hankinson.  We also launched a line of merchandise prompting people to connect by asking 'What's on your playlist?'. Famous faces lined up to get their hands on our conversation starting t-shirts.
Playlist for Life established the very first National Playlist Day to encourage everyone in the UK to make their own personal playlists while raising awareness of how much music is benefitting thousands of people living with dementia in the UK. Hundreds of people and partners all across the UK got on board with the first year of the campaign, sharing the songs and memories that had soundtracked their life! In amongst those sharing their musical memories were some famous faces including Lorraine Kelly, Callum Beattie, Ian Rankin and Karen Dunbar!
Click to view Lorraine's song and memory

Previous Supporters of National Playlist Day