Shop now open! Share your love of music and support Playlist for Life. Visit now.

Shop now open! Share your love of music and support Playlist for Life. Visit now.

National Playlist Day 2024

Save the date! 20th September 2024

National Playlist Day is a UK-wide celebration of the power of meaningful music for people living with dementia.

National Playlist Day asks: what’s on your personalised playlist? What music makes up the soundtrack of your life? It’s a chance to celebrate the music that shapes us.

Everyone has a soundtrack to their life, and National Playlist Day seeks to uncover these special and unique playlists, all while raising awareness of a simple but effective intervention already benefitting thousands of people living with dementia throughout the UK.

Improving lives of people living with dementia through meaningful music

National Playlist Day was created by Scottish music and dementia charity Playlist for Life.

There are over 900,000 people have dementia in the UK. At present there is no cure for dementia, but music can help to reduce some of the most distressing symptoms, and make a real difference to the lives of people living with the condition.

"I can say, hand on heart, doing this changed my life"

– Willy, who lives with dementia, and created a playlist of 60s music which helped him rediscover his love for creating art. 

“When I was diagnosed, I went into a depression. I did not want to see anyone or go anywhere. I didn’t want to move off the couch.  But music is a wonderful thing for the soul, whether you are happy or sad. And this Playlist for Life is one of the best things I’ve ever done

​Carol , who lives with young onset dementia

“When I first played the playlist with him during a sunny afternoon in his garden he produced a knowing expression instantly. The songs themselves triggered recognition and he was able to hum, tap and even sing along to them all. Producing lyrics of words beyond him in regular conversation.

Sam, whose dad Paul lives with dementia

Previous National Playlist Days

Some highlights from National Playlist Day 2022 and 2023:

  • A concert featuring music from The Bluebells, The Twilight Sad, Theo Bleak, Curlew, Man of Moon and Alzheimer’s Scotland Every Voice Choir.
  • Coverage across BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio Scotland, STV News, The Skinny and more.
  • Grassroots support from community groups and organisations across the UK: from information events in local libraries to playlist-making sessions in dementia cafes and health and care settings.
  •  Celebrity involvement, with support from famous faces like Lorraine Kelly, Iain Rankin, Helen Marnie of Ladytron, Sanjeev Kohli, Colin McCredie and bands including Admiral Fallow, Skerryvore and Tide Lines.
  • A new Glasgow mural, co-designed with people living with dementia, inspired by special songs from personalised playlists.

    Read more: 5 ways we marked National Playlist Day 2023

Call for Partners for National Playlist Day 2024

We’re looking for partners to help this year be the biggest National Playlist Day yet!

Are you a business looking to support the UK’s leading music and dementia charity?

Could you help us share the power of meaningful music with the 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK?