#NowsTheTime
Adopt London Celebrates LGBTQ+ Adoption Week 2026 with New Family Social
LGBTQ+ Adoption & Fostering Week returns on 2 March 2026, and Adopt London is proud to celebrate and support the campaign once again in partnership with New Family Social. This annual event remains the only national campaign designed specifically to speak to the LGBTQ+ community about adoption and fostering, and it brings together agencies across the UK that are committed to inclusive and supportive practice.
This year’s theme, #NowsTheTime, challenges one of the most common myths heard by LGBTQ+ prospective parents: the idea that there is a perfect or ideal moment to begin the adoption process. The 2026 message is clear: the perfect time may never arrive, and children who need permanent families cannot wait for ideal circumstances to align. Now is the right moment to explore adoption if you’re thinking about growing your family.
The campaign highlights a national challenge. Across multiple regions, agencies continue to see fewer adoption applicants than are needed, which means children in care are waiting longer to find their permanent homes. New Family Social has shaped this year’s theme to remove hesitation and encourage LGBTQ+ people not to hold back due to timing, fear of the unknown or the misconception that adoption requires life to be perfectly ordered first. Adopt London strongly supports this message. Many parents begin their journey during times of change, uncertainty or transition, and what truly matters is a willingness to step forward and offer stability, love and commitment.
Throughout LGBTQ+ Adoption & Fostering Week, New Family Social will release a range of daily content designed to inform, inspire and encourage engagement. Each day features a short explainer clip, personal stories from LGBTQ+ adopters about why they chose to adopt when they did, and region‑specific contributions from agencies across the UK, including one from Adopt London South.
The week also showcases a series of podcast episodes from the Adoption, Fostering & Tea Podcast brought to us by New Family Social, that explore the adoption journey from different perspectives.
In Episode 108 Fay shares her experience of adopting a two‑year‑old after three rounds of IVF and a miscarriage. She explains how learning that Black children wait longer for adoptive families inspired her to pursue adoption and reflects on the joy and patience that early family life requires.
In Episode 107 – Monty and his husband describe becoming parents twice within six months through Early Permanence. They talk about delays in the assessment process, the placement of a baby and later their older sibling, and the joy and intensity of becoming a family of four so quickly.
In Episode 48 – Rachel shares her experience of adopting multiple sibling groups, reflecting on how her family grew through multiple placements and the realities, challenges and rewards of adopting siblings.
In Episode 102 – This episode focuses on adoption introductions — the moment adopters meet their child for the first time. It covers emotional dynamics, contrasting experiences between adopters and foster carers, and wider discussion about adoption publicity and the #YouCanAdopt campaign.
In Episode 87 – This episode centres on the hosts’ reflections on being adopted, exploring identity, belonging and personal experience of adoption from an adoptee perspective.
Each episode offers a unique insight into motivation, decision‑making, assessment, matching and long‑term support, helping prospective adopters understand the journey from real lived experience.
By partnering with New Family Social, Adopt London is reaffirming its commitment to creating inclusive, welcoming pathways for LGBTQ+ families across the capital.
LGBTQ+ Adoption Week plays a vital role in raising awareness among people who may not yet realise adoption is possible — and genuinely needed. Through this collaboration, we hope to reach individuals and couples who are ready to begin exploring what adoption could mean for their future.
If you’re considering parenthood and wondering whether adoption could be the right route, the message of this year’s campaign is one we wholeheartedly echo: #NowsTheTime to take the first step.
If you would like help, information or a starting point for your adoption journey, the Adopt London teams across all four regional London partnerships are here to support you with clarity, warmth and experience.