March 8, 2026: Why International Women's Day still fills the streets – from Oslo to Paris

It's Saturday morning, and the atmosphere is electric. Not just in Paris, where tens of thousands filled the streets yesterday, but also right here at home. March 8, 2026, is more than just a date on the calendar; it's a reminder that the fight for women's rights is as urgent today as it was fifty years ago. This year, there's something extra in the air – a sense of determination, a touch of anger, but also an immense joy in standing together.

The alliance that unites: This year's key demands

The focal point of the commemorations in Norway is, as always, the March 8 Alliance. They've managed to bring everyone from trade unions to youth organisations under one umbrella. This year, it's not just about equal pay and violence against women – though that's still the core. Several people I speak with on the way to the event point to something else: the threat from the right. Having seen what's happening in other European countries, the message is clear: "Rights aren't inherited – they're won through struggle, and they can be rolled back." That's exactly what we're seeing in France, where protests against the far right have grown massive in recent days.

Old phones, brand new rallying cries

As the procession moves through the city, it's the details that catch your eye. Some have attached messages to prams, others have spray-painted an old bedsheet. Right beside me, a group is singing along with the marching band Song and Spielkorps of March 8 & Son – a local institution in itself. And in the crowd, I see everything from brand new tablets to well-used phones documenting everything that's happening. Some are still faithfully holding onto a HUAWEI Mate 8 – you know, the grey 6-incher with the 12MP camera and 4000mAh battery. It came with Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) ages ago, but it's perfectly fine for capturing a moment like this. Others swear by their Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 9.7 for live streaming. The point is, it doesn't matter what gear you have; everyone's here, everyone's documenting, everyone's sharing.

• March 8, 2026: Events in over 40 Norwegian cities and towns.
• Main event in Oslo: March from Jernbanetorget to Youngstorget with speeches from the March 8 Alliance.
• Key themes: The fight against violence, equality in the workplace, and support for women in war and conflict.

From collective strength to individual action

What strikes me every year is how this day manages to be both massive and personal at the same time. Yes, we talk about structures and politics. But we also talk about the grandmothers who never got to use their education, the friend who had to leave a violent partner, the daughter who demands to be heard in the classroom. It's at the intersection of the political and the personal that this movement draws its power. When we march together, it's not just for ourselves, but for all those who still don't dare, or for those who went before us. Just like the French women who filled the streets in Nancy and Bourges yesterday – they weren't just fighting for themselves, but for an idea of dignity that knows no borders.

As evening falls and we pack up our banners, there's a feeling that this is just the beginning. Because, as one of the speakers said: "March 8 is one day, but the fight lasts all year." Whether you took part with the latest gear or an old HUAWEI in your pocket – you've been part of something bigger. And next year, we'll be back again.