Annual gathering comes at a time of rising global conflict and growing concern over the threat of nuclear war
Contact: Marta Karlov, EDPSR Wisconsinwww.psr-wisconsin.org
+1 (608) 232-9945
Madison, WI — July 2026 — With the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki just days away, Physicians for Social Responsibility Wisconsin (PSR WI) is inviting the community to gather for Lanterns for Peace on Thursday, August 6, 2026, from 6:30–8:30 PM at Tenney Park’s John Wall Family Pavilion.
As wars continue in multiple regions of the world and nuclear-armed nations exchange increasingly dangerous rhetoric, experts have warned that the risk of nuclear conflict is higher than it has been in decades. Lanterns for Peace offers the Madison community an opportunity to remember the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki while reaffirming a shared commitment to diplomacy, peace, and the abolition of nuclear weapons before another nuclear catastrophe becomes reality.
This year’s event will feature a keynote address by Steve Leeper, former Chairperson of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation and a longtime international advocate for nuclear abolition. Leeper has devoted decades to educating communities around the world about the devastating humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons and the urgent need to eliminate them.
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As part of the commemoration, PSR Wisconsin, in partnership with Madison for a World BEYOND War, has asked the Wisconsin National Guard to refrain from conducting military flyovers on August 6 in recognition of the day’s message of peace and remembrance.
The evening will feature live music, cultural performances, lantern decorating for all ages, and a lantern launch on the Tenney Park Lagoon. Participants will decorate and launch floating lanterns in memory of those killed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and in solidarity with all people whose lives are threatened by war, violence, and the continued existence of nuclear weapons.
At a time when armed conflicts in Europe, the Middle East, and elsewhere have heightened fears of escalation among nuclear-armed states, organizers say remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki is not simply an act of history—it is a call to action. The bombings remain the only wartime use of nuclear weapons, yet the humanitarian consequences they revealed would be far greater if such weapons were ever used again. Preventing nuclear war requires public engagement, international cooperation, and sustained efforts to reduce and ultimately eliminate nuclear arsenals.
Lanterns for Peace is part of Madison’s longstanding commitment to peace-building and civic engagement. The city has long been a leader in nuclear disarmament and social justice efforts:
- Since 1983, Madison has maintained its Nuclear Free Zone status under Ordinance 8169.
- Madison has supported international peace and disarmament initiatives, with city leaders recognizing Hiroshima and Nagasaki Days and endorsing efforts to reduce and ultimately eliminate nuclear weapons.
“Lanterns for Peace is more than a memorial; it is a reminder that the choices we make today will determine whether future generations ever experience the horrors of nuclear war,” said a spokesperson for PSR Wisconsin.
This free, family-friendly event welcomes people of all ages for an evening of remembrance, reflection, creativity, and hope. Community members are encouraged to attend, bring friends and family, and participate in this timely public expression of solidarity for a more peaceful and secure world.
