Madison, WI — July 2026 — On Thursday, August 6, 2026, from 6:30–8:30 PM, Physicians for Social Responsibility Wisconsin (PSR WI) will host Lanterns for Peace, an annual community event at Tenney Park’s John Wall Family Pavilion. The gathering commemorates the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and invites participants to reflect on the human cost of nuclear weapons while recommitting to peace, diplomacy, and nuclear disarmament.

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 dedicated decades to educating communities around the world about the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons and the urgent need to eliminate them.

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 military flyovers on August 6, in recognition of the day’s call for peace.

The evening will also include music, cultural performances, lantern decorating for all ages, and a lantern launch on the Tenney Park Lagoon. Participants are invited to create and launch floating lanterns in remembrance of those who lost their lives in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and in solidarity with all communities threatened by war and nuclear weapons.

Lanterns for Peace is part of Madison’s enduring legacy of peace-building and civic engagement. The city has long stood at the forefront of nuclear disarmament and social justice efforts:

  • Since 1983, Madison has maintained its Nuclear Free Zone status under Ordinance 8169.
  • Madison has been an active participant in international peace and disarmament efforts, with city leaders recognizing Hiroshima and Nagasaki Days and supporting global initiatives aimed at reducing and ultimately eliminating nuclear weapons.

“Lanterns for Peace offers our community a meaningful opportunity to remember the victims of nuclear war, learn from those who have dedicated their lives to peace, and take action toward a safer future,” said a spokesperson for PSR Wisconsin. “At a time of rising global tensions, the lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki remain as urgent as ever.”

This free, family-friendly event welcomes all members of the community to join in an evening of remembrance, reflection, creativity, and hope.

Event Details

Lanterns for Peace 2026
Thursday, August 6, 2026
6:30–8:30 PM
Tenney Park – John Wall Family Pavilion
Madison, Wisconsin

For more information, visit: www.psr-wisconsin.org/lanternsforpeace

About PSR Wisconsin

Physicians for Social Responsibility Wisconsin works to protect human life from the gravest threats to health and survival. Through education, advocacy, and community engagement, PSR Wisconsin promotes policies that prevent nuclear war, address environmental health threats, and advance health justice for all.