The Installation
A purple flag display in Washington, D.C., bringing migraine and headache disorders into public view.
A public stand for a public health crisis.
From June 19 to July 1, 2026, thousands of purple flags will stand in Washington, D.C. as a public demand for a national response to migraine and headache disorders. Each flag represents approximately 1,500 people living with these conditions in the United States. The installation runs for two weeks during Migraine and Headache Awareness Month.
Pop-up installations and events are taking place across the country during the same window. Communities are turning landmarks purple, passing local proclamations, and bringing visibility to the millions of Americans whose lives are shaped by these diseases.
"This Headache on the Hill National Installation is a bold, undeniable statement that we will no longer be ignored."
Why we built it.
Headache disorders are common, costly, and still far too overlooked. More than 40 million Americans live with migraine and other headache disorders, yet our country has no coordinated national plan to address the scale of this crisis. Flags for Headache is a public reminder that behind every statistic is a real person, a real family, and a life too often shaped by pain, stigma, delayed diagnosis, and barriers to care.
This installation is part of a larger movement for change. We are calling for passage of the HEADACHE Act, stronger federal investment in research, better access to trained headache specialists, and routine migraine screening in annual care. Earlier recognition means earlier support, better treatment, and fewer people losing years before they get help. Together, we can make headache disease impossible to ignore and build a future with more good days.
Important Dates
WHO WE ARE
The Headache Alliance
The Headache Alliance and Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy are leading a national movement to change how headache and migraine disorders are understood, treated, and prioritized. We work alongside patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, allied organizations and policymakers to challenge stigma, expand access to care, and push for meaningful policy and research investment.
Through programs like Headache on the Hill, Flags for Headache in Washington, D.C., our monthly Lunch and Learn series, and year-round advocacy campaigns, we are building collective power and ensuring that people living with headache disorders are no longer overlooked in decisions that shape our healthcare system.
This installation is a public demonstration of that movement and a demand for action.
“We’re here because people living with headache disorders deserve more good days. We’re building the awareness, the advocacy, and the pressure needed to make that a reality.”
Bring flags to your community.
Pop-up installations are taking place in cities, schools, and community spaces across the country. If you want to host one in your community, request a kit and we will help you plan.
Looking Back at 2025
The first installation took place in 2025 and brought visibility, momentum, and a growing network of advocates. Browse last year’s photos, proclamations, art competition winners, and Speak Out footage.
We are proud to work in partnership with:
Organization Partners
Corporate Sponsors
Individual Donors
Field Champion ($1000+)
Stephanie Vertress
Karla Neville
SCH Labratory Physicians
Row Sponsor ($250+)
Lisa Nicholson
John Ball
Wyn Ball
Jessie Meredith
Rosa Sundquist
Ben Neville
Brandi Underwood
Washington DC Installation Volunteer Planning Committee:
Karla Neville • Eileen Brewer • Mikaila Milks • Susan Stone • Jenn Heater • Anna Williams • Laura Miller • Brandi Underwood • Nancy Harris Bonk • Jenn Schact • Divya Gordon • Julie Tazzia • Terri Dean-Alexander • Catherine Charrett-Dykes • Bob Wold • Ashley Hattle
