Delegate: BRAZILIAN SLEEP ACADEMY, DR. EDILSON ZANCANELLA, DR. LUCIANA STUDART
Delegate Short Bio: Founded in August 1985, the Brazilian Sleep Academy brings together all Brazilian professionals specializing in sleep-related research, teaching and assistance activities, from basic experimental research experts to professionals working in different fields, including biologists, polysomnography technologists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, psychologists, dietitians, physical educators, dentists and physicians. The core principles of the institution are centered on a comprehensive and multidisciplinary view of sleep, with growing participation of professionals who are interested and engaged in the actions promoted. The academy is involved in several educational activities, such as courses, conferences and lectures, as well as political and social initiatives, advocating for the interests of civil society and serving as an intermediary in meetings with public policy managers to promote greater attention and care for sleep and related disorders. The Brazilian Sleep Academy is also responsible for the scientific journal Sleep Science, a high-impact journal published in English, with worldwide recognition for the quality and diversity of its original scientific articles.
DR. EDILSON ZANCANELLA _ Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist, president of the Brazilian Sleep Academy (ABS – Associação Brasileira do Sono)
DR. LUCIANA STUDART _ Speech-Language Pathologist, coordinator of the World Sleep Day campaign in Brazil.
Scope of Activity: Campaign
Activity: Since 2014, the Brazilian Sleep Academy has taken an innovative approach by extending “World Sleep Day” activities to an entire week, thereby creating opportunities to reach an even larger audience.
Several initiatives across the country mobilized over 2,000 healthcare professionals specializing in sleep to voluntarily provide accessible, high-quality information to the Brazilian population, with emphasis on the motto “Sleep well, live better.” The Brazilian campaign aimed to raise public awareness about the importance of prioritizing sleep and striving to get sufficient, good quality sleep. Normal sleep characteristics were highlighted, along with the recognition of symptoms associated with sleep disorders, practical recommendations for quality sleep, and warning signs indicating the need to seek professional advice. Questions regarding the impact of sleep disorders on health and associated comorbidities were answered.
Guidance sessions were conducted in an interactive and personalized manner, including active listening to complaints and doubts raised by interested parties in the different public spaces where activities were held. A total of 275 in-person activities were carried out in 21 Brazilian states, spread throughout our continental country. To ensure consistent content replication and greater effectiveness in information transmission, a presentation addressing the main concepts of sleep (physiological characteristics, functions, importance for health and the most prevalent sleep disorders) and consisting of approximately 100 slides was prepared.
In order to reach a broad and diverse audience representative of the Brazilian population, activities were held in public squares, municipal parks, hospitals, schools, shopping malls, universities, public leisure areas and beaches, selected primarily due to the free movement of large numbers of people.
Activities were offered in two formats:
– Lectures: Volunteers from different fields collaborated to present theoretical and practical content to a group of people, conveying the campaign’s message. Audience participation was encouraged, questions were answered, and feedback (complaints and experiences) collected.
– Public actions: Volunteer professionals distributed informative material to passersby, answered questions and provided appropriate recommendations in public places.
The following support materials were provided in both activities:
Physical booklet: Tips on how to sleep well and live better.
(https://semanadosono.absono.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/DIGITAL-cartilha-semana-do-sono-2026.pdf)
Scientific banners: Information about sleep in the different age ranges: infant and child, adolescent, adult and older adult sleep.
Interactive banner: Public participation was encouraged in a playful way through pictures of boards containing phrases about sleep for sharing on social media, so as to increase the campaign’s reach
Circadian rhythm guidance banner: Interactive clock displaying the 24 hours of the day aimed at encouraging people to organize their daily routine, with emphasis on sleep hygiene and prioritization of sleep time.
Some activities deserve special mention. In addition to providing guidance to children, adolescents and their guardians, recreational activities such as theatrical performances, music and dance were organized in schools. We believe the education of children at an early age is a valuable investment to promote a healthier and more responsible sleep culture among our population. As a complementary activity, some professionals also visited nursing homes and assisted living facilities, providing guidance to seniors and their caregivers about sleep and the impact on sleep on quality of life in this stage of life.
In the land of football, where the sport captures the attention of millions of fans, the campaign’s message was displayed in an institutional video produced for the occasion and shown during halftime in an official match of the biggest national championship. The match was held in the stadium of a professional team, reaching the 42,000 fans who were watching.
Throughout the week and across the whole country, approximately 66,000 people were seen in person during the different activities and received informative material to take home and share with their families.
Aware of the wide reach of digital media and with those who did not have the opportunity to receive information during in-person activities across the country in mind, we invested in virtual initiatives consisting of five 90-minute live streams at strategic times (i.e., with high audience engagement on social media). In addition, 110 short videos (“drops of sleep”) recorded by different partner professionals selected by the campaign’s coordination team were published on official social media channels. Videos had provocative content, with direct and precise messages addressing the different aspects of sleep and their impact on health
Nationally renowned artists and digital influencers donned the campaign’s t-shirt and shared photos and videos on social media, drawing the attention of their followers. The following prominent individuals, along with their respective followers on the country’s most popular social media platform, supported the campaign: Angélica Huck: 17.5 million, Arthur Antunes Coimbra – Zico: 4 million, Carmo Dalla Vecchia: 1.5 million, Durval Lelys: 466 thousand, Edmundo Souza: 1 million, Fernanda Gentil: 7.9 million, Leo Jaime: 575 thousand, Leopoldo Pacheco: 3,440, Letícia Spiller: 5 million, Marcelo Marrom: 301 thousand, Maria Beltrão: 1 million, Paulinho Serra: 767 thousand
Besides the educational booklet, relevant information about health and sleep is available on the campaign website, which remains active throughout the year. The website can be accessed at: www.semandadosono.com.br
The Brazilian press has also shown interest and supports the Sleep Week, providing airtime for television and radio shows featuring interviews with partner professionals, disseminating relevant information for participation in public activities, and spreading the message of sleep care. One highlight was the participation in a television news program on the largest national TV broadcaster (SPTV News – 1st edition, Rede Globo), with more than 20 minutes devoted to the campaign and an average reach of 1,800,000 people.
The campaign received institutional support from other health associations, including the Brazilian Academy of Neurology, the Brazilian Association of Otorhinolaryngology and Cervicofacial Surgery, the Brazilian Association of Gerontology, the Brazilian and São Paulo State Societies of Pneumology and Phthisiology and the Brazilian Society of Psychology, among others – not to mention professional councils. Public agencies also supported the campaign by providing public spaces for campaign-related activities. Such exchange of information is vital not only to spark the interest of the population, but also to draw the attention of public bodies. This initiative must necessarily have a significant impact, encouraging the expansion of sleep disorder diagnosis and treatment channels.
Hence, in every way possible, the Brazilian Sleep Academy, in order to celebrate the World Sleep Day, makes sure that appropriate information is delivered to the Brazilian population, whether on the streets, in schools, in stadiums, on social or mainstream media, or on our website. We remain fully committed to the important mission of raising public awareness and directing attention to the importance of prioritizing sleep and striving for better sleep quality, since sleeping well helps us to live better.
Location: In-person events (275) were held in 21 Brazilian states.
Date of Activity: March 13 to 19, 2026
