Celebrate International Women’s Day 2026 on Virgin TV

International Women’s Day is more than a date on the calendar. It’s a global reminder of the continuing pursuit of equality and justice for women and girls everywhere. This year’s theme, Balance The Scales, urges communities worldwide to champion fair, inclusive and accessible justice for all.

One in three women will experience physical or sexual violence in her lifetime, and conviction rates for sexual assault remain critically low in many countries – a stark reminder that legal protections alone are not delivering justice. At the same time, climate change is projected to push up to 158 million more women and girls into extreme poverty by 2050, deepening existing inequalities.

Balance The Scales highlights the urgent need to transform systems, so they are survivor-centred, inclusive and responsive to those most marginalised. By advocating, amplifying women’s voices, supporting frontline services and demanding structural reform, we can help close the gap between promise and progress. Together, we can accelerate change and build a safer, more just and equitable world for every woman and girl.

This International Women’s Day (Sunday 8 March) offers a moment to reflect on both the strides taken and the barriers that remain in the fight for equality. Our curated collection of documentaries celebrates the achievements of groundbreakers, campaigners and leaders who helped shape the modern world for women, and their trailblazing stories are available to watch now on Virgin TV.

Stream it in Apps > Channel 4 now

More often than not, tales of the Second World War celebrate the bravery of the countless male soldiers who fought on the frontline. But what about the women who also risked their lives in the pursuit of victory? This remarkable three-part series tells the untold stories of the female pilots, journalists, guerrillas and spies who helped contribute to the allied victory, including the incredible true story of French nightclub singer Josephine Baker who spied on Nazi officials.

Stream it in Sky Arts on demand now

Charlotte. Emily. Anne. These sisters were the renowned 19th century novelists and poets who changed the literary landscape for generations of women to come. Presenter Anita Rani is on a mission to uncover the women behind some of history’s greatest novels including Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, as she travels to her hometown of Bradford to learn more about her Yorkshire heroines, what fuelled their works and the Brontës’ enduring legacy.

Stream it in Sky Documentaries on demand now

If you’ve never heard of Elizabeth Carmichael, don’t miss this gripping four-part series that details the extraordinary life of one of America’s most legendary entrepreneurs. In response to the 1970s gas crisis, Carmichael designed a low-cost, fuel-efficient, three-wheeled car that had the potential to revolutionise America’s multi-billion dollar automobile industry. However, as her fame and investments skyrocketed, Carmichael’s surprising past began to unravel on a national stage. With a rare 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating, the story of the woman who took America for a ride is essential viewing.

Stream it in Apps > Prime Video now

Many people treat elite athletes as heroes, but some sporting performers go the extra mile and use their position to effect real change. Power Of The Dream is the story of the US women’s basketball stars who put their heads above the parapet, supporting the Black Lives Matter and Say Her Name causes and lending their profile to the campaign to elect a progressive politician in the state of Georgia. It’s an inspiring testament to the potential of teamwork.

Stream it in Sky Documentaries on demand now

From award-winning film-makers Tia Lessin (Trouble The Water) and Emma Pildes (Jane Fonda In Five Acts) comes this jaw-dropping story about a group of rule-breaking women whose actions still resonate today – and whose beliefs are just as relevant as ever. Starting in the 1960s, the film documents the trailblazing activism of a clandestine network known as the Jane Collective, who assisted women across the United States with more than 11,000 illegal but safe abortions.

Stream it in Apps > ITVX now

Ann Ming’s tireless campaign for justice inspired one of 2025’s standout TV dramas in I Fought The Law (available in Apps > ITVX now). But what about the real events behind this critically acclaimed series? Told through her own words, this powerful documentary chronicles Ann’s courageous story first-hand, after she successfully fought an 800-year-old double jeopardy law that meant the man who confessed to her daughter’s murder wouldn’t face retrial, and brought about a change in the legal system.

Stream it in Apps > Prime Video or Apps > STV Player now

Although Michelle Obama has never run for election to public office, her campaigning as US First Lady – where she amplified the topics of healthy eating, homelessness, public service, education and more – made her a much-admired leader. After leaving the White House, her production company oversaw the revealing documentary American Factory, which won an Oscar, and this one-off film looks at this and the other projects Obama has taken on as her inspiring journey continues.

Rent on Virgin Media Store now. Cert 12

Lindsay Utz, who edited the abovementioned American Factory, and Michelle Walshe co-directed this feature documentary that offers an eye-opening insight into the life and career of Jacinda Ardern, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand. Ardern’s five years in power encompassed serious tests including the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2022 Christchurch mosque shootings – not to mention giving birth. The critically praised, award-winning Prime Minister shows how she faced these challenges with intelligence and compassion, never compromising her humanity.  

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