International awareness days and key dates

Awareness days, weeks and months, with bank holidays and the big commercial dates. Pick a country and the types you need, then subscribe in your own calendar.

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Running all month

  1. Monday 1 March 2027

    • Self-injury Awareness Day

      Awareness

      A day on 1 March each year that raises awareness of self-harm, challenges stigma and encourages people to seek support.

    • World Seagrass Day

      Awareness

      World Seagrass Day on 1 March raises awareness of seagrass meadows, which shelter fish, protect coastlines and are being lost each year.

    • Zero Discrimination Day

      Awareness

      Zero Discrimination Day on 1 March, led by UNAIDS, celebrates everyone's right to live a full life with dignity, free from discrimination.

  2. Wednesday 3 March 2027

    • World Hearing Day

      Awareness

      A World Health Organization day on 3 March that raises awareness of how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promotes ear and hearing care.

    • World Wildlife Day

      Awareness

      World Wildlife Day on 3 March celebrates wild plants and animals and highlights the need to tackle wildlife crime and species loss.

  3. Thursday 4 March 2027

    • World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development

      Awareness

      World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development on 4 March highlights the role of engineers in meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

    • World Obesity Day

      Awareness

      A global day of action on 4 March that aims to improve understanding, prevention and treatment of obesity.

  4. Friday 5 March 2027

  5. Saturday 6 March 2027

    • Maha Shivaratri

      Religious and cultural

      Maha Shivaratri is the great night of Shiva, a Hindu festival in February or March marked by fasting and night-long worship.

  6. Monday 8 March 2027

    • Commonwealth Day

      Religious and cultural

      Commonwealth Day, on the second Monday in March, celebrates the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth.

    • International Women's Day

      Awareness

      A global day on 8 March celebrating women's achievements and pushing for gender equality.

  7. Tuesday 9 March 2027

    • Eid al-Fitr

      Religious and cultural

      Eid al-Fitr is the Muslim festival that marks the end of Ramadan, celebrated with prayers, family meals and gifts.

  8. Wednesday 10 March 2027

    • International Day of Women Judges

      Awareness

      The International Day of Women Judges on 10 March promotes the full and equal participation of women at every level of the judiciary.

    • MAR10 Day

      Commercial and retail

      MAR10 Day on 10 March is Nintendo's yearly celebration of Mario, chosen because the date written as Mar 10 looks like the character's name.

  9. Thursday 11 March 2027

    • World Kidney Day

      Awareness

      A global day on the second Thursday of March that raises awareness of kidney health and the prevention of kidney disease.

  10. Sunday 14 March 2027

    • International Day of Action for Rivers

      Awareness

      Held on 14 March, when communities around the world take action to protect rivers and the people who depend on them.

    • International Day of Mathematics

      Awareness

      The International Day of Mathematics on 14 March, Pi Day, celebrates the role of mathematics in everyday life and in science.

    • World Glaucoma Week

      Awareness14 to 20 March 2027

      A global week in March encouraging regular eye checks to catch glaucoma early, held 8 to 14 March in 2026.

  11. Monday 15 March 2027

    • Brain Awareness Week

      Awareness15 to 21 March 2027

      A global campaign held in the third week of March to raise public interest in brain science, running 15 to 21 March in 2027.

    • Global Money Week

      Awareness15 to 21 March 2027

      An international week in March that helps children and young people learn about money, saving and financial decisions.

    • International Day to Combat Islamophobia

      Awareness

      The International Day to Combat Islamophobia on 15 March promotes tolerance, respect for religious diversity and dialogue against anti-Muslim hatred.

    • Neurodiversity Celebration Week

      Awareness15 to 19 March 2027

      A week in March that encourages schools, universities and workplaces to recognise the strengths of neurodivergent people, held 15 to 19 March in 2027.

    • Nutrition and Hydration Week

      Awareness15 to 21 March 2027

      An international week each March focused on good food and drink in health and social care settings.

    • World Consumer Rights Day

      Awareness

      Marked each year on 15 March to promote consumer rights and protection around the world.

  12. Wednesday 17 March 2027

    • St Patrick's Day

      Religious and cultural

      St Patrick's Day on 17 March is Ireland's national day, celebrated with parades and green landmarks around the world.

  13. Thursday 18 March 2027

    • Global Recycling Day

      Awareness

      An international day on 18 March that promotes recycled materials as a valuable resource rather than waste.

  14. Friday 19 March 2027

    • World Sleep Day

      Awareness

      A global day in March, held on the Friday before the spring equinox, that highlights the importance of healthy sleep.

  15. Saturday 20 March 2027

    • Earth Hour

      Awareness

      A global lights-off hour at 8.30pm local time on a Saturday in late March, held on 28 March 2026 and 20 March 2027.

    • French Language Day

      Awareness

      French Language Day at the UN on 20 March celebrates the history, culture and use of French, one of the UN's six official languages.

    • International Day of Happiness

      Awareness

      The International Day of Happiness on 20 March recognises happiness and wellbeing as basic human goals that public policy should support.

    • World Oral Health Day

      Awareness

      A global day on 20 March promoting good oral health for people of all ages.

    • World Sparrow Day

      Awareness

      Held on 20 March to raise awareness of the house sparrow and other common birds and the threats they face in towns and cities.

  16. Sunday 21 March 2027

    • International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

      Awareness

      On 21 March the UN calls for action against racism, marking the anniversary of the 1960 Sharpeville massacre in South Africa.

    • International Day of Forests

      Awareness

      The International Day of Forests on 21 March celebrates forests of every kind and encourages events such as tree planting.

    • International Day of Nowruz

      Religious and cultural

      The International Day of Nowruz on 21 March marks the Persian new year, celebrated at the spring equinox by many communities worldwide.

    • International Day of Nowruz

      Awareness

      The International Day of Nowruz on 21 March marks the spring new year festival celebrated by millions across many countries.

    • Palm Sunday

      Religious and cultural

      Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter, when Christians remember Jesus entering Jerusalem and Holy Week begins.

    • Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination

      Awareness21 to 27 March 2027

      From 21 to 27 March the UN encourages a week of solidarity with people fighting racism and racial discrimination.

    • World Day for Glaciers

      Awareness

      The World Day for Glaciers on 21 March raises awareness of glaciers, snow and ice and their vital role in the world's water supply.

    • World Down Syndrome Day

      Awareness

      World Down Syndrome Day on 21 March raises awareness of Down syndrome and promotes the inclusion of people who have it.

    • World Poetry Day

      Awareness

      World Poetry Day on 21 March honours poets, promotes reading and writing poetry and supports linguistic diversity.

    • World Puppetry Day

      Awareness

      Marked on 21 March to celebrate the art of puppetry and the puppeteers who keep it alive around the world.

  17. Monday 22 March 2027

    • World Water Day

      Awareness

      World Water Day on 22 March focuses attention on fresh water and the billions of people still without safe water and sanitation.

  18. Tuesday 23 March 2027

    • Holi

      Religious and cultural

      Holi is the Hindu festival of colours in March, celebrating spring and the victory of good over evil.

    • Purim

      Religious and cultural

      Purim is a joyful one-day Jewish festival in late winter or early spring, celebrating the story of Esther.

    • World Meteorological Day

      Awareness

      World Meteorological Day on 23 March highlights the work of weather, climate and water services in keeping people safe.

  19. Wednesday 24 March 2027

  20. Thursday 25 March 2027

  21. Friday 26 March 2027

    • Good Friday (Christian observance)

      Religious and cultural

      Good Friday, two days before Easter Sunday, is the day Christians remember the crucifixion of Jesus.

    • Purple Day

      Awareness

      An international epilepsy awareness day on 26 March, when people wear purple and hold events to support those living with epilepsy.

  22. Saturday 27 March 2027

    • World Theatre Day

      Awareness

      World Theatre Day on 27 March celebrates theatre worldwide, with an international message written each year by a leading theatre figure.

  23. Sunday 28 March 2027

    • Easter Sunday

      Religious and cultural

      The main Christian festival celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. Its date moves each year with the spring full moon.

  24. Tuesday 30 March 2027

    • International Day of Zero Waste

      Awareness

      The International Day of Zero Waste on 30 March promotes cutting waste, reusing materials and moving towards a circular economy.

    • World Bipolar Day

      Awareness

      An international day on 30 March that raises awareness of bipolar disorder and works to reduce the stigma around it.

  25. Wednesday 31 March 2027