UK awareness days and key dates

Tuesday 1 September 2026

• Love Lamb Week

  Awareness1 to 7 September 2026

  A UK campaign held 1 to 7 September each year to promote British lamb and the sheep farmers who produce it.

Friday 4 September 2026

• Janmashtami

  Religious and cultural

  Janmashtami is the Hindu festival in August or September celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna.

Saturday 5 September 2026

• International Day of Charity

  Awareness

  The International Day of Charity on 5 September encourages people and organisations to help others through volunteering and giving.

• International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls

  Awareness

  On 5 September the UN highlights the leadership, contributions and challenges of Indigenous women and girls around the world.

Monday 7 September 2026

• International Day of Clean Air for blue skies

  Awareness

  The International Day of Clean Air for blue skies on 7 September calls for faster action to cut air pollution for health and climate.

• International Day of Police Cooperation

  Awareness

  The International Day of Police Cooperation on 7 September highlights the value of international cooperation between police forces.

• Know Your Numbers! Week

  Awareness7 to 13 September 2026

  A UK week each September that encourages adults to check their blood pressure and know their numbers.

• National Payroll Week

  Awareness7 to 11 September 2026

  A UK week in early September that highlights the work of payroll professionals, held from 7 to 11 September in 2026.

• World Duchenne Awareness Day

  Awareness

  World Duchenne Awareness Day on 7 September raises awareness of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the needs of people with rare diseases.

• Zero Waste Week

  Awareness7 to 11 September 2026

  A grassroots campaign in the first full working week of September that helps households and businesses cut waste, held 7 to 11 September in 2026.

Tuesday 8 September 2026

• International Literacy Day

  Awareness

  International Literacy Day on 8 September highlights literacy as a human right and the millions of people who still cannot read and write.

• World Physiotherapy Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 8 September highlighting how physiotherapists help people stay active and independent.

Wednesday 9 September 2026

• Back British Farming Day

  Awareness

  An NFU day each September celebrating British food and farming and asking the public and politicians to support home grown produce. In 2026 it was 9 September.

• International Day to Protect Education from Attack

  Awareness

  On 9 September the UN calls for schools, students and teachers to be protected from attack during conflict.

Thursday 10 September 2026

• World Suicide Prevention Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 10 September that raises awareness that suicide can be prevented and encourages action to reduce it.

Saturday 12 September 2026

• London Design Festival

  Religious and cultural12 to 20 September 2026

  A citywide design festival held in London each September, set for 18 to 26 September in 2027.

• Open House Festival

  Religious and cultural12 to 20 September 2026

  A London festival in September when buildings across all 33 boroughs open to the public for free, held from 12 to 20 September in 2026.

• Rosh Hashanah

  Religious and cultural12 to 13 September 2026

  Rosh Hashanah is the two-day Jewish New Year, usually in September or early October.

• United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation

  Awareness

  On 12 September the UN celebrates cooperation and the sharing of solutions between developing countries of the Global South.

Sunday 13 September 2026

• World Sepsis Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 13 September that raises awareness of sepsis, how to prevent it and the need for early treatment.

Monday 14 September 2026

• Ganesh Chaturthi

  Religious and cultural

  Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu festival in late summer honouring Lord Ganesh, remover of obstacles.

• Gas Safety Week

  Awareness14 to 20 September 2026

  An annual UK week raising awareness of gas safety and carbon monoxide risks at home, held 14 to 20 September in 2026.

• Jeans for Genes

  Awareness14 to 20 September 2026

  Jeans for Genes is the annual fundraising campaign for people with genetic conditions, when supporters wear jeans, held 14 to 20 September in 2026.

• Recycle Week

  Awareness14 to 20 September 2026

  A UK week every September encouraging households to recycle more and recycle right, held 14 to 20 September in 2026.

• Remember A Charity Week

  Awareness14 to 20 September 2026

  A UK week in September that encourages people to think about leaving a gift to charity in their will, held from 7 to 13 September in 2026.

• Sexual Health Week

  Awareness14 to 20 September 2026

  A UK week in September from the charity Brook on sexual health and relationships.

Tuesday 15 September 2026

• International Day of Democracy

  Awareness

  The International Day of Democracy on 15 September is a chance to review the state of democracy around the world.

• World Lymphoma Awareness Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 15 September that raises awareness of lymphoma symptoms, diagnosis and life with the disease.

Wednesday 16 September 2026

• International Day for Interventional Cardiology

  Awareness

  The International Day for Interventional Cardiology on 16 September raises awareness of heart disease and treatments such as angioplasty.

• International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer

  Awareness

  On 16 September the UN celebrates efforts to protect the ozone layer, which shields the Earth from harmful solar radiation.

• International Day of Science, Technology and Innovation for the South

  Awareness

  On 16 September the UN promotes science and innovation in developing countries and calls for fairer access to technology.

• National Fitness Day

  Awareness

  A UK day in September led by ukactive, when gyms, leisure centres and sports clubs offer free activities.

Thursday 17 September 2026

• Cask Ale Week

  Commercial and retail17 to 27 September 2026

  An annual September celebration of cask beer in British pubs, with free tasters, tap takeovers and brewery events. In 2026 it ran 17 to 27 September.

• World Patient Safety Day

  Awareness

  World Patient Safety Day on 17 September promotes action to make health care safer for patients everywhere.

Friday 18 September 2026

• Great British Beach Clean

  Awareness18 to 27 September 2026

  The Marine Conservation Society's week of volunteer beach cleans and litter surveys each September, held 18 to 27 September in 2026.

• International Equal Pay Day

  Awareness

  International Equal Pay Day on 18 September calls for equal pay for work of equal value.

Sunday 20 September 2026

• World Cleanup Day

  Awareness

  World Cleanup Day on 20 September encourages communities everywhere to clean up litter and manage waste sustainably.

Monday 21 September 2026

• Adult Learners' Week (Wales)

  Awareness21 to 27 September 2026

  A week in September celebrating lifelong learning in Wales, held from 21 to 27 September in 2026.

• Fairtrade Fortnight

  Awareness21 September to 4 October 2026

  A two-week campaign promoting Fairtrade products and fair pay for farmers and workers, held 21 September to 4 October in 2026.

• International Day of Peace

  Awareness

  The International Day of Peace on 21 September promotes peace as a human right and calls for a day of non-violence and ceasefire.

• Migraine Awareness Week

  Awareness21 to 27 September 2026

  A UK week in late September run by The Migraine Trust to show the real impact of migraine, held 21 to 27 September in 2026.

• National Eye Health Week

  Awareness21 to 27 September 2026

  A UK week in late September promoting good eye health and regular sight tests, held 21 to 27 September in 2026.

• National Inclusion Week

  Awareness21 to 27 September 2026

  A UK week each September that encourages employers to celebrate and take action on inclusion at work.

• Organ Donation Week

  Awareness21 to 27 September 2026

  A UK week in September from NHS Blood and Transplant urging people to record their organ donation decision.

• World Alzheimer's Day

  Awareness

  A global awareness day for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, held on 21 September each year.

• Yom Kippur

  Religious and cultural

  Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the Jewish year, marked by a 25-hour fast.

Tuesday 22 September 2026

• World Rhino Day

  Awareness

  Held on 22 September, World Rhino Day celebrates all five rhino species and supports efforts to protect them.

Wednesday 23 September 2026

• Bi Visibility Day

  Awareness

  A day on 23 September celebrating bisexual people and challenging bi erasure.

• International Day of Sign Languages

  Awareness

  The International Day of Sign Languages on 23 September promotes the recognition of sign languages and the rights of deaf people.

Thursday 24 September 2026

• World Gorilla Day

  Awareness

  Held on 24 September, World Gorilla Day celebrates gorillas and encourages action to protect them in the wild.

• World Maritime Day

  Awareness

  World Maritime Day, held in late September, celebrates shipping and the seafarers who carry more than 80 per cent of world trade.

Friday 25 September 2026

• Macmillan Coffee Morning

  Awareness

  A UK fundraising day, usually the last Friday of September, when people host coffee mornings to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

• Mid-Autumn Festival

  Religious and cultural

  The Mid-Autumn Festival, on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, celebrates the harvest moon with mooncakes and lanterns.

• World Lung Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 25 September that promotes lung health and action on air pollution, smoking and access to care.

• World Pharmacists Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 25 September recognising the role of pharmacists in health care.

Saturday 26 September 2026

• British Food Fortnight

  Awareness26 September to 11 October 2026

  An annual autumn celebration of British food and produce, held 26 September to 11 October in 2026.

• International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons

  Awareness

  On 26 September the UN raises awareness of the threat nuclear weapons pose and calls for a world free of them.

• Sukkot

  Religious and cultural26 September to 2 October 2026

  Sukkot is a seven-day Jewish harvest festival in autumn, when families eat in temporary outdoor huts.

• World Contraception Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 26 September that promotes awareness of contraception and informed choices about sexual health.

Sunday 27 September 2026

• World Rivers Day

  Awareness

  Held on the fourth Sunday of September, World Rivers Day celebrates rivers and encourages people to help protect and restore them.

• World Tourism Day

  Awareness

  World Tourism Day on 27 September highlights the role of tourism in jobs, culture and sustainable development.

Monday 28 September 2026

• Fire Door Safety Week

  Awareness28 September to 2 October 2026

  A UK campaign in late September that explains how fire doors work and urges people to check, report and keep them closed.

• International Day for Universal Access to Information

  Awareness

  On 28 September the UN promotes everyone's right to seek, receive and share information.

• World Rabies Day

  Awareness

  Marked on 28 September, World Rabies Day raises awareness of rabies prevention, including dog vaccination, and supports the goal of ending human deaths from the disease.

Tuesday 29 September 2026

• International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste

  Awareness

  On 29 September the UN encourages action to reduce the food lost on farms and in supply chains and wasted in shops and homes.

• World Heart Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 29 September that raises awareness of heart disease and stroke and how to prevent them.

Wednesday 30 September 2026

• International Translation Day

  Awareness

  International Translation Day on 30 September pays tribute to translators, interpreters and other language professionals.