UK 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.
Running all month
- Poppy Appeal 22 October to 11 November 2026
- Lung Cancer Awareness Month 1 to 30 November 2026
- Mouth Cancer Action Month 1 to 30 November 2026
- Movember 1 to 30 November 2026
- National Care Leavers' Month 1 to 30 November 2026
- Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month 1 to 30 November 2026
- UK Disability History Month 19 November to 19 December 2026
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Sunday 1 November 2026
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UK Sausage Week
An annual week celebrating British sausages and the butchers and producers who make them, with a national competition. The 2026 week runs 26 October to 1 November.
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All Saints' Day
All Saints' Day on 1 November is a Christian festival honouring all saints, known and unknown.
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World Vegan Day
World Vegan Day on 1 November celebrates veganism and the founding of The Vegan Society, and opens World Vegan Month.
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UK Sausage Week
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Monday 2 November 2026
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All Souls' Day
All Souls' Day on 2 November is when many Christians remember and pray for those who have died.
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Ask Your Pharmacist Week
A UK week in early November from the National Pharmacy Association promoting the services of local pharmacies.
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Get the Nation Learning Week
A UK week in November that encourages adults to take up learning, held from 2 to 6 November in 2026.
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International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
On 2 November the UN condemns attacks on journalists and urges states to bring those responsible to justice.
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International Stress Awareness Week
A week in early November that raises awareness of stress and wellbeing, especially at work. The 2026 week runs 2 to 6 November.
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Sugar Awareness Week
A UK week from Action on Sugar highlighting the sugar hidden in everyday food and drink.
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Talk Money Week
A UK week each November that encourages people to talk more openly about money, held from 2 to 6 November in 2026.
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Youth Work Week
A UK week in early November that celebrates youth work and the people and places that support young people.
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All Souls' Day
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Tuesday 3 November 2026
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Purple Tuesday
An accessibility day on the first Tuesday of November when organisations commit to improving the experience of disabled customers.
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Purple Tuesday
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Thursday 5 November 2026
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Bonfire Night
Held on 5 November across the UK with fireworks and bonfires, remembering the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.
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World Tsunami Awareness Day
World Tsunami Awareness Day on 5 November promotes understanding of tsunami risks and the steps that save lives.
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Bonfire Night
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Friday 6 November 2026
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International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict
On 6 November the UN highlights the often overlooked damage that war and armed conflict do to the environment.
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International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict
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Sunday 8 November 2026
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Bandi Chhor Divas
Bandi Chhor Divas is the Sikh festival of freedom, held on the same day as Diwali, falling on 8 November 2026.
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Diwali
Diwali is the festival of lights celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains in October or November, the biggest date in the Hindu year.
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Inter Faith Week
A week each November promoting good relations and understanding between people of different faiths and beliefs, held 8 to 15 November in 2026.
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International Day of Radiology
A global day on 8 November, the anniversary of the discovery of X-rays, recognising medical imaging.
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Remembrance Sunday
The Sunday nearest Armistice Day, the second Sunday in November, when the UK remembers those who died in war, on 8 November 2026.
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Bandi Chhor Divas
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Monday 9 November 2026
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International Week of Science and Peace
The International Week of Science and Peace, held in the week of 11 November, promotes links between science, cooperation and peace.
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Living Wage Week
A UK week each November when the new real Living Wage rates are announced and accredited employers are celebrated, held 9 to 15 November in 2026.
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Tomorrow's Engineers Week
A UK week each November showing young people the variety of careers in engineering, held 9 to 13 November in 2026.
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Trustees' Week
An annual week each November thanking charity trustees and encouraging more people to take on the role, held 9 to 13 November in 2026.
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International Week of Science and Peace
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Tuesday 10 November 2026
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Hindu New Year (Annakut)
Hindu New Year, the day after Diwali in the Gujarati calendar, is marked with Annakut, a vast offering of food in temples.
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NET Cancer Day
A global day on 10 November that raises awareness of neuroendocrine cancers and the need for earlier diagnosis.
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World Science Day for Peace and Development
World Science Day for Peace and Development on 10 November highlights the role of science in society and in building sustainable futures.
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Hindu New Year (Annakut)
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Wednesday 11 November 2026
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Armistice Day
The anniversary on 11 November of the end of First World War fighting in 1918, marked with a two-minute silence at 11am.
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Armistice Day
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Thursday 12 November 2026
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World Pneumonia Day
Held on 12 November, World Pneumonia Day raises awareness of pneumonia, a leading infectious cause of death, and calls for better prevention and treatment.
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World Pneumonia Day
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Friday 13 November 2026
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BBC Children in Need Appeal Night
The BBC's annual televised fundraising night for disadvantaged children and young people in the UK, held on Friday 13 November 2026.
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Trans Awareness Week
A week from 13 to 19 November raising awareness of trans people and the issues they face, leading into Trans Day of Remembrance.
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World Kindness Day
World Kindness Day on 13 November encourages people everywhere to carry out acts of kindness in their homes, schools, workplaces and communities.
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BBC Children in Need Appeal Night
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Saturday 14 November 2026
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World Diabetes Day
World Diabetes Day on 14 November raises awareness of diabetes and how type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed.
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World Diabetes Day
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Sunday 15 November 2026
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International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime
On 15 November the UN raises awareness of the threats posed by organised crime that crosses borders and the need to tackle it together.
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International Fraud Awareness Week
A global week in November that promotes fraud prevention and awareness, held from 15 to 21 November in 2026.
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Maths Week England
A week of maths activities for schools and the public in England, held from 15 to 21 November in 2026.
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Road Safety Week
Brake's annual UK road safety campaign every November, running 15 to 21 November in 2026.
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World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims
The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, on the third Sunday of November, remembers people killed and injured on the roads.
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World Prematurity Day
A global day on 15 November that raises awareness of preterm birth and the needs of babies born too early and their families.
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International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime
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Monday 16 November 2026
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Anti-Bullying Week
A week each November when schools focus on preventing bullying, coordinated by the Anti-Bullying Alliance and held 16 to 20 November in 2026.
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Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week
A UK week in mid to late November that warns about carbon monoxide poisoning and urges people to fit alarms and service appliances.
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Global Entrepreneurship Week
A worldwide week of events in mid November that encourages people to start and grow businesses, held from 16 to 22 November in 2026.
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International Day for Tolerance
The International Day for Tolerance on 16 November promotes respect for the world's diverse cultures and action against intolerance.
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International Day of the Mediterranean Diet
The International Day of the Mediterranean Diet on 16 November celebrates a healthy way of eating that is also recognised as living cultural heritage.
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National Safeguarding Adults Week
A UK week each November raising awareness of how to protect adults at risk from abuse and neglect, held 16 to 22 November in 2026.
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Self Care Week
A UK week in November that helps people learn how to look after their own health and use services well. The 2026 week runs 16 to 22 November.
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Anti-Bullying Week
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Wednesday 18 November 2026
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World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week
World AMR Awareness Week, 18 to 24 November, raises awareness of drug-resistant infections and encourages careful use of antibiotics and other medicines.
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World COPD Day
A global day in November that raises awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In 2026 it falls on Wednesday 18 November.
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World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Violence
On 18 November the UN raises awareness of child sexual abuse, supports survivors and calls for prevention and accountability.
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World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week
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Thursday 19 November 2026
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Carers Rights Day
A UK day in November that helps unpaid carers understand their rights and the support available. The 2026 day is Thursday 19 November.
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International Men's Day
International Men's Day on 19 November each year focuses on men's health and wellbeing and the positive contributions men make.
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World Pancreatic Cancer Day
A global day in November, on 19 November in 2026, that asks people to learn the warning signs of pancreatic cancer.
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World Philosophy Day
World Philosophy Day, on the third Thursday of November, celebrates philosophical thinking and open, reasoned debate.
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World Toilet Day
World Toilet Day on 19 November raises awareness of the billions of people who still lack safe sanitation.
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Carers Rights Day
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Friday 20 November 2026
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Africa Industrialization Day
Africa Industrialization Day on 20 November builds international support for industrial development across Africa.
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Transgender Day of Remembrance
A day on 20 November remembering trans people whose lives were lost to anti-trans violence.
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World Children's Day
World Children's Day on 20 November is UNICEF's day of action for children's rights, marking the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
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Africa Industrialization Day
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Saturday 21 November 2026
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National Tree Week
The Tree Council's annual celebration that marks the start of the winter tree planting season, running 21 to 29 November in 2026.
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World Television Day
World Television Day on 21 November recognises the influence of television in drawing attention to global issues.
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National Tree Week
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Sunday 22 November 2026
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Christ the King
Christ the King is the Christian festival on the Sunday before Advent, closing the church year; it falls on 22 November 2026.
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Mitzvah Day
A UK faith-based day of social action in November when people volunteer and give time to their communities.
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Christ the King
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Monday 23 November 2026
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UK Parliament Week
A UK week in November encouraging people, especially young people, to learn about and engage with Parliament and democracy.
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UK Parliament Week
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Tuesday 24 November 2026
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Guru Nanak Gurpurab
Guru Nanak Gurpurab celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism, on the full moon of Kartik in November.
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World Conjoined Twins Day
World Conjoined Twins Day on 24 November raises awareness of conjoined twins and promotes their wellbeing and inclusion.
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Guru Nanak Gurpurab
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Wednesday 25 November 2026
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16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
An international campaign running from 25 November to 10 December calling for an end to violence against women and girls.
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International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
On 25 November the UN calls for an end to violence against women and girls and launches 16 days of activism.
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16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
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Thursday 26 November 2026
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World Sustainable Transport Day
World Sustainable Transport Day on 26 November promotes safe, affordable, accessible and clean transport for everyone.
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World Sustainable Transport Day
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Friday 27 November 2026
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Black Friday
The big retail sales day, held the day after US Thanksgiving and now widely marked by UK shops too.
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International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage
On 27 November the UN calls for an end to child, early and forced marriage.
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Black Friday
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Sunday 29 November 2026
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Advent Sunday
Advent Sunday is the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day and begins the Christian season of Advent and the church year.
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International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
On 29 November the UN expresses solidarity with the Palestinian people.
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Advent Sunday
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Monday 30 November 2026
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Cyber Monday
The online sales day on the Monday after Black Friday.
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Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare
On 30 November the UN and OPCW honour the victims of chemical warfare and renew the commitment to eliminate chemical weapons.
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Energy Saving Week Northern Ireland
A late November week of energy saving advice for households in Northern Ireland, run by the Energy Saving Trust.
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St Andrew's Day bank holiday
A bank holiday in Scotland.
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Cyber Monday