UK awareness days and key dates

Monday 1 February 2027

• National Storytelling Week

  Awareness30 January to 7 February 2027

  A UK celebration of oral storytelling that starts on the last Saturday of January, running from 31 January to 8 February in 2026.

• Children's Mental Health Week

  Awareness1 to 7 February 2027

  A UK week in early February that helps schools, families and workplaces support the mental health of children and young people.

• Electrical Fire Safety Week

  Awareness1 to 7 February 2027

  A UK campaign in the first week of February that shares advice on preventing electrical fires at home, such as testing smoke alarms.

• Race Equality Week

  Awareness1 to 7 February 2027

  A UK week each February urging employers to take action on race equality at work, held 2 to 8 February in 2026.

• Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week

  Awareness1 to 7 February 2027

  A UK week in early February raising awareness of sexual abuse and sexual violence and the support available.

• Tinnitus Week

  Awareness1 to 7 February 2027

  A UK awareness week in early February run by Tinnitus UK, held 2 to 8 February in 2026.

• World Interfaith Harmony Week

  Awareness1 to 7 February 2027

  World Interfaith Harmony Week runs from 1 to 7 February and promotes understanding and goodwill between people of all faiths and none.

Tuesday 2 February 2027

• Candlemas

  Religious and cultural

  Candlemas on 2 February, also called the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, closes the Christmas and Epiphany season in many churches.

• World Wetlands Day

  Awareness

  World Wetlands Day on 2 February raises awareness of wetlands, which support a large share of the world's wildlife and are vanishing fast.

Thursday 4 February 2027

• International Day of Human Fraternity

  Awareness

  The International Day of Human Fraternity on 4 February promotes dialogue and tolerance between people of different religions and cultures.

• Time to Talk Day

  Awareness

  A UK day on the first Thursday of February that encourages people to have open conversations about mental health with friends, family and colleagues.

• World Cancer Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 4 February that encourages people and governments to act on cancer prevention, detection and treatment.

Friday 5 February 2027

• NSPCC Number Day

  Awareness

  A UK schools maths day in early February when pupils play number games and raise money for the NSPCC.

Saturday 6 February 2027

• International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation

  Awareness

  On 6 February the UN calls for an end to female genital mutilation, a human rights violation affecting millions of girls and women.

• Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year)

  Religious and cultural

  Lunar New Year, also called Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, falls between late January and mid-February.

Monday 8 February 2027

• International Epilepsy Day

  Awareness

  A global day on the second Monday of February to raise awareness of epilepsy and the needs of people who live with it.

• National Apprenticeship Week

  Awareness8 to 14 February 2027

  England's annual week celebrating apprenticeships and the employers and apprentices involved, held 9 to 15 February in 2026.

• National HIV Testing Week

  Awareness8 to 14 February 2027

  A week each February in England encouraging people to test for HIV, with free tests available.

Tuesday 9 February 2027

• Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday)

  Religious and cultural

  The day before Lent begins, marked in the UK by making pancakes. It falls 47 days before Easter Sunday.

• Safer Internet Day

  Awareness

  A day each February promoting safe and positive use of technology for children and young people, held on 10 February 2026 and 9 February 2027.

Wednesday 10 February 2027

• Ash Wednesday

  Religious and cultural

  Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent in the Christian year, falling 46 days before Easter Sunday.

• International Day of the Arabian Leopard

  Awareness

  The International Day of the Arabian Leopard on 10 February raises awareness of a critically endangered big cat native to the Arabian Peninsula.

• World Pulses Day

  Awareness

  World Pulses Day on 10 February celebrates beans, lentils, peas and chickpeas and their role in healthy diets and sustainable farming.

Thursday 11 February 2027

• International Day of Women and Girls in Science

  Awareness

  On 11 February the UN promotes full and equal access to science for women and girls, who remain under-represented in research.

• Vasant Panchami

  Religious and cultural

  Vasant Panchami is a Hindu festival in late January or February that welcomes spring and honours Saraswati, goddess of learning.

• World Day of the Sick

  Religious and cultural

  A Catholic day of prayer on 11 February for people who are ill and for those who care for them.

Friday 12 February 2027

• International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism

  Awareness

  On 12 February the UN raises awareness of violent extremism that can lead to terrorism and the need for international cooperation to prevent it.

Saturday 13 February 2027

• World Radio Day

  Awareness

  World Radio Day on 13 February celebrates radio as the world's most widely used medium and its reach into remote communities.

Sunday 14 February 2027

• National Nest Box Week

  Awareness14 to 21 February 2027

  A week starting on 14 February that encourages people to put up nest boxes for garden birds before the breeding season.

• Racial Justice Sunday

  Religious and cultural

  A day held on the second Sunday of February when churches reflect on racial justice and how to challenge racism.

• Valentine's Day

  Commercial and retail

  A day for cards, flowers and gifts between partners, held on 14 February.

Monday 15 February 2027

• International Childhood Cancer Day

  Awareness

  Held on 15 February each year to raise awareness of cancer in children and teenagers and the support they and their families need.

Wednesday 17 February 2027

• Global Tourism Resilience Day

  Awareness

  Global Tourism Resilience Day on 17 February encourages countries to prepare tourism to withstand and recover from shocks and emergencies.

Friday 19 February 2027

• Care Day

  Awareness

  A day in February that celebrates children and young people with care experience across the UK and Ireland.

Saturday 20 February 2027

• Real Bread Week

  Awareness20 to 28 February 2027

  A nine day celebration of bread made without additives, run by the Real Bread Campaign each February, with the 2027 edition set for 20 to 28 February.

• World Day of Social Justice

  Awareness

  The World Day of Social Justice on 20 February promotes fairness, decent work and social protection within and between countries.

• World Pangolin Day

  Awareness

  Held on the third Saturday in February, World Pangolin Day raises awareness of pangolins, which are threatened by trafficking for their scales and meat.

Sunday 21 February 2027

• International Mother Language Day

  Awareness

  International Mother Language Day on 21 February promotes linguistic and cultural diversity and learning in the language people know best.

• Wales Week London

  Religious and cultural21 February to 7 March 2027

  A programme of events in London around St David's Day promoting Welsh business, culture and people.

Monday 22 February 2027

• Eating Disorders Awareness Week

  Awareness22 to 28 February 2027

  A UK week in late February that raises awareness of eating disorders and encourages people to seek help early. The 2027 week runs from 22 to 28 February.

• World Encephalitis Day

  Awareness

  A global awareness day on 22 February about encephalitis, inflammation of the brain, and the need for faster diagnosis and support.

• World Thinking Day

  Awareness

  Held on 22 February, when Girl Guides and Girl Scouts around the world celebrate international friendship.

Saturday 27 February 2027

• International Polar Bear Day

  Awareness

  Held on 27 February, International Polar Bear Day raises awareness of polar bears and the threat that Arctic sea ice loss poses to them.

• Pokemon Day

  Commercial and retail

  Pokemon Day on 27 February marks the anniversary of the first Pokemon games, with announcements, store events and online broadcasts for fans.

Sunday 28 February 2027

• Rare Disease Day

  Awareness

  A global day on the last day of February that raises awareness of rare diseases and the people living with them.