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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.

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May 2028

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  1. Monday 1 May 2028

    • Deaf Awareness Week

      Awareness1 to 7 May 2028

      A UK week in early May promoting the inclusion of deaf people and awareness of hearing loss, held 4 to 10 May in 2026.

    • Dying Matters Awareness Week

      Awareness1 to 7 May 2028

      A UK week in early May that encourages people to talk openly about death, dying and grief, and to plan ahead.

    • Early May bank holiday

      Public holidays

      A bank holiday across the UK.

    • Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week

      Awareness1 to 7 May 2028

      A UK week in early May that raises awareness of mental health problems during pregnancy and after birth, and the support available.

    • National Hedgerow Week

      Awareness1 to 7 May 2028

      A week celebrating hedgerows and the wildlife they support, held in early May in 2026.

    • Water Saving Week

      Awareness1 to 5 May 2028

      A week of tips and campaigns to help people use less water at home, held 4 to 8 May in 2026.

  2. Tuesday 2 May 2028

    • World Asthma Day

      Awareness

      A global day on the first Tuesday of May that raises awareness of asthma and better care for people living with it.

    • World Tuna Day

      Awareness

      World Tuna Day on 2 May highlights the importance of sustainable tuna fishing for food security and the economy.

  3. Wednesday 3 May 2028

    • World Maternal Mental Health Day

      Awareness

      A global day on the first Wednesday of May that raises awareness of mental health during pregnancy and the first year after birth.

    • World Press Freedom Day

      Awareness

      World Press Freedom Day on 3 May defends media independence and honours journalists who have lost their lives doing their job.

  4. Friday 5 May 2028

    • African World Heritage Day

      Awareness

      A UNESCO day on 5 May that celebrates Africa's natural and cultural heritage and supports its protection.

    • Eid al-Adha

      Religious and cultural

      Eid al-Adha is the Muslim festival of sacrifice, held during the Hajj pilgrimage season on the tenth day of Dhul Hijjah.

    • International Day of the Midwife

      Awareness

      A global day on 5 May celebrating midwives and calling for more investment in midwifery.

    • World Hand Hygiene Day

      Awareness

      Held on 5 May each year, WHO's day for promoting clean hands in health care to prevent infections picked up during treatment.

    • World Portuguese Language Day

      Awareness

      World Portuguese Language Day on 5 May celebrates the Portuguese language and the cultures of Portuguese-speaking countries.

  5. Sunday 7 May 2028

    • Hedgehog Awareness Week

      Awareness7 to 13 May 2028

      An annual week in early May raising awareness of the problems hedgehogs face and how people can help, held 3 to 9 May in 2026.

    • International Dawn Chorus Day

      Awareness

      A celebration of birdsong held on the first Sunday in May, when people get up early to listen to the dawn chorus.

  6. Monday 8 May 2028

    • Foster Care Fortnight

      Awareness8 to 21 May 2028

      A UK fortnight in May that highlights fostering and the need for more foster carers.

    • International Thalassaemia Day

      Awareness

      Marked on 8 May, this day raises awareness of thalassaemia, an inherited blood disorder, and supports patients and better access to care.

    • Salt Awareness Week

      Awareness8 to 14 May 2028

      A UK week in May from Action on Salt about the health effects of eating too much salt.

    • Stop Loan Sharks Week

      Awareness8 to 14 May 2028

      A week in May that warns people about illegal money lenders and tells them where to get confidential help.

    • Sun Awareness Week

      Awareness8 to 14 May 2028

      A May week from the British Association of Dermatologists on sun protection and the early detection of skin cancer.

    • Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War

      Awareness8 to 9 May 2028

      On 8 and 9 May the UN remembers all victims of the Second World War, alongside national victory and liberation days.

    • VE Day

      Religious and cultural

      Victory in Europe Day on 8 May marks the end of the Second World War in Europe in 1945.

    • World Ovarian Cancer Day

      Awareness

      A global day on 8 May that unites patient groups to raise awareness of ovarian cancer and push for earlier diagnosis.

  7. Wednesday 10 May 2028

    • International Day of Argania

      Awareness

      The International Day of Argania on 10 May recognises the argan tree and its value for biodiversity and for rural women in Morocco.

    • World Lupus Day

      Awareness

      A global day on 10 May that raises awareness of lupus and calls for earlier diagnosis, better care and more research.

  8. Friday 12 May 2028

    • International Day of Plant Health

      Awareness

      The International Day of Plant Health on 12 May shows how protecting plants from pests and disease helps end hunger and protect nature.

    • International Nurses Day

      Awareness

      A global day on 12 May, Florence Nightingale's birthday, recognising the work of nurses.

    • ME Awareness Day

      Awareness

      A day on 12 May that raises awareness of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), also marked worldwide as World ME Day.

  9. Saturday 13 May 2028

    • World Fair Trade Day

      Awareness

      Held on the second Saturday of May to celebrate fair trade and the producers, makers and businesses that work to its principles.

    • World Migratory Bird Day (May)

      Awareness

      World Migratory Bird Day is held twice a year, on the second Saturday of May and October, to raise awareness of migratory birds and their protection.

  10. Monday 15 May 2028

    • Action for Brain Injury Week

      Awareness15 to 21 May 2028

      A UK week in May run by Headway to raise awareness of acquired brain injury, held 18 to 24 May in 2026.

    • British Sandwich Week

      Commercial and retail15 to 21 May 2028

      A May week celebrating the sandwich and the food to go trade, run by the British Sandwich and Food to Go Association, held 18 to 24 May in 2026.

    • Dementia Action Week

      Awareness15 to 21 May 2028

      A UK week in May led by Alzheimer's Society that encourages people to act on dementia, held 18 to 24 May in 2026.

    • International Day of Families

      Awareness

      The International Day of Families on 15 May raises awareness of the social, economic and demographic issues that affect families.

    • Knife Crime Awareness Week

      Awareness15 to 21 May 2028

      A UK week in May that aims to show knife crime is preventable, with training, events and support for young people.

    • Learning at Work Week

      Awareness15 to 21 May 2028

      A UK week in May when employers run activities that help staff keep learning, held from 18 to 24 May in 2026.

    • National Epilepsy Week

      Awareness15 to 21 May 2028

      A UK awareness week in May run by Epilepsy Action, held 18 to 24 May in 2026.

    • Walk to School Week

      Awareness15 to 19 May 2028

      A UK school week in May that encourages pupils to walk, wheel, cycle or scoot to school, held from 18 to 22 May in 2026.

  11. Tuesday 16 May 2028

    • International Day of Light

      Awareness

      The International Day of Light on 16 May celebrates the role of light in science, culture, education and sustainable development.

    • International Day of Living Together in Peace

      Awareness

      The International Day of Living Together in Peace on 16 May encourages people to accept differences and live together in unity and harmony.

  12. Wednesday 17 May 2028

  13. Thursday 18 May 2028

    • Global Accessibility Awareness Day

      Awareness

      A global day on the third Thursday of May encouraging everyone to think and learn about digital access and inclusion.

    • International Museum Day

      Awareness

      International Museum Day on 18 May highlights the role of museums in society, with museums worldwide running events around a yearly theme.

  14. Friday 19 May 2028

    • World Fair Play Day

      Awareness

      World Fair Play Day on 19 May promotes respect, inclusion and fairness in sport, and opposes violence and doping.

  15. Saturday 20 May 2028

    • International Clinical Trials Day

      Awareness

      A day on 20 May recognising clinical research and the people who take part in trials.

    • National Doughnut Week

      Awareness20 to 28 May 2028

      A May fundraising week in which bakeries, cafes and offices sell doughnuts to raise money for The Children's Trust. In 2026 it ran 16 to 24 May.

    • World Bee Day

      Awareness

      World Bee Day on 20 May raises awareness of bees and other pollinators and the need to protect them and their habitats.

    • World Metrology Day

      Awareness

      Marked on 20 May each year to highlight the science of measurement and the anniversary of the Metre Convention of 1875.

  16. Sunday 21 May 2028

  17. Monday 22 May 2028

  18. Tuesday 23 May 2028

    • International Day to End Obstetric Fistula

      Awareness

      The International Day to End Obstetric Fistula on 23 May calls for action on a preventable childbirth injury that leaves many women injured and isolated.

    • World Turtle Day

      Awareness

      Held on 23 May, World Turtle Day raises awareness of turtles and tortoises and the threats to their survival and habitats.

  19. Wednesday 24 May 2028

    • International Day of the Markhor

      Awareness

      The International Day of the Markhor on 24 May raises awareness of a threatened wild mountain goat of Central and South Asia.

  20. Thursday 25 May 2028

    • Ascension Day

      Religious and cultural

      Ascension Day falls on a Thursday 39 days after Easter Sunday and marks Jesus ascending into heaven.

    • Islamic New Year

      Religious and cultural

      Islamic New Year, the first day of the month of Muharram, begins the new year in the Islamic lunar calendar.

    • Thy Kingdom Come

      Religious and cultural25 May to 4 June 2028

      A global Christian prayer movement held over the eleven days from Ascension Day to Pentecost each year.

    • Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories

      Awareness25 to 31 May 2028

      From 25 to 31 May the UN marks a week of solidarity with the peoples of the territories that are not yet self-governing.

    • World Football Day

      Awareness

      World Football Day on 25 May celebrates football as a tool for peace, inclusion and the empowerment of women and girls.

  21. Monday 29 May 2028

  22. Tuesday 30 May 2028

    • International Day of Potato

      Awareness

      The International Day of Potato on 30 May celebrates one of the world's most important food crops and the farmers who grow it.

    • World MS Day

      Awareness

      A global awareness day for multiple sclerosis held on 30 May each year.

  23. Wednesday 31 May 2028

    • Shavuot

      Religious and cultural31 May to 1 June 2028

      Shavuot is a two-day Jewish festival, seven weeks after Passover, marking the giving of the Torah at Sinai.

    • World No Tobacco Day

      Awareness

      World No Tobacco Day on 31 May raises awareness of the harm caused by tobacco and the tactics of the tobacco industry.