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.

‹

October 2028

›

Plan ahead 3 months 6 months 12 months This month

Running all month

Season of Creation 1 September to 4 October 2028
ADHD Awareness Month 1 to 31 October 2028
Adoptober 1 to 31 October 2028
Black History Month (UK) 1 to 31 October 2028
Breast Cancer Awareness Month 1 to 31 October 2028
Brocktober 1 to 31 October 2028
International Walk to School Month 1 to 31 October 2028
National Cholesterol Month 1 to 31 October 2028
Stoptober 1 to 31 October 2028
The Big Draw Festival 1 to 31 October 2028
Tyre Safety Month 1 to 31 October 2028
Poppy Appeal 26 October to 15 November 2028

1Sun
Sunday 1 October 2028
- Fairtrade Fortnight
  Awareness18 September to 1 October 2028
  
  A two-week campaign promoting Fairtrade products and fair pay for farmers and workers, held 21 September to 4 October in 2026.
- Cask Ale Week
  Commercial and retail21 September to 1 October 2028
  
  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.
- British Food Fortnight
  Awareness30 September to 15 October 2028
  
  An annual autumn celebration of British food and produce, held 26 September to 11 October in 2026.
- International Coffee Day
  Awareness
  
  International Coffee Day on 1 October celebrates coffee and calls for a fairer and more sustainable coffee sector for growers.
- International Day of Older Persons
  Awareness
  
  The International Day of Older Persons on 1 October celebrates older people's contributions and looks at the challenges of an ageing world.
- National Vegetarian Week
  Awareness1 to 7 October 2028
  
  The Vegetarian Society's week encouraging people to try meat-free meals, held 1 to 7 October in 2026.
- World Vegetarian Day
  Awareness
  
  Held on 1 October each year to promote the benefits of a vegetarian diet, and opens Vegetarian Awareness Month.
2Mon
Monday 2 October 2028
- Challenge Poverty Week
  Awareness2 to 8 October 2028
  
  A week in October when groups across Scotland highlight the reality of poverty and the action being taken to end it.
- Dyslexia Awareness Week
  Awareness2 to 8 October 2028
  
  A UK week in early October run by the British Dyslexia Association to raise understanding of dyslexia, held 5 to 11 October in 2026.
- Hospice Care Week
  Awareness2 to 8 October 2028
  
  A UK week in early October that celebrates hospice care and the people who provide it, and raises awareness of hospice funding.
- International Day of Non-Violence
  Awareness
  
  The International Day of Non-Violence on 2 October, Gandhi's birthday, promotes non-violence through education and public awareness.
- Kinship Care Week
  Awareness2 to 8 October 2028
  
  A UK week in early October that recognises relatives and friends who raise children when parents cannot.
- National Customer Service Week
  Awareness2 to 6 October 2028
  
  A UK week in the first week of October that recognises customer service staff and the value of good service, held from 5 October in 2026.
- National Work Life Week
  Awareness2 to 6 October 2028
  
  Working Families' annual week encouraging employers and staff to focus on wellbeing and work-life balance, held 5 to 9 October in 2026.
- World Architecture Day
  Awareness
  
  World Architecture Day falls on the first Monday in October and focuses attention on architecture and the built environment, on 5 October in 2026.
- World Habitat Day
  Awareness
  
  World Habitat Day, on the first Monday of October, looks at the state of towns and cities and everyone's right to adequate shelter.
- World Investor Week
  Awareness2 to 8 October 2028
  
  A global campaign week in early October promoting investor education and protection, including warnings about scams.
3Tue
Tuesday 3 October 2028
- 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.
4Wed
Wednesday 4 October 2028
- World Animal Day
  Awareness
  
  An international day on 4 October, the feast of St Francis of Assisi, to raise the status of animals and improve welfare standards.
- World Space Week
  Awareness4 to 10 October 2028
  
  World Space Week, 4 to 10 October, celebrates the benefits of space science and technology and inspires students to explore it.
5Thu
Thursday 5 October 2028
- National Poetry Day
  Awareness
  
  The UK's annual celebration of poetry on a Thursday in early October, held on 1 October 2026.
- Sukkot
  Religious and cultural5 to 11 October 2028
  
  Sukkot is a seven-day Jewish harvest festival in autumn, when families eat in temporary outdoor huts.
- World Meningitis Day
  Awareness
  
  A global day on 5 October each year to raise awareness of meningitis, its warning signs and the goal of defeating it by 2030.
- World Teachers' Day
  Awareness
  
  World Teachers' Day on 5 October celebrates teachers and looks at the support they need to do their jobs well.
6Fri
Friday 6 October 2028
- International Geodiversity Day
  Awareness
  
  A UNESCO day on 6 October that celebrates the variety of rocks, minerals, landscapes and natural processes that shape the planet.
- National Badger Day
  Awareness
  
  A day on 6 October celebrating badgers and the threats they face, marked by Badger Trust during Brocktober.
- World Cerebral Palsy Day
  Awareness
  
  A global day on 6 October to recognise and act for the millions of people living with cerebral palsy.
7Sat
Saturday 7 October 2028
- World Cotton Day
  Awareness
  
  World Cotton Day on 7 October raises the profile of cotton and its importance to farmers, trade and development.
8Sun
Sunday 8 October 2028
- OCD Awareness Week
  Awareness8 to 14 October 2028
  
  An international week in October that challenges myths about obsessive compulsive disorder and helps people find effective treatment.
9Mon
Monday 9 October 2028
- Baby Loss Awareness Week
  Awareness9 to 15 October 2028
  
  A week from 9 to 15 October that remembers babies who have died and raises awareness of pregnancy and baby loss.
- Flood Action Week
  Awareness9 to 15 October 2028
  
  An October week that urges people to check their flood risk, sign up for warnings and make a flood plan before winter.
- Scams Awareness Fortnight
  Awareness9 to 22 October 2028
  
  Citizens Advice's annual campaign helping people spot, report and recover from scams, running 12 to 25 October in 2026.
- World Post Day
  Awareness
  
  World Post Day on 9 October celebrates postal services and their role in daily life, business and national development.
10Tue
Tuesday 10 October 2028
- Ada Lovelace Day
  Awareness
  
  An international day on the second Tuesday of October celebrating women in science, technology, engineering and maths, on 13 October 2026.
- World Mental Health Day
  Awareness
  
  A global day, held every 10 October, for raising awareness of mental health and pushing for better support and care everywhere.
11Wed
Wednesday 11 October 2028
- International Day of the Girl Child
  Awareness
  
  The International Day of the Girl Child on 11 October highlights the challenges girls face and promotes their rights and empowerment.
- National Burn Awareness Day
  Awareness
  
  A UK day in October that aims to prevent burns and scalds, especially to children, and shares first aid advice.
12Thu
Thursday 12 October 2028
- World Arthritis Day
  Awareness
  
  A global day on 12 October that raises awareness of arthritis and other rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.
- World Sight Day
  Awareness
  
  A global day on the second Thursday of October that draws attention to blindness, vision loss and access to eye care.
13Fri
Friday 13 October 2028
- International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction
  Awareness
  
  On 13 October the UN highlights how people and communities are reducing their exposure to disasters and building resilience.
- World Thrombosis Day
  Awareness
  
  A global day on 13 October that raises awareness of blood clots, their risk factors and their warning signs.
14Sat
Saturday 14 October 2028
- Bookshop Day
  Commercial and retail
  
  A UK and Ireland celebration of bookshops held on the second Saturday of October, which was 10 October in 2026.
- International E-Waste Day
  Awareness
  
  Held on 14 October to encourage people to repair, reuse and properly recycle old electrical and electronic items.
- National Hate Crime Awareness Week
  Awareness14 to 21 October 2028
  
  A UK week each October encouraging people to report hate crime and stand together against it, held 10 to 17 October in 2026.
- World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
  Awareness
  
  Held on the second Saturday in October, this day calls for better hospice and palliative care services around the world.
- World Migratory Bird Day (October)
  Awareness
  
  The October edition of World Migratory Bird Day, on the second Saturday of the month, celebrates migratory birds and the habitats they rely on.
- World Standards Day
  Awareness
  
  Held on 14 October each year to recognise the experts who write the international standards used by business and government.
15Sun
Sunday 15 October 2028
- Global Handwashing Day
  Awareness
  
  A global day on 15 October promoting handwashing with soap as a simple way to prevent disease.
- International Day of Rural Women
  Awareness
  
  The International Day of Rural Women on 15 October recognises the vital role of rural women in farming, food security and ending rural poverty.
16Mon
Monday 16 October 2028
- Get Online Week
  Awareness16 to 22 October 2028
  
  A UK week in October that promotes digital inclusion and helps people build online skills, held from 19 to 25 October in 2026.
- National Adoption Week
  Awareness16 to 22 October 2028
  
  A week starting on the third Monday of October that raises awareness of modern adoption and encourages people to consider adopting.
- Restart a Heart Day
  Awareness
  
  Restart a Heart Day on 16 October each year aims to teach as many people as possible how to do CPR and use a defibrillator.
- World Food Day
  Awareness
  
  World Food Day on 16 October promotes action against hunger and for healthy, sustainable diets for everyone.
- World Spine Day
  Awareness
  
  World Spine Day on 16 October each year highlights back and neck pain and promotes good spinal health.
17Tue
Tuesday 17 October 2028
- International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
  Awareness
  
  On 17 October the UN calls for an end to poverty and for people living in poverty to help shape the policies that affect them.
18Wed
Wednesday 18 October 2028
- Anti-Slavery Day
  Awareness
  
  A UK day on 18 October that raises awareness of modern slavery and human trafficking.
- Global Ethics Day
  Awareness
  
  Held on the third Wednesday of October to encourage people and organisations to talk about ethics in public life and business.
- Green Libraries Week
  Awareness18 to 25 October 2028
  
  A UK week in October that shows how libraries help communities act on climate and sustainability, held from 21 to 28 October in 2026.
- World Menopause Day
  Awareness
  
  A global day on 18 October that raises awareness of the menopause and the support available to improve health at midlife.
19Thu
Thursday 19 October 2028
- International Credit Union Day
  Awareness
  
  Held on the third Thursday of October to recognise credit unions and their role in member owned financial services.
20Fri
Friday 20 October 2028
- Wear Red Day (Show Racism the Red Card)
  Awareness
  
  A UK day in October when schools, workplaces and football clubs wear red and raise money to support anti-racism education.
- World Osteoporosis Day
  Awareness
  
  A global day on 20 October that raises awareness of osteoporosis, bone health and the prevention of fractures.
21Sat
Saturday 21 October 2028
- Apple Day
  Awareness
  
  Held on 21 October, Apple Day celebrates apples, orchards and local varieties, with tastings, fairs and identification events across the UK.
- International Repair Day
  Awareness
  
  A day on the third Saturday of October when repair cafes and fixers hold events to promote repairing rather than replacing.
- National Album Day
  Commercial and retail
  
  A UK day in October celebrating the album as an art form, with special releases, broadcasts and events in record shops.
22Sun
Sunday 22 October 2028
- International Stammering Awareness Day
  Awareness
  
  An international day on 22 October to raise awareness of stammering, also called stuttering, and the people who stammer.
23Mon
Monday 23 October 2028
- International Day of the Snow Leopard
  Awareness
  
  The International Day of the Snow Leopard on 23 October raises awareness of threats to the snow leopard and the need to protect it.
24Tue
Tuesday 24 October 2028
- Disarmament Week
  Awareness24 to 30 October 2028
  
  Disarmament Week, 24 to 30 October, raises public awareness of disarmament and its role in peace and protecting civilians.
- Global Media and Information Literacy Week
  Awareness24 to 31 October 2028
  
  Global Media and Information Literacy Week, 24 to 31 October, helps people find, judge and share information responsibly.
- United Nations Day
  Awareness
  
  United Nations Day on 24 October marks the anniversary of the UN Charter coming into force in 1945.
- World Development Information Day
  Awareness
  
  World Development Information Day on 24 October draws attention to development problems and the need for international cooperation.
- World Polio Day
  Awareness
  
  World Polio Day on 24 October each year marks progress towards ending polio and raises funds for vaccination.
25Wed
Wednesday 25 October 2028
- World Opera Day
  Awareness
  
  Celebrated on 25 October, the birthday of Georges Bizet and Johann Strauss II, to share opera with new audiences around the world.
26Thu
Thursday 26 October 2028
- Intersex Awareness Day
  Awareness
  
  Held on 26 October, Intersex Awareness Day raises awareness of intersex people and calls for an end to unnecessary medical interventions without consent.
27Fri
Friday 27 October 2028
- National Black Cat Day
  Awareness
  
  A Cats Protection day on 27 October celebrating black cats, which often wait longer to be adopted.
- Wear it Pink
  Awareness
  
  Wear it Pink is Breast Cancer Now's fundraising day in October when people wear pink to support breast cancer research, held on Friday 23 October 2026.
- World Day for Audiovisual Heritage
  Awareness
  
  The World Day for Audiovisual Heritage on 27 October highlights the urgent need to preserve film, sound and video records.
28Sat
Saturday 28 October 2028
- International Animation Day
  Awareness
  
  International Animation Day on 28 October celebrates animated film, marking the first public projection of moving images by Emile Reynaud in Paris in 1892.
29Sun
Sunday 29 October 2028
- International Day of Care and Support
  Awareness
  
  The International Day of Care and Support on 29 October recognises the value of care work and calls for investment in care systems.
- World Psoriasis Day
  Awareness
  
  A global day on 29 October that raises awareness of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis and challenges stigma around them.
- World Stroke Day
  Awareness
  
  A global day on 29 October to raise awareness of stroke, its warning signs and how it can be prevented.
30Mon
Monday 30 October 2028
- UK Sausage Week
  Commercial and retail30 October to 5 November 2028
  
  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.
31Tue
Tuesday 31 October 2028
- Halloween
  Commercial and retail
  
  The evening of 31 October, known for costumes, pumpkins and trick or treating.
- World Cities Day
  Awareness
  
  World Cities Day on 31 October draws attention to urbanisation and how to make cities sustainable and good places to live.

October at a glance

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

96 dates this month in the UK calendar.

Run an awareness day?

List it free. Organisers can add their day, confirm next year's date and get a verified badge at no cost.

Add your day