USA awareness days and key dates

Friday 1 May 2026

• National Apprenticeship Week (US)

  Awareness26 April to 2 May 2026

  National Apprenticeship Week (US) promotes apprenticeships to employers and jobseekers; it runs from 25 April to 1 May in 2027.

• Law Day

  Awareness

  Law Day on 1 May is a US observance that celebrates the rule of law and encourages people to learn about the legal system.

• Vesak, the Day of the Full Moon

  Awareness

  The UN recognises Vesak, the most sacred day for Buddhists, which falls on the full moon in May and marks the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passing.

Saturday 2 May 2026

• World Tuna Day

  Awareness

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

Sunday 3 May 2026

• International Compost Awareness Week

  Awareness3 to 9 May 2026

  A week in early May that promotes composting and the use of compost to improve soil and cut waste.

• National Hurricane Preparedness Week

  Awareness3 to 9 May 2026

  A US safety week in early May, before the Atlantic hurricane season, that helps people understand their storm risk and get ready.

• National Small Business Week

  Commercial and retail3 to 9 May 2026

  National Small Business Week is held each spring in the US, recognising small business owners and the support available to them.

• 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.

Monday 4 May 2026

• National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction

  Awareness4 to 8 May 2026

  Each May, US construction employers pause work to talk with staff about preventing falls, the leading cause of death in the industry.

Tuesday 5 May 2026

• Cinco de Mayo

  Religious and cultural

  A celebration of Mexican American culture held in the US on 5 May, recalling the Mexican victory at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

• International Day of the Midwife

  Awareness

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

• Lag BaOmer

  Religious and cultural

  Lag BaOmer is a joyful Jewish day on the 33rd day of the Omer count, often marked with bonfires, parades and outings.

• 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 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.

Wednesday 6 May 2026

• National Nurses Week

  Awareness6 to 12 May 2026

  National Nurses Week runs from 6 to 12 May every year in the US, ending on Florence Nightingale's birthday.

• 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.

Thursday 7 May 2026

• National Day of Prayer

  Religious and cultural

  The National Day of Prayer falls on the first Thursday in May, when Americans of all faiths are invited to pray for the nation.

Friday 8 May 2026

• 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.

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

  Awareness8 to 9 May 2026

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

• 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.

Saturday 9 May 2026

• 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.

Sunday 10 May 2026

• 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.

• Mother's Day

  Commercial and retail

  A day to thank mums. In the UK it is Mothering Sunday, three weeks before Easter Sunday. In the USA it is the second Sunday in May.

• National Transportation Week

  Awareness10 to 16 May 2026

  National Transportation Week is the week in May that includes the third Friday, recognising the people and systems that keep the US moving.

• National Women's Health Week

  Awareness10 to 16 May 2026

  National Women's Health Week starts on Mother's Day each May, encouraging women in the US to make their health a priority.

• Police Week

  Awareness10 to 16 May 2026

  Police Week is the week in May that includes the 15th, when the US remembers law enforcement officers who have died on duty.

• 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.

Tuesday 12 May 2026

• 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.

Thursday 14 May 2026

• Ascension Day

  Religious and cultural

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

Friday 15 May 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.

• Peace Officers Memorial Day

  Religious and cultural

  Peace Officers Memorial Day on 15 May honours US law enforcement officers who died or were disabled in the line of duty.

Saturday 16 May 2026

• 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.

Sunday 17 May 2026

• International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia

  Awareness

  A global day on 17 May standing in solidarity with LGBTQIA+ people and opposing discrimination.

• National EMS Week

  Awareness17 to 23 May 2026

  National EMS Week is held each May in the US, recognising paramedics, emergency medical technicians and other emergency medical services staff.

• World Hypertension Day

  Awareness

  A global day on 17 May that encourages people to check their blood pressure and to prevent and control high blood pressure.

• World Telecommunication and Information Society Day

  Awareness

  World Telecommunication and Information Society Day on 17 May explores how the internet and digital technology can benefit society and close the digital divide.

Monday 18 May 2026

• 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.

Tuesday 19 May 2026

• National Hepatitis Testing Day

  Awareness

  A US health day on 19 May that encourages people to get tested for viral hepatitis and find out their status.

• World Fair Play Day

  Awareness

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

Wednesday 20 May 2026

• International Clinical Trials Day

  Awareness

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

• 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.

Thursday 21 May 2026

• 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 Tea Day

  Awareness

  International Tea Day on 21 May celebrates tea's cultural heritage and promotes sustainable production and fair trade from field to cup.

• World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

  Awareness

  On 21 May the UN celebrates the world's many cultures and the role of cultural dialogue in peace and development.

Friday 22 May 2026

• International Day for Biological Diversity

  Awareness

  The International Day for Biological Diversity on 22 May raises awareness of the loss of nature and the action needed to protect it.

• National Maritime Day

  Awareness

  National Maritime Day on 22 May honours the US merchant marine and the people who work at sea.

• Shavuot

  Religious and cultural22 to 23 May 2026

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

Saturday 23 May 2026

• 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.

Sunday 24 May 2026

• 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.

• Pentecost (Whit Sunday)

  Religious and cultural

  Pentecost, also called Whit Sunday, falls seven weeks after Easter Sunday and celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Monday 25 May 2026

• Memorial Day

  Public holidays

  A US federal holiday on the last Monday in May, remembering members of the armed forces who died in service.

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

  Awareness25 to 31 May 2026

  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.

Wednesday 27 May 2026

• 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.

Friday 29 May 2026

• International Day of UN Peacekeepers

  Awareness

  The International Day of UN Peacekeepers on 29 May honours peacekeepers and remembers those who have died serving under the UN flag.

Saturday 30 May 2026

• 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.

Sunday 31 May 2026

• Trinity Sunday

  Religious and cultural

  Trinity Sunday is the Christian festival of God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, held on the Sunday after Pentecost, 56 days after Easter.

• 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.