Family and relationships awareness days
Dates that celebrate parents, children, carers and the people we love, from Mother's Day and Father's Day to campaigns on fostering, adoption and family wellbeing.
61 days, weeks and months in the next 12 months in the UK calendar.
Coming up next
October 2026
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National Adoption Week
A week starting on the third Monday of October that raises awareness of modern adoption and encourages people to consider adopting.
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International Day of Care and Support
The International Day of Care and Support on 29 October recognises the value of care work and calls for investment in care systems.
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Halloween
The evening of 31 October, known for costumes, pumpkins and trick or treating.
November 2026
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National Care Leavers' Month
A month every November that celebrates young people leaving care and calls for better support for them.
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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.
December 2026
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Hanukkah
Hanukkah is the eight-day Jewish festival of lights in December, marked by lighting one more candle each night.
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Christmas Jumper Day
Save the Children's festive fundraiser when people wear a Christmas jumper and donate, held on Thursday 10 December 2026.
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Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve on 24 December is the evening before Christmas Day, when many churches hold carol, Christingle and Midnight Mass services.
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Christmas Day
The Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus, held on 25 December and one of the biggest dates of the year for families and retailers.
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Christmas Day bank holiday
A bank holiday across the UK.
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Boxing Day bank holiday
A bank holiday across the UK.
January 2027
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New Year's Day bank holiday
A bank holiday across the UK.
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2nd January bank holiday
A bank holiday in Scotland.
February 2027
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Children's Mental Health Week
A UK week in early February that helps schools, families and workplaces support the mental health of children and young people.
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NSPCC Number Day
A UK schools maths day in early February when pupils play number games and raise money for the NSPCC.
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Valentine's Day
A day for cards, flowers and gifts between partners, held on 14 February.
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International Childhood Cancer Day
Held on 15 February each year to raise awareness of cancer in children and teenagers and the support they and their families need.
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Care Day
A day in February that celebrates children and young people with care experience across the UK and Ireland.
March 2027
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Mother's Day
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.
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Young Carers Action Day
A UK day in mid March that raises awareness of young carers and calls for better support for them.
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National Child Exploitation Awareness Day
A UK day on 18 March that raises awareness of child sexual and criminal exploitation and how to prevent it.
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Good Friday bank holiday
A bank holiday across the UK.
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Easter Sunday
The main Christian festival celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. Its date moves each year with the spring full moon.
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Easter Monday bank holiday
A bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
April 2027
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World Wish Day
World Wish Day on 29 April marks the anniversary of the first wish granted by Make-A-Wish and raises funds to grant wishes for seriously ill children.
May 2027
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Early May bank holiday
A bank holiday across the UK.
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Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week
A UK week in early May that raises awareness of mental health problems during pregnancy and after birth, and the support available.
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International Day of the Midwife
A global day on 5 May celebrating midwives and calling for more investment in midwifery.
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World Maternal Mental Health Day
A global day on the first Wednesday of May that raises awareness of mental health during pregnancy and the first year after birth.
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Foster Care Fortnight
A UK fortnight in May that highlights fostering and the need for more foster carers.
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International Day of Families
The International Day of Families on 15 May raises awareness of the social, economic and demographic issues that affect families.
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National Doughnut Week
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.
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National Children's Gardening Week
A week over the late May half term that encourages children to try gardening, with events at garden centres and gardens.
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Spring bank holiday
A bank holiday across the UK.
June 2027
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Global Day of Parents
The Global Day of Parents on 1 June honours parents everywhere for their commitment to raising and protecting their children.
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International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
On 4 June the UN acknowledges the suffering of children around the world who are victims of physical, mental and emotional abuse.
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Carers Week
A UK week in June that recognises unpaid carers and raises awareness of their needs. The 2027 week runs from 7 to 13 June.
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Child Safety Week
The Child Accident Prevention Trust's annual June campaign helping families prevent serious accidents to children, set for 7 to 13 June in 2027.
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International Day of Play
The International Day of Play on 11 June highlights play as a fundamental right of every child and vital for learning and wellbeing.
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World Day Against Child Labour
The World Day Against Child Labour on 12 June focuses attention on ending child labour, which still affects around 138 million children.
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World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on 15 June highlights the neglect, abuse and violence faced by older people.
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International Day of Family Remittances
The International Day of Family Remittances on 16 June recognises the money migrant workers send home to support families and communities.
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Father's Day
A day to thank dads, held on the third Sunday in June in both the UK and the USA.
July 2027
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Group B Strep Awareness Week
Group B Strep Awareness Week raises awareness of group B strep infection in newborn babies, held from 8 to 14 July in 2026.
August 2027
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World Breastfeeding Week
World Breastfeeding Week, 1 to 7 August, promotes breastfeeding and the support families need from communities, employers and governments.
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Summer bank holiday (Scotland)
A bank holiday in Scotland.
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Raksha Bandhan
Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu festival in August celebrating the bond between brothers and sisters with a protective thread.
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Summer bank holiday (England, Wales and Northern Ireland)
A bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
September 2027
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Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Held every September to raise awareness of cancer in children and young people, with the gold ribbon as its symbol.
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Jeans for Genes
Jeans for Genes is the annual fundraising campaign for people with genetic conditions, when supporters wear jeans, held 14 to 20 September in 2026.
October 2027
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Kinship Care Week
A UK week in early October that recognises relatives and friends who raise children when parents cannot.
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National Work Life Week
Working Families' annual week encouraging employers and staff to focus on wellbeing and work-life balance, held 5 to 9 October in 2026.
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Baby Loss Awareness Week
A week from 9 to 15 October that remembers babies who have died and raises awareness of pregnancy and baby loss.
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National Burn Awareness Day
A UK day in October that aims to prevent burns and scalds, especially to children, and shares first aid advice.
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National Adoption Week
A week starting on the third Monday of October that raises awareness of modern adoption and encourages people to consider adopting.