Key Dates for for your 2023 Marketing Calendar in the UK
On our recent expedition into the wilderness of Google, we found ourselves trekking through endless lists of social media holidays for every single day of the year. Whilst it’s good to know National Wine Day is on the 25th of May, this might not be relevant for a company selling children’s books. Similarly, National Grammar Day (4th of March) may be off-topic for your local bakery - they should probably wait until the following Monday, when British Pie Week begins (yum).
Figuring out which dates are relevant for the UK vs the US can also pose a challenge - luckily, we’ve compiled a list of 2023’s biggest dates for your marketing calendar in the UK. From awards shows and sporting events to religious observances and bank holidays, this is your one-stop-shop for all you need to plan for this year.
Veganuary
January
Christmas is over and everyone’s back to work. New Year’s resolutions are rife amongst everyone’s post-Christmas-bloatedness and Dry January and Veganuary are in full swing. January is a popular time for sales, making it a great time to pick yourself up after the Christmas lull.
Dry January and Veganuary
16th Jan - MLK Day
22nd Jan - Lunar New Year (Year of the Rabbit)
25th Jan - Burns Night
27th Jan - Holocaust Memorial Day
28th Jan - Data Privacy Day
February
The second month of the year welcomes holidays such as Valentine’s Day and Pancake Day which are celebrated across the country. Over in the states, the 1st of February marks the start of Black History Month - whilst the UK’s Black History Month takes place in October each year, it’s still good to be aware of what’s going on across the pond. Over here, the 1st marks the start of LGBT History Month, and the first of our yearly sporting events - the Six Nations.
LGBT History Month (UK) and Black History Month (US)
4th Feb - 18th March - Six Nations Rugby
11th Feb - International Day of Women and Girls in Science; The Brit Awards
12th Feb - The Super Bowl
14th Feb - Valentine’s Day
19th Feb - BAFTAs
21st Feb - Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day
22nd Feb - Ash Wednesday
27th Feb - World NGO Day
March
The third month of the year brings the much-awaited first day of Spring, though it’s often still chilly enough to feel like December. Women’s History Month begins on the 1st, with International Women’s Day occurring on the 8th along with Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colour. The UK’s Mother’s Day takes place on the 19th March, and Ramadan begins for a month on the evening of the 22nd March.
Women’s History Month
1st March - St. David’s Day
8th March - International Women’s Day & Holi
12th March - The Oscars
17th March - St. Patrick’s Day & Red Nose Day
19th March - Mother’s Day (UK)
20th March - Start of Spring
22nd March - 21st April - Ramadan
Earth Day 23
April
April is Stress Awareness Month, so be gentle on April Fools’ Day. The month is full of religious festivals as the first true month of Spring, including Passover, Easter Weekend, and Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. UK schools close for two weeks over Easter, though dates can vary between local areas, so if you’re planning a half-term sale, make sure you check first!
Stress Awareness Month
1st April - April Fools’ Day
5th to 13th April - Passover
7th - 10th April - Easter Weekend
21st - 22nd April - Eid al-Fitr
22nd April - Earth Day
May
This May, we’ll enjoy not one, not two, but THREE bank holidays - thanks to the annual May and Spring bank holidays and King Charles III’s coronation, which takes place on the 6th May. From the 9th, people across the world will enjoy Eurovision, which is taking place in Liverpool this year.
1st May - May bank holiday
4th May - Star Wars Day
6th May - Coronation of King Charles III
8th May - Coronation bank holiday
9th - 13th May - Eurovision Song Contest
29th May - Spring bank holiday
June
June is well-known as Pride Month and the time of year when many businesses change their profile picture to a rainbow and call it a day. Don’t fall into that trap! Publicly support LGBTQ+ individuals and organisations year-round, share important, informative and meaningful messages, and consider donating to charities such as Stonewall and The Proud Trust - or, better yet, one in your local area.
June also brings Father’s Day and Eid ul-Adha, the larger of the two main Muslim holidays.
Pride Month
18th June - Father’s Day (UK)
21st June - First day of Summer
21st - 25th June - Glastonbury
22nd June - Windrush Day
28th June - 2nd July - Eid al-Adha
July
Summer is finally in full swing, and with the lovely weather (we’re manifesting!) come some of the biggest sporting events of the year, including the Tour de France, Wimbledon and the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Also in July are Malala Day and Mandela Day, both celebrating the birthdays of these activists and a great time to reflect on how far we’ve come and how far we have yet to go.
1st - 23rd July - Tour de France
3rd - 16th July - Wimbledon
4th July - Independence Day (US)
12th July - Malala Day
18th July - Mandela Day
20th July - 20th Aug - FIFA Women’s World Cup
30th July - International Day of Friendship
World Malala Day
August
August is the month to celebrate your pets, with International Cat Day and International Dog Day both taking place. The World Cup Final is the event to look forward to, along with Notting Hill Carnival which brings colour and joy to the streets of west London. We all know UK summer holidays take place for the month of August as this is when holiday prices skyrocket - however, it also means businesses can be busier during the days as parents look for ways to entertain their little ones.
UK Summer Holidays
3rd Aug - Cycle to Work Day
8th Aug - International Cat Day
20th Aug - FIFA Women’s World Cup Final
26th Aug - International Dog Day
26th - 28th Aug - Notting Hill Carnival
28th Aug - Summer bank holiday
September
In the very first week of September, the summer holidays are over and the kids are back to school meaning back to school promotions are commonplace. September is an important month in the Jewish calendar, with the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, taking place from the 15th, Yom Kippur on the 24th/25th and the week-long holiday of Sukkot from the 29th.
Back to school
15th to 17th Sep - Rosh Hashanah
16th Sep - 100 Days until Christmas
18th Sep - International Equal Pay Day
23rd Sep - Start of Autumn
26th Sep - European Day of Languages
24th - 25th Sep - Yom Kippur
29th Sep to 6th Oct - Sukkot
October
The UK’s Black History Month begins from the 1st of October, and is a time to celebrate and promote understanding of the cultures, perspectives and accomplishments of Black people living in the UK. If you’re not black yourself, give the microphone to someone who is, such as someone in your organisation or local community. Alternatively, use your platform to amplify the voices of black Britons through sharing posts, articles and videos.
Black History Month (UK), Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Stoptober
10th Oct - World Mental Health Day
24th Oct - UN Day
29th Oct - Clocks go back
31st Oct - Halloween
November
Come November, the nights are drawing in and we’re all still trying to get used to the clocks going back. Remembrance Sunday takes place on the 12th this year, which is also the same day as Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights. The US will eat turkey and give thanks on the 23rd, whilst we piggyback off of their Black Friday sales on the 24th!
Movember
5th Nov - Bonfire Night
11th Nov - Remembrance Day
12th Nov - Remembrance Sunday
12th Nov - Diwali
13th Nov - World Kindness Day
20th Nov - International Children’s Day
23rd Nov - Thanksgiving (US)
24th Nov - Black Friday
25th Nov - Small Business Saturday (US)
27th Nov - Cyber Monday
December
In December, Christmas brings light and warmth to chilly (and wet) days throughout the month. Christmas Jumper Day is on the 8th, which is a fun way to get your colleagues involved in your company’s social media. Small Business Saturday takes place in the UK on the 2nd, and Free Shipping Day on the 14th. As well as Christmas, the 8-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah takes place from the 7th December, which is celebrated with nightly menorah lighting and special prayers.
1st Dec - Start of Advent
1st Dec - World AIDS Day
2nd Dec - Small Business Saturday (UK)
6th Dec - St. Nicholas Day
7th Dec to 15th Dec - Hanukkah
8th Dec - Christmas Jumper Day
14th Dec - Free Shipping Day
21st Dec - First day of Winter
24th Dec - Christmas Eve
25th Dec - Christmas Day
26th Dec - Boxing Day
31st Dec - New Year’s Eve
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