October Awareness Days 2026: UK Awareness Dates and Social Media Calendar

I love October. The weather is starting to get more crisp, with the arrival of Autumn. It is also packed with awareness days, national events and important campaigns. It makes it a brilliant month for planning engaging and meaningful content.

It’s Black History Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, ADHD Awareness Month and Menopause Awareness Month. Plus you have World Mental Health Day, World Sight Day and National Work Life Week. Plenty of opportunities for you to start conversations, raise awareness and connect with your audience.

Whether you’re planning your October social media content, looking for inspiration for blogs and newsletters, or simply want to know what awareness days are coming up, you’ll find plenty of ideas below. October certainly isn’t short of things to talk about!

Months
Black History
National Cybersecurity Awareness
Breast Cancer Awareness
National Disability Employment Awareness
Menopause Awareness Month
Go Sober For October
ADHD Awareness
Domestic Violence Awareness
National Book Month
Emotional Wellness Month
National Fire Prevention
National Crime Prevention
Dyslexia Awareness
LGBTQ+ history
Blindness awareness
Mental Health Month

Days

1 October
International Day of Older Persons
National Poetry Day
National Vegetarian Week
International Music Day

2 October
World Smile Day
Canine Companion Day
World Farm Animals Day
International Day of Non-Violence

3 October
British Carrot Day
National Brunch Week
World Card Making Day

4 October
International Astronomy Day
No Disposable Cup Day

5 October
National Curry Week
National Work Life Week
World Habitat Day
Child Health Day
Global James Bond Day
National Hygiene Week

6 October
National Badger Day

7 October
National Arthritis Week
Public Health Workforce Week
National Porridge Week

8 October
World Financial Planning Day
World Sight Day

9 October
Baby Loss Awareness
World Egg Day
Harry Potter Book Day
Early Years SENCO Day

10 October
World Mental Health Day
World Dyslexia Awarness Day
I Love Yarn Day
Bookshop Day

11 October
International Day of the Girl Child

13 October
Dyspraxia Awareness Week
National No Bra Day

14 October
Backcare Awareness Week
Chocolate Week
National Braille Week
King Harold Day
National Baking Week
UK Malnutrition Awareness Week
National Magazine Day

15 October
Global Wave of Light
Conflict Resolution Day

16 October
Global Cat Day

17 October
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Adventure Day

18 October
Anti Slavery Day
Epilepsy Action Virtual Tea and Cake Break
World Menopause Awareness Day

19 October
Family Learning Festival
National Adoption Week

20 October
International Chefs Day

21 October
Apple Day
National Honey Day

22 October
Post Polio Syndrome Day
Leave a Review Day

24 October
Wear It Pink Day
International Day of Climate Action

25 October
Crisp Sandwich Day
International Artist Day
British Summertime ends

26 October
National Pension Tracing Day

27 October
National Mentoring Day
National Black Cat Day

29 October
National Internet Day

31 October
Halloween

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