UK Yearly Calendar of Thematic Events

Woman using VR to plan the year
Woman using VR to plan the year

The importance of planning your marketing and publicity in advance cannot be over-stated. Being able to plan and budget proactively saves a lot of stress and money.

With that in mind here's a list of events for 2025. It's by no means complete or exhaustive but once you've been suitably enthused and inspired I'm sure many more will come to mind.

Not every one will work for your particular business. Choose and invest in those that have the greatest meaning and potential for you.

January

New Year image

1st January

New Year’s Day

Promote resolutions or fresh starts.

Burns Night

25th January

Burns Night

Celebrate Scottish culture with themed promotions or events.

Blue Monday room

Third Monday

Blue Monday

Focus on mental health awareness with uplifting initiatives.

February

Many people celebrating Valentines Day

14th February

Valentine’s Day

Celebrate love with gifts and experiences.

Pancake3

Date varies

Shrove Tuesday

Promote pancake-related products or events.

Acts of kindness illustration

17th February

National Random Acts of Kindness Day

Encourage community kindness initiatives.

March

St Davids Day display

1st March

St. David’s Day

Celebrate Welsh culture with promotions.

Mothers Day picnic

Date varies

Mothering Sunday

Focus on gifts and experiences for mothers.

Dancers at the Spring Equinox

Around 20th March

Spring Equinox

Welcome spring with seasonal offers.

Family breaking fast during Ramadan

Ramadan

Ramadan in 2025 is expected to begin on the evening of Sunday, 9th March, and will likely end on the evening of Monday, 7th April. However, the exact dates may vary based on the sighting of the moon.

Eid celebration in the park

8th April

Eid

Eid al-Fitr in 2025 is expected to be celebrated on Tuesday, 8th April.

April

Happy Lady clown

1st April

April Fool’s Day

Create fun, light-hearted promotions or pranks.

Easter Store

Date varies

Easter

Offer themed products and family-friendly events.

Earth Day illustration

22nd April

Earth Day

Highlight sustainability efforts and eco-friendly products.

May

Flower festival

1st May

May Day

Celebrate spring with floral promotions or outdoor events.

Flower Burst

First Monday in May

Bank Holiday Weekend

Host special sales or community events.

Group of Happy Children

Second Sunday

National Children’s Day

Engage families with child-focused promotions.

June

Father and Son

Third Sunday

Father’s Day

Promote gifts and experiences for fathers.

Dancing around Stonehenge

Around 21st June

Summer Solstice

Welcome summer with seasonal sales.

Pride March

Throughout the Month

Pride Month

Celebrate diversity with themed campaigns supporting LGBTQ+ communities.

July

French Revolution

14th July

Bastille Day

Highlight French culture or cuisine if applicable. Other national days occur throughout the year, think about your local community and own heritage.

Ice Cream Day

Pick a Hot Week

National Ice Cream Month

Welcome summer with seasonal sales.

Wimbledon

Late June to Early July

Wimbledon

Engage tennis fans with themed promotions.

August

Notting Hill Carnival

Last weekend in August

Notting Hill Carnival

Celebrate Caribbean culture with vibrant promotions.

Wellness spa

15th August

National Relaxation Day

Promote wellness products or services.

Summer Sale

Last Monday in August

Bank Holiday Weekend

Host end-of-summer sales or events.

September

Back to School

End of holidays

Back to School Season

Target students and parents with school-related promotions.

Illustration of Autumn Trees

Around 22nd September

Autumn Equinox

Welcome Autumn (Fall) with seasonal offerings

Thanks You

21st September

World Gratitude Day

Encourage customer appreciation initiatives.

October

Halloween

31st October

Halloween

Host themed events or spooky promotions.

Black History Graphic

Throughout October

Black History Month

Celebrate diversity and heritage through themed initiatives.

Woman reading poetry at microphone

First Thursday in October

National Poetry Day

Engage audiences through creative writing competitions or workshops.

November

London Fireworks

5th November

Guy Fawkes Night

Promote bonfire and firework-related entertaining, products or safety tips.

Poppy field with WW1 soldiers

11th November

Remembrance Day

Honour veterans and promote community involvement in remembrance activities.

Sale Sticker

Day after Thanksgiving in the US

Black Friday

Major sales event to boost retail traffic.

Diwali festival in street

2nd Novermber (See below)

Diwali

Diwali in 2025 will be celebrated on Sunday, 2nd November in the UK. Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is observed on the darkest night of the month of Kartika, which varies each year.

December

Vintage Santa

Most of December

Christmas

Celebrate the festive season with themed promotions and events.

Hannukah

Date varies, usually in December

Hanukkah

Acknowledge the festival of lights with relevant marketing.

New Years Party

31st December

New Year’s Eve

Promote celebrations and reflections on the past year.

Hopefully there are enough above to get you thinking about how you can mobilise your 2025 (and following years) into one of growth and success!

Here are a few more to keep you thinking.

National Saints Days

England

St George's Day: 23rd April

Scotland

St Andrew's Day: 30th November

Wales

St David's Day: 1st March

Ireland

St Patrick's Day: 17th March

Sports Events in 2025

Rugby World Cup

8th September - 28th October (France)

FIFA Women's World Cup

10th July - 20th August (Aus/NZ)

World Athletics Championships

19th July - 27th July (Tokyo, Japan)

Cricket World Cup

October (exact dates TBA)  (India)

UEFA European Championship

June - July (exact dates TBA) (Germany)

Pan American Games

20th October - 5th November (Santiago, Chile)

Annual Sports

The London Marathon
Typically held in April, this iconic marathon attracts runners from around the world.

Wimbledon
The prestigious tennis tournament takes place over two weeks in late June to early July.

The Open Championship
This major golf tournament is usually held in July at various historic courses across the UK.

The Six Nations Championship
A rugby union competition held annually between England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, and Italy, typically from February to March.

The Great North Run
A half marathon held in September, it’s one of the largest running events in the UK.

The FA Cup Final
The final match of the oldest football competition in the world takes place at Wembley Stadium in May.

British Grand Prix
Part of the Formula 1 calendar, this race usually occurs in July at Silverstone Circuit.

The Boat Race
(Oxford vs. Cambridge)
This historic rowing race takes place annually on the River Thames, typically in late March or early April.

Royal Ascot
Takes place in June each year. In 2025, it is scheduled for Tuesday, 17th June to Saturday, 21st June..

Grand National
In 2025 is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 5th April. This famous horse race is held annually at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool.

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