January
January 1: New Year’s Day
January 3: Buddhist: Mahayana New Year
Celebrated in many Mahayana communities on the first full moon of January, focusing on reflection and renewal.
January 4: UN: World Braille Day
Celebrates the importance of Braille for people who are blind or visually impaired.
January 7: Coptic & Eastern Orthodox Christians: Christmas. Marks the birth of Jesus Christ according to the Julian calendar.
January 10: TSI General Planning Meeting
January 18: TSI Book Club Meeting
January 19: US: Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Observed on the third Monday in January, honoring Dr. King’s leadership in the civil rights movement.
January 27: UN: International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. Marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and promotes Holocaust remembrance and education.
February
February 1–7: UN: World Interfaith Harmony Week. Encourages respect and cooperation between people of different faiths.
February 2: Pagan and Wiccan: Imbolc
Marks the early signs of spring and is associated with the goddess Brigid.
February 4: World Cancer Day
Raises awareness about cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment.
February 7: National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
February 15: Hindu: Maha Shivaratri
A major Hindu festival honoring Lord Shiva with night-long prayers and fasting.
February 16: Presidents’ Day.
February 16-22: Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week.
February 18: Islamic: Ramadan begins
In many countries, Ramadan in 2026 is expected to begin around this date, marking a month of fasting, prayer, and reflection; the exact start varies by local moon sighting.
March
March 1-31: Bisexual Health Awareness Month.
March 1-31: Women’s History Month. Highlights observances focused on equality, renewal, and cultural expression.
March 4: Hindu: Holi
The festival of colors celebrates spring, community, and renewal. In 2026, many communities will observe Holi around this date.
March 4: Sikh: Hola Mohalla. Sikh festival featuring martial arts displays, music, and community gatherings, often coinciding with or following Holi.
March 8: International Women’s Day.
Celebrates women’s achievements and calls for gender equality globally.
March 15: UN: International Day to Combat Islamophobia. A UN observance that raises awareness about the prejudice, discrimination, and hatred faced by Muslims around the world.
March 16-20: 24th National LGBTQ Health Awareness Week.
March 20: National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
March 31: International Transgender Day of Visibility.
April
April 2: Jehovah’s Witnesses: Memorial of Jesus’ Death. Annual observance remembering the death of Jesus Christ, held after sunset.
April 2: World Autism Acceptance Day.
Promotes understanding and acceptance of autistic individuals and their families.
April 2-9 – Jewish: Passover. Commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
April 5: Christian: Easter.
Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ in many Western Christian churches.
April 6: International Asexuality Day.
April 10: National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day.
April 10: Day of Silence.
April 14: Sikh, Hindu: Vaisakhi. Marks the founding of the Khalsa for Sikhs and the spring harvest in many parts of South Asia.
April 18: National Transgender HIV Testing Day.
April 19: Nonbinary Parents Day. (celebrated on the third Sunday of April).
April 20 to April 26: Lesbian Visibility Week.
April 26: Lesbian Visibility Day.
May
First Sunday in May (May 3): International Family Equality Day.
May 5: National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Raises awareness of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people.
May 16: Veterans: Armed Forces Day. US observance on the third Saturday in May, honoring those currently serving in the military.
May 17: International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).
May 19: National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
May 19: Agender Pride Day.
May 21: Global Accessibility Awareness Day. Held on the third Thursday in May, with a focus on digital access and inclusion.
May 22: Harvey Milk Day.
May 24: Pansexual and Panromantic Awareness and Visibility Day.
May 25: Memorial Day.
May 27: Islamic: Eid al-Adha. A major Islamic festival commemorating Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son; in 2026, it is expected to occur around this date (beginning the evening before), with exact observance varying by location and moonsighting.
June (Pride Month)
June 1-30: LGBTQIA+ Pride Month.
June 1: LGBTQ Families Day
June 12: Pulse Remembrance Day. Remembering the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting, this day honors their memories and raises awareness about the ongoing issue of violence against LGBTQIA+ individuals.
June 12: US: Loving Day.
Marks the 1967 US Supreme Court decision that struck down bans on interracial marriage.
June 15: Anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision expanding protections to LGBTQ employees (Botstock v. Clayton County
June 18: UN: International Day of Countering Hate Speech. Promotes efforts to prevent and address hate speech.
June 19: US: Juneteenth. Commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, marking the 1865 announcement of freedom in Texas.
June 26: LGBTQ Equality Day: Anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court Marriage Equality Decision (Obergefell v. Hodges).
June 27: National HIV Testing Day.
June 28: Stonewall Riots Anniversary.
July
July 2: Sylvia Rivera’s Birthday – Honoring a pioneering trans and Latina activist.
July 4: U.S: Independence Day.
July 10: Baha’i: Martyrdom of the Báb.
Commemorates the execution of the Báb in 1850.
July 14: International Non-Binary People’s Day.
July 16: International Drag Day.
July 16 – 22: Disability Pride Week. Recognizing intersectional experiences of disability and identity.
July 18: UN: Nelson Mandela International Day. Honors Nelson Mandela’s legacy and encourages community service.
August
August: Transgender History Month.
August 9: Gay Uncles Day.
August 9: UN: International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Recognizes the rights, histories, and contributions of Indigenous communities worldwide.
August 19: World Humanitarian Day. Celebrating inclusion and compassion in global action.
August 24: Marsha P. Johnson’s Birthday. Remembering her courage and leadership at Stonewall.
August 26: Women’s Equality Day. Marking women’s right to vote and the continuing call for equality.
September
September 7: Labor Day.
September 10: World Suicide Prevention Day. A global effort to raise awareness and strengthen prevention initiatives.
September 11: US: Patriot Day. Remembers the victims of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
September 15: World Afro Day. Celebrates Afro hair, identity, and culture.
September 18: National HIV/AIDS & Aging Awareness Day.
September 18: UN: International Equal Pay Day. Highlights global efforts to close gender pay gaps.
September 20-26: Bisexual Awareness Week.
September 23: Celebrate Bisexuality Day (Bi Visibility Day)
September 23: UN: International Day of Sign Languages. Raises awareness of sign languages and the rights of Deaf communities.
September 27: National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
October
October 1-31: LGBTQIA+ History Month. Exploring the history and resilience of LGBTQ+ communities.
October 1-31: Menopause Awareness Month. Empowering open conversations on women’s health.
October 1: UN: International Day of Older Persons. Recognizes the contributions and rights of older adults.
October 8: International Lesbian Day.
October 10: World Inclusion Day
Informal observance encourages people to practice inclusion in everyday interactions.
October 11: National Coming Out Day.
October 12: Columbus Day.
October 15: National HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
October 18: World Menopause Day.
October 19: National LGBT Center Awareness Day.
October 21: International Pronouns Day. Celebrating respect and inclusion through language. Promotes respect for, sharing of, and correct use of personal pronouns.
October 17: Spirit Day (LGBTQIA+ Anti-Bullying).
October 18-24: Asexual Awareness Week.
October 26: Intersex Awareness Day.
November
National Native American Heritage Month (US): Celebrating Indigenous heritage and Two-Spirit inclusion.
November 1: Transgender Parent Day.
November 8: Intersex Day of Solidarity.
November 13-19: Transgender Awareness Week. Raising visibility for trans and non-binary experiences.
November 16: 20: (TBC): Anti-Bullying Week (UK) – Creating safer schools and workplaces for all.
November 18: LGBTQ+ STEM Day.
November 19: International Men’s Day. Reflecting on lived experiences, inclusion, and well-being.
November 20: Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR). Honoring lives lost to anti-trans violence.
November 25: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
December
December 1: World AIDS Day.
December 3: UN: International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Promotes the rights and well-being of people with disabilities.
December 8: Pansexual Pride Day.
December 10: UN: International Human Rights Day. Marks the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
December 14: HIV Cure Research Day.
December 21: Pagan and Wiccan: Yule.
Celebrates the winter solstice and the return of longer days. In 2026, the solstice falls on December 21 in many locations.
December 25: Christian: Christmas.
Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ in most Western Christian traditions.
December 26–January 1: US: Kwanzaa.
A week-long celebration honoring African heritage and culture, focused on seven guiding principles.