UK Marketing Calendar 2026

Wall calendar with United Kingdom flag
Posted in
SMS Marketing
Published on
November 26, 2025
Written by
Carla Thomas
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Stay on top of the UK’s key holidays and marketing moments with our tips.

According to our UK Consumer Survey, contextual and seasonal timing also influences brand messaging effectiveness. When sent before holidays or special occasions, 38% of consumers see messages as well-timed, making this an ideal window for gifting prompts, seasonal product launches, or limited-time offers. 

Throughout 2026, there are key moments—such as the tennis, Bonfire Night, and Pancake Day—to grow your subscriber list and boost revenue. Bookmark this post to access monthly tips to elevate your SMS strategies and keep customers engaged all year.

*We’ve marked some holidays within the UK marketing calendar that may be sensitive with an asterisk. For those dates, be mindful of who you’re marketing to and in what region, and consider not marketing on those days.

January 2026 Holidays

Tip of the month: Use January to promote self-care and wellness, encouraging subscribers to pamper themselves during the post-holiday lull. Highlight Dry January and Veganuary with bundle deals that include items—such as vegan snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, and self-care products—at a discounted price. 

  • January Sales
  • Dry January
  • Veganuary
  • January 1: New Year's Day
  • January 19: Blue Monday
  • January 26: National Spouse’s Day

February 2026 Holidays

Tip of the month: ​​February is the perfect time to get to know the subscribers you gained over the holiday season. Use Attentive’s Two-Way Journeys™ to learn their interests and segment them ahead of Valentine’s Day by asking them who they are shopping for, whether that is a partner, their galentines, or themselves.

  • LGBT History Month
  • February 5: Start of Six Nations Rugby Championship
  • February 8: Game Day
  • February 9: World Pizza Day
  • February 14: Valentine’s Day
  • February 17: Pancake Day
  • February 17: Lunar New Year
  • February 19-23: Fashion Week events
  • February 20: Love Your Pet Day
  • February 22: BAFTA Awards
  • February 28: BRIT Awards

March 2026 Holidays

Tip of the month: March into spring by showcasing items that capture the essence of the season. Highlight new product arrivals and highlight seasonal items like outdoor gear or cleaning supplies. And get ready for Mother’s Day by sharing curated gift guides.

  • Women’s History Month
  • March 5: World Book Day
  • March 8: International Women’s Day
  • March 13: Red Nose Day
  • March 14: Pi Day
  • March 15: Mother's Day
  • March 17: St. Patrick’s Day
  • March 17-2: Great British Spring Clean
  • March 21: World Poetry Day
  • March 29: Beginning of British Summer Time/Start of Spring

April 2026 Holidays

Tip of the month: Send a series of Easter-themed messages to your customers in the week leading up to the bank holiday weekend, featuring product recommendations—such as baking goods, kitchenware, and decorations— and special incentives to help them get ready. Throughout the weekend, surprise them daily with treats like BOGO to help clear out any excess Easter inventory.

  • National Pet Month
  • April 1: April Fools’ Day
  • April 3: Good Friday Bank Holiday*
  • April 5: Easter Sunday
  • April 6: Easter Monday Bank Holiday
  • April 7: World Health Day
  • April 10: Siblings Day
  • April 15: World Art Day
  • April 21: National Tea Day
  • April 22: Earth Day
  • April 23: St. George’s Day 
  • April 23: Shakespeare Day
  • April 28-4: National Gardening Week

May 2026 Holidays

Tip of the month: Kick off the month that hosts the FA Cup and UEFA Champions League Finals by giving your sign-up units a football theme and including a special offer on sports-related items. Once you've built your dream team of subscribers, keep your messages engaging and relevant with match day and results-related copy.

  • May 4: Star Wars Day
  • May 4: Early May Bank Holiday
  • May 9: Europe Day
  • May 11-17: Mental Health Awareness Week*
  • May 16: FA Cup Final
  • May 17: World Baking Day
  • May 18-24: British Sandwich Week
  • May 19-23: Chelsea Flower Show
  • May 25: Spring Bank Holiday
  • May 27: National Sunscreen Day
  • May 29: National Biscuit Day
  • May 30: UEFA Champions League Final

June 2026 Holidays

Tip of the month: Tap into the prestige of Ascot and treat your SMS subscribers like VIPs. Offer minimum-spend free delivery incentives, flash sales, and limited-time discounts on trending items and new season summer collections.

  • Pride Month
  • June 3: World Bicycle Day
  • June 3: Global Running Day
  • June 8: National Best Friends Day
  • June 11: Start of the FIFA World Cup
  • June 13: Trooping of the Colour/ Kings Birthday
  • June 15: National Beer Day
  • June 16-20: Royal Ascot
  • June 21: Father's Day
  • June 21: Start of Summer
  • June 29: Start of the tennis championships
  • June 30: Social Media Day

July 2026 Holidays

Tip of the month: Deepen connections with your subscribers by using Attentive’s Two-Way Journeys to discover their summer style preferences and holiday shopping needs. Then, use this insight to send them relevant product recommendations that match their tastes and plans.

  • July 7: World Chocolate Day
  • tbc: Amazon Prime Day
  • July 12: End of tennis championships
  • July 17: World Emoji Day
  • July 19: FIFA World Cup Final
  • July 24: International Self-Care Day
  • July 29: National Lipstick Day

August 2026 Holidays

Tip of the month: Use your marketing channels to showcase holiday clothes, summer accessories, and Notting Hill Carnival must-haves. If you have a physical store, employ Attentive’s geo-targeting to direct customers to their nearest location and increase visits during the bank holiday weekend.

  • August 2: Sisters Day
  • August 7: International Beer Day
  • August 8: International Cat Day
  • August 15: National Relaxation Day
  • August 15: Start of Premier League
  • August 19: World Photography Day
  • August 26: International Dog Day
  • August 30-31: Notting Hill Carnival
  • August 31: Summer Bank Holiday

September 2026 Holidays

Tip of the month: Don’t forget working professionals this back-to-school season—many supplies and gadgets appeal to employees too. Extend relevant offers to your entire customer base to boost reach and conversions. Curate runway-themed collections and highlight in-store experiences, such as exclusive pop-ups or styling sessions.

  • September 1: Back-to-School
  • September 5: International Day of Charity
  • September 17-21: Fashion Week events
  • September 18: National Fitness Day
  • September 21: International Day of Peace
  • September 23: Start of Autumn
  • September 25-27: Oktoberfest

October 2026 Holidays

Tip of the month: Keep subscribers engaged ahead of peak season by focusing on lesser-known marketing dates. For Grandparent’s Day, offer savings on products or services that can be enjoyed together, and for Buy British Day, spotlight UK-made products. 

  • Black History Month*
  • October 1: International Coffee Day
  • October 3: Buy British Day
  • October 4: Grandparent’s Day
  • October 25: End of British Summertime
  • October 31: Halloween

November 2026 Holidays

Tip of the month: Drive SMS and email sign-ups by offering new subscribers early access to your Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Then, use SMS to create a sense of exclusivity by sending a secret code that subscribers can redeem at checkout. Announce any further reductions to high-intent shoppers.

  • Movember
  • November 5: Bonfire Night
  • November 11: Single’s Day
  • November 11: Remembrance Day*
  • November 13: Kindness Day
  • November 20: World Children’s Day
  • November 27: Black Friday
  • November 30: Cyber Monday
  • November 30: St. Andrew’s Day

December 2026 Holidays

Tip of the month: Retargeting high-intent shoppers who clicked your links but abandoned browsing or their carts this festive season. Send them shipping deadline reminders and gift vouchers to encourage last-minute checkouts.

  • December 1: Giving Tuesday
  • December 5: Small Business Saturday
  • December 10: Christmas Jumper Day
  • December 14: Free Shipping Day
  • December 14: Green Monday
  • December 18: Mad Friday
  • December 19: Super Saturday
  • December 21: Start of Winter
  • December 24: Christmas Eve
  • December 25: Christmas Day
  • December 26: Boxing Day
  • December 31: New Year’s Eve

For more inspiration, browse our Marketing Campaign Calendar, which includes creative ideas, orchestration tips, and text messaging templates.