March 2026 is a month of renewal, equality, and celebration. The sporting calendar heats up with the Six Nations rugby union reaching its climax and cricket fans look to the Southern Hemisphere for test series. Cultural events like International Women’s Day, St Patrick’s Day, and Holi bring people together across the globe.
Cultural Calendar Dates for March 2026
March 2026 – Month-long Observances
- Women’s History Month (US & UK) | March 2026 Recognises women’s contributions to history, culture, and society, while spotlighting gender-equality issues.
- Endometriosis Awareness Month | March 2026 Raises awareness about the impact of endometriosis on women’s health, calling for better research and support.
March 2026 – Key Dates & Events
- Zero Discrimination Day | 1 March 2026 A UN observance promoting equality before the law and in practice, regardless of background.
- World Book Day (UK & Ireland) | 5 March 2026 A celebration of reading and literacy, often marked by schools with costumes and storytelling.
- International Women’s Day | 8 March 2026 Global day recognising women’s achievements and advancing gender equality, marked by events and campaigns.
- Commonwealth Day | 9 March 2026 Celebrates the values and diversity of the Commonwealth of Nations.
- World Sleep Day | 13 March 2026 Highlights the importance of healthy sleep for wellbeing and productivity.
- St Patrick’s Day | 17 March 2026 An Irish celebration now observed globally with parades, music, and green-themed festivities.
- International Day of Happiness | 20 March 2026 A UN initiative promoting happiness and wellbeing as fundamental human goals.
- International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination | 21 March 2026 Commemorates the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre in South Africa and promotes anti-racism.
- World Poetry Day | 21 March 2026 Celebrates poetry as a universal art form, with readings and workshops.
- World Water Day | 22 March 2026 Raises awareness about freshwater and the importance of sustainable water management.
- Holi | 24 March 2026 The Hindu festival of colours, celebrating spring, community, and the triumph of good over evil.
- International Transgender Day of Visibility | 31 March 2026 Recognises and celebrates transgender people while highlighting challenges they face.
March 2026 – Sporting Highlights
- Formula One Season Opener | early March 2026 (location TBD) The new F1 season begins, kicking off a year of global racing.
- Six Nations Rugby | continues through March 2026 Europe’s premier rugby championship, with fixtures across England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales.
- NCAA March Madness | March 2026 The US college basketball tournament captivates fans with knockout games leading to the Final Four in April.
Of course, this is just a selection of cultural observances for March 2026. If we’ve missed a key date for your HR, Culture, Brand or People team, let us know on LinkedIn — we aim to keep our calendar as inclusive as possible.
Explore the rest of 2026
Check out PepTalk’s full list of cultural calendar dates and awareness events for every month of 2026:
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