2025 is not yet over…we still have Christmas and the New Year to enjoy…
…but it’s not too soon to get started on putting together a marketing calendar for January 2026. Let’s take a look ahead at some of the events, anniversaries and other occasions that we can put to use for an event-driven marketing event or promotion.
Of course, the New Year itself is a great reason for a promotion. At this time, most people are making plans for the year ahead and often looking to make a “fresh start”.
“New Year Sales” are a staple pretty much around the world and no reason why you can’t make use of this.
Other events of note…
January 1 – New Year’s Day
January 1 – Global Family Day
January 1 – Copyright Law Day
January 1 – International Public Domain Day
January 2 – Motivation and Inspiration Day
January 3 – Festival of Sleep Day
January 3 – International Mind-Body Wellness Day
January 3 – J.R.R. Tolkien Day (anniversary of the birth of the author in 1892)
January 3 – Perihelion Day (the day when the Earth is closest to the Sun)
January 4 – World Braille Day
January 4 – Blender Day (invented 1910)
January 4 – World Hypnotism Day
January 5 – “Twelfth Night” (conclusion of the Twelve Days of Christmas…note that some traditions count “Twelfth Night” as falling on January 6)
January 6 – Coming of the Epiphany
January 6 – Birthday of Sherlock Holmes
January 7 – Orthodox Christmas Day
January 8 – Elvis Presley’s Birthday
January 8 – World Typing Day
January 9 – International Choreographers Day
January 10 – Peculiar People Day
January 11 – “Thank You” Day
January 14 – Orthodox (“Old”) New Year’s Day
January 14 – World Logic Day
January 17 – Ben Franklin Day (anniversary of his birth in 1706)
January 17 – International Mentoring Day
January 17 – “Popeye” Day (anniversary of the creation of the character in 1929)
January 18 – Winnie The Pooh Day (anniversary of the birth of A.A. Milne)
January 18 – World Religion Day (third Sunday in January)
January 18 – World Snow Day (third Sunday in January)
January 19 – “Tin Can Day” (patent awarded in 1825 for canning process)
January 19 – Martin Luther King Day
January 22 – Celebration of Life Day
January 23 – Handwriting Day
January 24 – International Day of Education
January 25 – Burns Night
January 26 – Australia Day
January 26 – International Clean Energy Day
January 26 – International Customs Day
January 27 – International Holocaust Remembrance Day
January 28 – Data Privacy Day
January 28 – International Lego Day
January 28 – International Day of Peaceful Coexistence
January 29 – Puzzle Day
January 29 – Freethinkers Day (anniversary of birth of Thomas Paine)
January 31 – Backward Day
January 31 – International Zebra Day
Turning to events in individual countries…
In the USA…
January 1 – New Year’s Day
January 7 – Orthodox Christmas Day
January 7 – Estelle Reel Day (Wyoming)
January 8 – Battle of New Orleans Day (Louisiana)
January 13 – Stephen Foster (known as the “Father of American Music”) Memorial Day
January 14 – Orthodox New Year
January 19 – Martin Luther King Day
January 19 – Confederate Heroes’ Day (Texas)
January 19 – Robert E Lee’s Birthday (Florida, Alabama. Mississippi)
January 19 – Civil Rights Day (Arizona, New Hampshire)
January 19 – Idaho Human Rights Day (Idaho)
January 29 – Kansas Day
Canada…
January 1 – New Year’s Day
The UK…
January 1 – New Year’s Day
January 2 – Day After New Year Holiday (Scotland)
January 6 – Epiphany
January 12 – “Plough Monday” (traditionally the first day of the Agricultural Year, falls on the first Monday after Epiphany)
January 25 – Burns Night (Scotland)
January 25 – St. Dwynwen’s Day (Wales)
January 26 – Dundee Day (local, Scotland)
January 29 – RNLI SOS Day
Australia…
January 1 – New Year’s Day
January 26 – Australia Day
In Australia, it’s the middle of summer and very much an extended holiday season.
There’s also the annual Sydney Festival over January 8-25…
…and the Australian Open Tennis Championship takes place January 12-1 February.
Traditionally, Australia Day marks the end of the summer holiday period so “Back to work” can be used as a theme after that. It’s also “Back to School” at the end of the month…
…with the start of the academic year.
Wishing you a successful start to 2026 with your event-driven promotions!