When it comes to planning out your hospitality marketing plan for the year, it can be extremely difficult to know where to start. 365 days, countless digital marketing platforms and tools, and billions of potential people you could reach...
Should you start with your best-selling product? Your worst-selling product? Your most unique selling point? Or throw it all away for whatever’s trending on TikTok?
Well, perhaps all of the above have a place in your marketing strategy, but one of the easiest ways to get started is to plan around the UK’s hospitality marketing dates. Each one gives you an idea of what people will be interested in that day, week, or month, allowing you to prepare a plan that taps into online conversations in a timely, relevant manner.
For example, what kind of hospitality marketing plan would you have created if you didn’t create a buzz for your pub, bar, or restaurant around key dining dates like Valentine’s Day and Christmas? That’d be simply crazy, and we won’t let that happen to you.
So, before the year has flown on by, let’s get into 2026’s UK (and global) hospitality marketing dates.
UK marketing dates for hospitality marketing plans
Tap the month you’re in below and be transported to the place with all the key marketing dates you need!
January 2026 marketing dates
Some of your customers will be kicking off the year in style with a chance to indulge during Ginuary, while others will be focused on more mindful pursuits like Dry January and Veganuary.
1st January 2026: New Year’s Day
1st January 2026: National Bloody Mary Day
6th January 2026: National Shortbread Day
18th January 2026: Blue Monday
20th January 2026: National Cheese Lovers’ Day
25th January 2026: Burns Night
27th January 2026: Chocolate Cake Day
31st January 2026: Hot Chocolate Day
End of January 2026: First payday of the year!
All of January 2026: Dry January, Veganuary, and Ginuary
February 2026 marketing dates
In this month of love, make sure your customers are only sending their googly-eyes your way with these dates in mind. But it’s not all about Valentine’s - there are plenty of other things to get their attention, from the mouthwatering Yorkshire pudding to making the most of the glam BAFTAs and celebrating queer culture.
1st February 2026: National Yorkshire Pudding Day
4th February 2026: World Cancer Day
5th February 2026: Six Nations Rugby Starts
5th February 2026: Time to Talk Day (Mental health awareness)
7th February 2026: Ice Cream for Breakfast Day
13th February 2026: Galentine’s Day
14th February 2026: Valentine’s Day
17th February 2026: Random Acts of Kindness Day
17th February 2026: Chinese New Year (Horse)
17th February 2026: Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day
18th February 2026: National Drink Wine Day
20th February 2026: Love Your Pet Day
22nd February 2026: BAFTAs
22nd February 2026: National Walk Your Dog Day
23rd February 2026: Hospitality Workers Appreciation Day
24th February 2026: World Bar Tender Day
All of February 2026: LGBTQIA+ History Month (UK)
March 2026 marketing dates
Finally, the weather is starting to get a little warmer, the days are getting longer and brighter, and people are looking ahead to crisp spring afternoons spent in beer gardens. You’ll also have time to celebrate pancakes, books, the marvels of women, including the most important woman of the hour on Mother’s Day.
1st March 2026: St. David’s Day
2nd March 2026: British Pie Week
5th March 2026: World Book Day
8th March 2026: International Women’s Day
15th March 2026: Mother’s Day (UK)
16th March 2026: Neurodiversity Celebration Week
17th March 2026: St. Patrick’s Day
18th March 2026: National Black Pudding Day
20th March 2026: International Day of Happiness
20th March 2026: Red Nose Day (Comic Relief)
25th March 2026: International Waffle Day
29th March 2026: Clocks go forward
April 2026 marketing dates
We’re fully into spring now and people are looking ahead to long Easter weekends spent with family, friends, and hopefully a classic pub lunch without any of the washing up. Outside of the glorious four-day weekend, expect plenty of pranks, cups of tea, and to turn all the lights off for an hour or so.
1st April 2026: April Fool’s Day
3rd April 2026: Good Friday
4th April 2026: International Carrot Day
5th April 2026: Easter Sunday
6th April 2026: Easter Monday
6th April 2026: New Beer’s Eve
17th April 2026: Malbec Day
21st April 2026: National Tea Day
21st April 2026: QEII birthday (in memoriam)
22nd April 2026: Earth Day
23rd April 2026: St. George’s Day
23rd April 2026: Shakespeare Day
26th April 2026: London Marathon
May 2026 marketing dates
May is a month of long weekends, pop culture trends, and taking time for self-care in the name of good mental health. That doesn’t mean there won’t be time to stop for a cuppa – it is World Biscuit Day, after all.
1st May 2026: May Day
2nd May 2026: Sauvignon Blanc Day
3rd May 2026: Lemonade Day
4th May 2026: Star Wars Day - #MayThe4th be with you!
4th May 2026: Early May Bank Holiday
8th May 2026: VE Day
11th May 2026: Mental Health Awareness Week
11th May 2026: National Eat What You Want Day
13th May 2026: World Cocktail Day
16th May 2026: World Whiskey Day
16th May 2026: Eurovision Final
20th May 2026: World Bee Day
22nd May 2026: National Beer Garden Day
24th May 2026: National Wine Day
25th May 2025: Spring Bank Holiday
26th May 2026: World Chardonnay Day
29th May 2026: National Biscuit Day
31st May 2026: Women’s FA Cup Final
June 2026 marketing dates
How are we already halfway through the year? 2026 is flying by and we’ve got more than a few hospitality marketing dates to bear in mind this month. So, get the salt and vinegar ready for National Fish and Chip Day and prepare to celebrate Dads everywhere! June is also Pride Month, which presents a great opportunity to share the DEI goals of the business, or amplify the voice of LGBTQ+ organisations you already support. What about Glastonbury you say? Sadly, the popular festival is taking a break this year.
3rd June 2026: World Cider Day
6th June 2026: National Fish and Chip Day
8th June 2026: Best Friends Day
13th June 2026: World Gin Day
15th June 2026: National Beer Day
18th June 2026: International Picnic Day
21st June 2026: Father’s Day (UK)
21st June 2026: National Make Music Day
21st June 2026: World Lambrusco Day
23rd June 2026: National Hydration Day
29th June 2026: Wimbledon starts
30th June 2026: Social Media Day
All of June 2026: Pride Month
July 2026 marketing dates
Think cocktails and catch-ups in sunny beer gardens, weekends away, and long summer evenings making new memories with family and friends. Show how your restaurant can help keep the kids busy as the schools start breaking up for the summer holidays.
1st July 2026: International Joke Day
5th July 2026: British Grand Prix
5th July 2026: Women’s World Cup Final
7th July 2026: World Chocolate Day
11th July 2026: World Rum Day
11th & 12th July 2026: Wimbledon Finals
17th July 2026: World Emoji Day 😊
19th July 2026: Ice-Cream Day
19th July 2026: Men’s World Cup Final
24th July 2026: International Tequila Day
25th July 2026: Cheese and Wine Day
26th July 2026: World Tofu Day
26th July 2026: International Parent’s Day
30th July 2026: International Friendship Day
31st July 2026: National Avocado Day
All of July 2026: Plastic-free July
August 2026 marketing dates
There’s only a few more weekends of summer before the leaves start to change and autumn officially begins. Make the most of it with these key calendar dates and think about how they can tie into the food and drinks you’re offering.
1st August 2026: Yorkshire Day
1st August 2026: Albariño Day
6th August 2026: International IPA Day
7th August 2026: International Beer Day
8th August 2026: International Cat Day
9th August 2026: National Book Lovers Day
13th August 2026: National Prosecco Day
16th August 2026: International Dog Day
27th August 2026: National Burger Day
30th August 2026: National Bacon Day
30th August 2026: International Cabernet Sauvignon Day
31st August 2026: Summer Bank Holiday
September 2026 marketing dates
The kids go back to school and summer is over, but between Eat an Extra Dessert Day and National Hospitality Day, there are still plenty of things to look forward to in September.
1st September 2026: Back to School (differs by region)
4th September 2026: Eat an Extra Dessert Day
5th September 2026: International Charity Day
6th September 2026: International Beard Day
7th September 2026: Zero Waste Week
16th September 2026: 100 days until Christmas!
19th September 2026: Talk Like a Pirate Day
19th September 2026: Oktoberfest begins
26th September 2026: World Dumpling Day
26th September 2026: McMillan Coffee Morning
27th September 2026: National Hospitality Day
27th September 2026: National Tourism Day
All of September 2026: University Freshers’ events
October 2026 marketing dates
The only thing scarier than Halloween in October would be not having anything prepared for your hospitality marketing plans across the rest of the month! It’s time to firm up those Christmas marketing plans, lean into comfort food, and prep for Halloween.
1st October 2026: World Vegetarian Day
1st October 2026: International Coffee Day
2nd October 2026: World Smile Day
3rd October 2026: Buy British Day
5th October 2026: World Curry Week
5th October 2026: World Teacher Day
10th October 2026: World Egg Day
10th October 2026: World Mental Health Day
12th October 2026: National Recycle Week
15th October 2026: World Student Day
16th October 2026: World Food Day
19th October 2026: International Gin and Tonic Day
24th October 2026: Global Champagne Day
25th October 2026: Clocks go back
26th October 2026: Sausage Week
31st October 2026: Halloween
All of October 2026: Black History Month (UK) and Go Sober for October
November 2026 marketing dates
Things are starting to get really chilly outside, but don’t worry – there'll be plenty of excuses for people to warm up in your pub or bar (especially when you get the Christmas lights up!). Whether it’s raising a glass to the failure of Guy Fawkes or taking to social media with your Black Friday deals, there’s plenty to talk about in November.
1st November 2026: World Vegan Day
4th November 2026: Roast Dinner Day
5th November 2026: Bonfire Night
6th November 2026: International Stout Day
7th November 2026: International Merlot Day
11th November 2026: National Singles Day
12th November 2026: National Happy Hour Day
13th November 2026: World Kindness Day
19th November 2026: International Men's Day
27th November 2026: Black Friday
30th November 2026: Cyber Monday
30th November 2026: St Andrew’s Day
All of November 2026: Movember
December 2026 marketing dates
As you might expect from December, this month is mostly about the frenzy and fantastic togetherness of festivities. Once Cyber Monday is all wrapped up, we’ll be wearing Christmas jumpers and tucking into a festive roast.
5th December 2026: Small Business Saturday
5th December 2026: International Volunteer Day
6th December 2026: St. Nicholas Day
11th December 2026: Christmas Jumper Day
19th December 2026: Mad Friday
24th December 2026: Christmas Eve
25th December 2026: Christmas Day
26th December 2026: Boxing Day
31st December 2026: New Year’s Eve / Hogmanay
So, there you have it! All the most important marketing dates for your hospitality marketing plan in 2026. Need help pulling it all together? We’ll get the kettle on.
Brithney Daley
Brithney graduated from Birmingham City University before joining us as an intern in 2022. We couldn’t let her, or her sunny positivity leave us, and she joined our paid social team later that year! She loves reading, chilling with podcasts
