You should plan your content strategies, advertising campaigns, and promotional plans ahead to boost sales and increase profits.
In online retail or media publishing, you should use every opportunity to drive traffic and sales and convert users into regular customers. Holidays are the perfect time to target. The first step is to find events that are relevant to your company’s goals. The marketing calendar with important dates is here for you.
To help you start planning and save time, we share a list of 36 world-famous feasts for your marketing calendar. Create a schedule and target your audience throughout the whole year. We recommend some ideas on meaningfully doing it, as even a good reason to celebrate can become a brand’s disaster or even a crash.
Use the dates below to make 2026 a profitable year!
TL:DR – Download the marketing calendar for 2026!
Important dates and holidays in Q1
Table of Contents
New Year’s Day: January 1
Some countries celebrate the New Year on different days. For example, in China, it comes from February 17 to March 3, depending on the moon phase. Indians celebrate the feast a few times per year. Moreover, many countries have different calendars. Check the New Year dates in your marketing calendar before mailing the audience greeting cards and promotional offers.
A new year is an excellent chance to start all over again. Many people like challenges, bucket lists, and commitments. They often adopt a new lifestyle or improve their skills. Use these facts in your marketing campaign. Help your customers reach their goals by providing helpful content or discount offers. And give them anything for free. People love giveaways.
83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards: January 11
The Golden Globe Awards open the awards season and attract global attention to film and TV. The event drives strong social media activity and real-time conversations.
For marketers, it’s a great moment for pop-culture content, influencer activations, and contextual ads across social and CTV. Entertainment, fashion, beauty, and streaming brands often use this night to boost visibility and engagement.
68th Annual Grammy Awards: February 1
Grammy is an annual music award presented by the American National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. It is awarded based on the results of voting by active members of the academy: artists, musicians, producers, studio sound engineers, and other professionals from the world of sound recording. This is probably the highest music industry award, which is something like “Oscar” in cinematography and “Emmy” in television. Traditionally, the awards are presented in February or March.
If your business is related to music, this is a great opportunity. If not, you can post reviews, topical articles, forecasts, and other relevant information to attract the event’s target audience.
Winter Olympics 2026: February 6–22
The Winter Olympics 2026 will take place in Milan–Cortina, bringing together a global audience across live TV, CTV, streaming, and social platforms. The Games generate peak attention over two weeks, with strong engagement around opening ceremonies, medal events, and national team moments.
For marketers and AdTech teams, this is a prime window for high-reach branding, CTV and video-first campaigns, and contextual ads tied to sports, national pride, and winter lifestyle. Automotive, telecom, retail, travel, and consumer brands typically see strong performance during Olympic coverage.
2026 Super Bowl: February 8
Super Bowl LX will take place on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Bad Bunny will lead the halftime performance, while Charlie Puth will sing the national anthem.
As one of the biggest annual sports and entertainment events, it draws millions of viewers worldwide.
The event will air exclusively on NBC, with streaming available via Peacock and Telemundo. The Super Bowl offers unmatched opportunities for brands to connect with massive audiences through commercials, social media campaigns, and real-time fan engagement.
Valentine’s Day: February 14
The feast of love has spread around the world. People from every corner of the planet mark this day by presenting romantic gifts such as flowers, candies, soft toys, jewelry, and Valentine’s cards. Of course, it is not the whole list of stuff that lowers give to each other.
Preparing your Valentine’s Day marketing campaign, leverage fresh ideas to launch holiday traffic. Send charming emails with Valentine’s cards inside. Set some social media activity adding relevant hashtags to your posts. Write a blog article revealing new thoughts on how to spend the day of love and friendship.
2026 NBA All-Star Game: February 15
Basketball is among the most popular sports in the United States, so the annual National Basketball Association All-Star Game (NBA All-Star Game) has a huge audience of fans all around the country. The All-Star Game gathers the best active NBA basketball players of the Western and Eastern Conferences. The first All-Star Game was played on March 2, 1951, in Boston 1950, and since that time, this grandiose show has been held annually in the USA in February. This is a great opportunity to attract American basketball fans if you mention this event on your social networks and website.
Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday): February 16
This federal holiday is celebrated in the USA in February. Although since the 1970s, this holiday has been known as Presidents’ Day to honor all former US presidents, in many states, it is known as George Washington’s birthday. The Monday Uniform Federal Holiday Act of 1968 established the holiday on the third Monday in February, creating a long weekend as with several other US federal holidays.
A business that honors national holidays and traditions has a good among customers, so you have to mention this holiday in your marketing campaign.
Chinese New Year: February 17 – March 3
China has been observing New Year’s Day from February 17 to March 3 this year. The festival is based on the Lunar Calendar, so the dates vary each year slightly. During the two-week celebration, people participate in the Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, and Dragon Boat Festival.
It’s one of the brightest holidays in Chinese culture. If you work with the Chinese community or target people who adhere to the Chinese horoscope, then include this holiday in your marketing strategy. Use the Fire Horse, the year’s symbol, as your main content and design element. Why not?
International Women’s Day: March 8
March is a women’s month. They celebrate the feast of rights and gender equality. If your audience consists mainly of ladies, it’s one more chance to pay attention to your female customers and launch campaigns to make the most out of this girls’ holiday. Moreover, the date is associated with the beginning of spring. Use this season’s elements to create the design of your emails or a website.
To stand out from your rivals, create a user-generated content (UGC) campaign and offer a discount or a gift to the winner. Also, write about female entrepreneurship or women from your industry and post the article to your blog and Facebook. Storytelling drives traffic and brings leads. You can support any local women’s community and run a charity. If females are your business’s principal readers or buyers, celebrate Women’s Day all year round.
98th Academy Awards (The Oscars): March 15
The Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, are the most prestigious awards in US cinema and an annual event with many nominations. The first Oscar was awarded by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1929. Since that time, the best directors, cinematographers, actors, screenwriters, sound and scenery specialists, and all those involved in the production of films have been awarded this small statuette, considered the highest recognition in the industry.
Surely, the best option would be advertising during the event, but its cost is huge (more than $1 million for a 30-second video). However, it’s still worthwhile to mention Oscar in your posts, since this event really has a large audience and not only in the USA. News and highlights from the ceremony, as well as predictions for the winner – everything is good to attract the attention of your audience.
St. Patrick’s Day: March 17
People from the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, though the date is well-known everywhere. It is a cultural and religious holiday established on the death day of Saint Patrick, who was the foremost patron of Ireland. Traditionally, everyone who observes this feast wears green clothes and anything shamrock-shaped and participates in beer and musical festivals.
Launch your own green campaign on official channels and social networks and start the hunt for a pot of gold.
Major League Baseball Opening Day: March 25
Baseball is among the most popular sports, along with football, basketball, hockey, and boxing. Thirty teams are divided into two leagues, the American League (AL) and the National League (NL), and play their games in MLB. Since the NL’s founding in 1876, these matches have attracted thousands of fans across the country. This year, the opening day of the regular season is March 25.
Large sporting events are always a good opportunity to promote your brand, especially now that marketers have these great tools for targeting. Why not take advantage of them?
Important dates and holidays in Q2
April Fools’ Day: April 1
There is another good reason to show your sense of humor and add a cheerful mood to your brand’s tone of voice. Fools’ Day is famous in different countries, but mostly in the West. The main idea of April Fools’ Day is to joke and have fun. Usually, folks take part in various fests and wear extraordinary costumes.
Launch short videos on your social media channels, YouTube, or your website to drive engagement on this day. You may use a viral marketing strategy to grow the audience.
Easter: April 5
Easter and Christmas are two main Christian holidays, so don’t miss the holy days to send greeting cards to the audience that observes Easter Sunday. The holiday dates can be at any time between March 27 and April 24 (except Orthodox).
Eastern and Western churches continue to celebrate Easter according to different calendars. The dates of Easter for the two denominations coincide in only about 30% of cases. Easter 2026 in Catholic countries will be celebrated on April 5. Orthodox and Greek Catholic Easter will be observed a week later, on April 12, to avoid overlapping with Passover.
Businesses that run spring sales around Easter are getting bigger and bigger. The first thing to remember is that holidays are religious. Therefore, you do not need to speculate on them.
Earth Day: April 22
On this day celebrated since 1970, people support our planet’s protection from man-made harm and ecological disasters. They hold events and participate in charity events. Your target audience is those who care about a massive oil spill, wildfires, extinction of some animal species, and conscious consumption.
It would be best if you analyzed whether this theme is relevant to your business. But first of all, think if it correlates with your principles. If yes, demonstrate your company’s attitude toward saving the planet. Charity events are a good idea as well. You can demonstrate how your products can contribute to such movements.
Mother’s Day: May 10
Mothers, grandmothers, and mothers-to-be are the leading figures of this day. The holiday recognizes women’s important contributions to personal and social life. Mother’s Day originates in the USA, where it remains one of the most meaningful days of the year.
Besides, the holiday is popular in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, China, Japan, and most European countries. Since the celebration is becoming more marketable, many brands organize heartwarming campaigns. Many countries have different days for celebration, so verify them before targeting.
Eurovision Song Contest: May 12 – May 16
The international song contest, launched in 1956, is little known in the USA because European countries mainly participate. The artists’ performances are continuously broadcast live. The multi-day format builds momentum throughout the week, with semifinals and a grand final driving continuous online engagement.
For marketers, Eurovision is a strong opportunity for real-time content, social campaigns, influencer partnerships, and culturally relevant creatives. Music, entertainment, fashion, food & beverage, and lifestyle brands often use the event to boost visibility and connect with international audiences.
Cannes Film Festival 2026: May 12 – May 23
Suppose the film industry is a close theme to your customers and potential audience. In that case, it’s worth adding the festival to your holiday marketing strategy. This is one of the most incredible film events, together with the Berlin International Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival.
Movie news and reviews will always be at the top. Compose a list of the most-rated films, or create your short film and post it to the video blog. If your company is large, organize a poll among team members to determine the best movie of the year and publish the results on the site.
International Children’s Day: June 1
If you deal with children’s products or topics of responsible parenthood, then this day should be on top of your holiday list. The World Conference on Child Welfare proclaimed International Children’s Day in 1925. Since that, people annually celebrate on the first day of summer. The events are devoted to children’s rights and wellbeing.
Universal Children’s Day, another similar event, falls on November 20. The United Nations established it in 1954 to protect all children worldwide. If you do not know which date to choose for greetings, send your congratulations twice.
F1 Monaco Grand Prix: June 7
The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the most iconic Formula 1 races, known for its luxury setting and global media coverage. It attracts a premium audience and drives strong engagement across TV, streaming, and social media.
Use this moment for high-end storytelling and aspirational visuals. Short-form video, behind-the-scenes content, and partnerships with creators in automotive, fashion, travel, or luxury work especially well during race week.
USA Flag Day: June 14
The US flag was adopted on June 14, 1777, shortly after the Declaration of Independence. 160 years have passed, the country’s flag has acquired new stars, and on June 14, 1937, Pennsylvania became the first US state to celebrate Flag Day as a state holiday. By the way, June 14 is also considered the birthday of the US Army. Although Flag Day is not an official federal holiday today, many Americans still observe it.
On this day, the national flag adorns most social media pages and appears on branded websites. What is not a reason for a business to once again emphasize its respect for its country? This creates a positive image of the business.
2026 FIFA Club World Cup: June 11 – July 19
The FIFA Club World Cup is an international soccer tournament where top clubs from around the world compete to be crowned global champions. Organized by FIFA, it showcases the best teams from each continent, attracting millions of fans worldwide.
The 2026 FIFA Club World Cup will take place in the United States from June 11 to July 19, featuring 32 top clubs from around the world.
This event is a great chance to reach a global audience through digital ads, social media campaigns, and targeted content. Focus on key matches, use interactive content to engage fans, and tap into the global excitement to increase visibility and engagement.
Father’s Day: June 21
People who live in the US, Canada, European countries, India, China, and Japan, besides Mother’s Day, celebrate Father’s Day. However, it’s not as commercial as Mother’s Day.
Many countries celebrate it on a different day, so check the dates before targeting the audience related to fatherhood. Then, reach high engagement by preparing interactive content such as dad’s quizzes, photo contests, and personality tests.
Wimbledon Championships: June 29 – July 13
Wimbledon is one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world, drawing global attention to tennis, tradition, and summer lifestyle. The two-week tournament generates steady engagement across TV, streaming, social media, and news coverage.
Use Wimbledon’s two-week run to plan sustained campaigns rather than one-off activations. Contextual ads, clean and elegant creatives, and real-time social content perform especially well, as audiences follow matches daily and stay highly engaged throughout the tournament.
Important dates and holidays in Q3
USA Independence Day: July 4
The American Revolution marked the official separation of the first thirteen colonies from Great Britain when the Second Continental Congress proclaimed the US Declaration of Independence, and the document was signed on July 4, 1776. The practice of the official celebration began only in 1812, and since then, its popularity has been growing yearly.
Traditional parades, picnics, and, of course, fireworks are everywhere around the country on this day. No matter what your business is about, this is a great opportunity for everyone, but if you do not know what to do on this day, you can always please your customers with discounts; they will definitely appreciate it.
International Day of Friendship: July 30
On April 27, 2011, the General Assembly of the United Nations declared July 30 as official International Friendship Day. As early as 1930, the founder of Hallmark cards incorporated the idea of celebrating friendship.
Historically many countries commemorate Friends’ Day on various days of the year. Prepare a few campaigns to launch them according to different dates. Set up a photo contest and give something for free to those customers who will post the funniest picture with their buddies on social media.
Burning Man 2026: August 30 – September 7
Burning Man is a global cultural event that brings together creators, tech leaders, artists, and entrepreneurs in Black Rock Desert. While it’s a non-commercial festival, it strongly influences design, tech, lifestyle, and creative trends that later surface in mainstream marketing and media.
For marketers and AdTech professionals, Burning Man is best used as an inspiration and trend-watching moment. Pay attention to emerging aesthetics, community-driven storytelling, experimental tech, and creator-led narratives that often shape campaigns months after the event.
2026–27 UEFA Champions League: September 4, 2026 – June 5, 2027
The UEFA Champions League is one of the most watched sports competitions worldwide, delivering consistent audience attention across an entire season. Matches drive high engagement on TV, streaming platforms, social media, and sports news throughout the year.
For marketers and AdTech teams, the long format allows for always-on campaigns, audience retargeting, and sequential messaging. Sports, betting, fintech, automotive, and consumer brands often leverage matchdays for contextual ads, CTV activations, and real-time performance campaigns.
USA Labor Day: September 7
Labor Day was first celebrated in New York in 1882 on the initiative of the Knights of Labor. In 1894, the US Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday.
Since this is a federal holiday, you should take advantage of the opportunity to attract people’s attention with something dedicated to the event on your resources.
2026 NFL Season: September 10, 2026 – February 14, 2027
The NFL season is one of the most powerful drivers of sports viewership in the U.S., with consistent audiences across live TV, CTV, streaming, and social platforms from kickoff through the Super Bowl.
The NFL season offers great chances to reach a highly engaged audience, especially during the playoffs and Super Bowl. The long season enables always-on strategies, high-impact CTV buys, and data-driven retargeting around key moments like playoffs and championship games. Sports, entertainment, automotive, retail, and fintech brands often see strong performance during NFL game days.
Brands can focus on interactive ads, programmatic placements, and campaigns tied to trending moments, maximizing visibility and engagement.
Oktoberfest: September 19 – October 4
It’s time to create fun content around world-famous beer and musical festivals. If your target audience is from Germany or a fan of the event, you should not miss these dates. It’s the world’s largest beer fest that attracts more than 6 million visitors from different corners to visit Munich.
Come up with a fun blog post to embrace the Oktoberfest spirit. Then, create funny marketing activities around your items or services. Finally, visit it by yourself and launch a live interactive show.
Important dates and holidays in Q4
Halloween: October 31
Halloween originally came from Ireland. Then, a festival marked the end of the harvest season and the coming of winter. Now Halloween is one of the favorite days of millions of people. Western countries arrange celebrations that are usually accompanied by spooky and, at the same time, funny activities.
Add this day to your marketing plan as it is viral among youth. Share some ideas with the audience about how your brand will be spending Halloween, showing the costumes and decorations you prepare. Then, send some “horrible” emails with the promotional offers of your products or services.
Thanksgiving: November 26 (October 12 – Canada)
One of the largest holidays in Northern America is traditionally celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and the second Monday of October in Canada. Thanksgiving starts a big holiday season that goes all the way to New Year’s
Traditionally, everyone preparing for Black Friday will buy something, but consumers have become more discerning and do not make impulse purchases so easily, so on this day, it is better to remind once again about your products or services so that potential customers can learn more about you and buy your product on Black Friday.
Black Friday: November 27
This crazy day means everything for the shoppers. It comes right after American Thanksgiving. So if you run an e-commerce business, you must prepare Black Friday sales as early as possible.
Some companies choose another way of using high consumer interest for this period. They promote slow and responsible shopping, of course, offering discounts too. This way, they look different during the holiday shopping season.
Cyber Monday: November 30
Monday, right after Black Friday, is known as Cyber Monday. In the last few years, people have been shopping online more on this day because some retailers set even higher discounts.
While Black Friday is associated with regular offline business, Cyber Monday brings much traffic to e-commerce brands. It is more popular in the USA and other western regions.
Christmas Eve: December 24–25
Christmas is an annual religious holiday that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. Billions of Christians worldwide celebrate it, gathering with their families for traditional meals and gift exchange. Christmas is a public holiday in many places, so prepare your congratulations beforehand.
Besides the special offers that every company tries to offer each year, concentrate on warm-hearted greetings and wishes. Don’t miss sharing some fresh thoughts in a blog on how to spend Christmas or prepare an unusual present. Give some hints demonstrating your stuff as well.
New Year’s Eve: December 31
The last day of the year falls on December 31. Many countries celebrate it in pubs, nightclubs, concerts, or other public places. Traditionally, families gather at home for a typical dinner to say goodbye to the year. After feasting and gifts exchanges, people watch or light fireworks. New Year’s Eve celebrations go on the next day, on January 1. Besides public festivities, people from Ghana, South Sudan, and Bangladesh go to the church.
December is a perfect time to take stock of achievements and challenges. And it’s a good idea to tell your audience about the progress your business has made for the passing year.
Build stable customer relationships using holiday marketing calendar
We hope this guide will help you create your own 2025 marketing calendar based on your business needs. Every event is a good reason to improve brand awareness and boost sales, so use the opportunities for sincere greetings and marketing ideas.
Some holidays require thorough preparation. Start planning as early as possible so as not to miss important occasions and major holidays relevant to your brand.
To drive traffic constantly, use Adtelligent demand-side platform. It’s a self-serve advertising platform for granular targeting to reach your audience and boost performance and sales.