August 2026 Events Celebrations & Special Days
Events, celebrations, awareness events, saint's days, annual campaigns, major sporting events - UK and global festivities happening in August 2026.
It's high summer, and August is the month when we celebrate Yorkshire Day, Sea Serpent Day and World Infinity Day.
The 2026 Commonwealth Games held this year in Glasgow, Scotland concludes in August too.
Here are the key dates and events happening this August in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as around the world.
Festival of Archaeology
18th Jul to 2nd Aug 2026
Organised by the Council for British Archaeology, this is a two week long celebration which includes both online and in person events across the UK.
Commonwealth Games 2026
23rd Jul to 2nd Aug 2026
The Commonwealth Games is an international multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. In 2026 it will be held in Glasgow, Scotland.
– Commonwealth Games Sport Wordsearch
Yorkshire Day
1st Aug 2026
Celebrated on 1st August each year to promote the historic English county of Yorkshire. Celebrations are held in a different Yorkshire town each year, where a declaration of integrity is read out, defining who may call themselves a Yorkshireman or woman.
National Eisteddfod
1st Aug to 8th Aug 2026
The Eisteddfod is Wales' unique annual celebration of its language and culture. It is the biggest touring festival in Europe and in 2026 it celebrates 850th anniversary.
World Breastfeeding Week
1st Aug to 7th Aug 2026
World Breastfeeding Week aims to promote the enabling environments that help women to breastfeed ? including support in the community and the workplace, with adequate protections in government policies and laws - as well as sharing information.
Sisters Day
2nd Aug 2026
Sisters Day is held on the first Sunday of August each year. It celebrates the unique bond between sisters - whether biological, adoptive, step, or chosen.
International Owl Awareness Day
4th Aug 2026
International Owl Awareness Day aims to celebrate one of the most iconic bird species and raise awareness to their plight in the wild and what we can all do to help protect them.
Playday
5th Aug 2026
Playday is celebrated on the first Wednesday in August. It highlights the importance of play in a child's development, and campaigns for play opportunities in schools, childcare, youth settings, and public spaces.
Sea Serpent Day
7th Aug 2026
A day to ponder on the myth of sea serpents. A sea serpent or sea dragon is a type of dragon sea monster described in various mythologies across the ancient world including Mesopotamian, Greek, Judaeo-Christian and Norse mythology.
International Cat Day
8th Aug 2026
Organised by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, this is a day to think about your furry friend and appreciate everything you love about them.
Universal & International Infinity Day
8th Aug 2026
Held on the 8th day of the 8th month of each year to celebrate and promote Philosophy and Philosophizing for the ordinary person.
International Moon Bear Day
8th Aug 2026
International Moon Bear Day is a celebration dedicated to one of the most intriguing species on our planet, the Moon Bear. It is also known as the Asiatic black bear.
Rice Pudding Day
9th Aug 2026
Yes, this really is a thing. All you have to do is to eat some rice pudding today. Enjoy!
World Lion Day
10th Aug 2026
Founded by Big Cat Rescue to highlight the importance of the lion globally and to raise lion conservation awareness worldwide.
World Elephant Day
12th Aug 2026
A day to bring attention to the urgent plight of Asian and African elephants. World Elephant Day asks you to experience elephants in non-exploitive and sustainable environments where elephants can thrive under care and protection.
International Youth Day
12th Aug 2026
International Youth Day brings youth issues to the attention of the international community and celebrates the potential of youth as partners in today's global society.
World Hirola Day
12th Aug 2026
Established by Hirola Conservation Project to highlight the world's most endangered antelope and efforts to protect and preserve this rapidly declining species.
Left Handers Day
13th Aug 2026
Your chance to tell your family and friends how proud you are of being left-handed, and also to raise awareness of the everyday issues that lefties face in a world designed for right-handers.
International Wolf Day
13th Aug 2026
International Wolf Day was created to raise awareness and challenge misconceptions about wolves. It also drives support for wolf conservation initiatives and a peaceful coexistence between wolves and humans.
World Lizard Day
14th Aug 2026
A special day for lizard enthusiasts to share their interest with the world. There are 6,000 species of lizards in the world, and they have been around for more than 250 million years.
Granny Square Day
15th Aug 2026
In this online celebration of crochet and in particular the granny square, a square that can be as simple or as complex as you like. Granny squares can be sewn together to make blankets or clothing and can be made as large or small as you like.
– Knitting and Crocheting Squares For Charity
VJ Day
15th Aug 2026
VJ Day marks both the surrender of Japan and the end of the Second World War.
International Orangutan Day
19th Aug 2026
An awareness day for orangutangs around the world, some of which are facing extinction within the next two decades. Their habitat is threatened by the illegal pet trade and deforestation from the palm oil industry.
World Photography Day
19th Aug 2026
World Photography Day is an international photography event on August 19th that celebrates the passion for photography in our communities.
National Banana Split Day
25th Aug 2026
National Banana Split Day is a fun day to celebrate this delicious delightful dessert! So go ahead and eat a banana split today - why not try making your own?
International Dog Day
26th Aug 2026
A day to celebrate man's best friend. The day intends to highlight the condition of dogs and to encourage the adoption of dogs from shelters.
Makaton International Awareness Day
28th Aug 2026
A special opportunity to reflect on the power of communication and the positive impact Makaton has on people's lives around the world.
International Bat Night
29th Aug to 30th Aug 2026
A night to celebrate bats and learn about the way bats live and their needs with presentations, exhibitions and bat walks. It is also a chance to go out and look for bats in their natural habitat.
Notting Hill Carnival
29th Aug to 31st Aug 2026
The Notting Hill Carnival is Europe's biggest street festival, celebrating Caribbean history and culture. Organised by the local community, it includes masquerade, calypso, soca, steelpan, and sound systems.
Summer Bank Holiday
31st Aug 2026
Today is the last bank holiday in England and Wales before Christmas. It marks the end of the summer holidays for school children and is the weekend when the famous Notting Hill Carnival takes place.
Here are some more important events that are coming soon.