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A 2026 workplace holiday calendar helps HR, People and L&D leaders plan inclusive celebrations, anticipate time-off needs and build cultural awareness throughout the year. Use this guide to find monthly holiday resources, DEI observances and Electives class collections that can help your team celebrate thoughtfully.
Recognizing and celebrating important holidays with increasingly diverse teams shows a commitment to DEI. When celebrations are thoughtful, opt-in and employee-informed, they can support employee engagement, belonging and a high-performance culture. This blog post lists significant holidays and provides links to monthly calendars, resources and Electives class collections to help you plan and celebrate.
The value of recognizing holidays
Celebrating DEI holidays fosters cultural awareness and helps everyone appreciate their colleagues' diverse backgrounds. A robust calendar of celebrations demonstrates your organization’s commitment to an inclusive workplace. Plus, holiday celebrations can enhance engagement through team-building activities that celebrate diversity and promote collaboration.
A workplace holiday calendar works best when it is paired with listening. Ask employees which observances matter to them, make participation optional and avoid putting employees in the position of representing an entire identity, culture or faith tradition.
Components of a strong DEI strategy
- Training programs: DEI training should highlight team members’ differences and similarities while emphasizing continuous learning and open communication.
- Inclusive holiday calendar: Create a calendar highlighting upcoming DEI holidays so everyone can plan for time off, flexible schedules and meaningful celebrations.
(Download our DEI holiday calendar here.) - Interactive workshops: Organize workshops led by community experts where employees can share their cultural experiences and traditions.
Use the Electives holiday calendar to support your team
Tracking all the holidays your employees celebrate can be challenging. That’s why we created an annual calendar and monthly blog posts that list and explain the most commonly observed holidays in the U.S. alongside DEI-specific celebrations.
Our DEI holiday calendar and blog posts can help you:
- Accommodate employees needing time off or flexible schedules for religious or cultural observances.
- Develop resource kits with information about the history and significance of DEI holidays.
- Extend DEI holiday celebrations beyond the workplace by engaging in community outreach activities.
- Set up a feedback loop with employees to refine and improve your DEI holiday calendar and initiatives.
By recognizing and celebrating DEI holidays, you can create a more inclusive and engaging workplace that respects and honors the diverse backgrounds of all your team members.
What workplace holidays should you plan for in 2026?
Want to do a deep dive into upcoming holidays and observances? Check out our monthly holiday blog posts and resources:
- Goal setting on the mind? Plan to succeed with the Electives class collection on goal setting. (Learn about the consequences of unrealistic goals here.)
- Celebrating World Introvert Day? Get ideas here.
- Read our complete list of DEI holidays to celebrate in January.
- Check out this Electives class collection for Black History Month.
- Learn about Working Naked Day, celebrated the first Friday in February.
- Read our complete list of DEI holidays to celebrate in February.
- Women’s History Month and Gender Equality Month are both celebrated in March. Learn more about gender equity issues and how to empower women at work.
- Here’s a list of Electives classes that are perfect during Women’s History Month.
- Read our complete list of DEI holidays to celebrate in March.
- During April, rethink hustle culture and consider implementing inclusive wellness challenges to celebrate Stress Awareness Month.
- Looking for ways to celebrate Earth Month? Check out the Electives class collection.
- Read our complete list of DEI holidays to celebrate in April.
- Discover the perfect classes to bring to your organization with the Electives class collections for AAPI Month and Mental Health Awareness Month.
- Learning at Work Week is the third week in May. Here’s how you can make every week a learning at work week and turn continuous growth into a competitive advantage.
- Read our complete list of DEI holidays to celebrate in May.
- Discover best practices for celebrating Pride Month at work and start planning with this curated list of Electives classes.
- Juneteenth falls on Friday, June 19, 2026. Learn how to celebrate at work with ideas to promote DEI in the workplace.
- Read our complete list of DEI holidays to celebrate in June.
- Celebrate ADA Day by discovering 6 ways to create a more inclusive and accessible workplace for people with disabilities.
- Here’s a curated collection of Electives classes you can bring to your organization to celebrate Parents’ Day.
- Read our complete list of DEI holidays to celebrate in July.
- For National Wellness Month, browse our healthy living class collection and get ideas to enhance wellbeing.
- National Management Training Week is the third week in August. Is it ever too late for manager training? Find out here!
- Read our complete list of DEI holidays to celebrate in August.
- Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with our curated list of classes.
- As you celebrate National Online Learning Day, discover the power of live learning with peers and learn more about the async vs. live learning training debate.
- Read our complete list of DEI holidays to celebrate in September.
- Check out our curated list of Electives classes for National Disability Employment Awareness Month and Global Diversity Awareness Month.
- October is also National Learning and Development Month. Discover the characteristics of a learning culture to see how your organization measures up.
- Read our complete list of DEI holidays to celebrate in October.
- Here’s a list of Electives classes for Native American Heritage Month.
- Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026. Looking to spread gratitude? Check out our Gratitude in Action class collection.
- Read our complete list of DEI holidays to celebrate in November.
- December is Universal Human Rights Month. Learn 3 ways to celebrate here.
- Looking for ways to celebrate the December holidays with your team? Check out our team building class collection.
- Read our complete list of DEI holidays to celebrate in December.
Recognizing and celebrating DEI holidays helps foster an inclusive workplace where people feel valued and respected. By honoring significant dates, listening to employees and planning ahead, you can show your commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in practical ways. Ready to get started? Download our DEI holiday calendar to plan your celebrations and support your diverse team throughout the year.
Looking for more holiday calendars? Click the month you want to see:
January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | Full-Year Overview | Downloadable Calendar
2026 workplace holiday calendar FAQs
How should companies use a workplace holiday calendar?
Use a workplace holiday calendar to plan communications, programming, time-off coverage and optional celebrations in advance. The calendar should guide inclusion efforts, not replace employee feedback.
Does every observance need a company-wide event?
No. Some holidays call for education, some call for flexibility and some may be best acknowledged through employee resource groups or manager guidance. The right approach depends on your workforce and culture.
What should HR and L&D leaders consider when planning holiday programming?
Consider employee preferences, workload timing, accessibility, religious and cultural sensitivity and whether a live learning session, discussion or resource kit would help employees build understanding.
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