Equality and Inclusion Calendar 2025 - 2026

The Equality and Inclusion Unit (EIU) calendar highlights key dates of awareness and religious observance from a number of world faiths.

This calendar is a valuable resource to support inclusive timetabling and event planning. Annually the University, the EIU, Staff Equity Networks and communities across the University may celebrate a variety of awareness dates, including dates not listed in this calendar. Faculties, departments, services and teams are encouraged to acknowledge dates of particular significance to your area of work or to employees. The dates on this calendar have been collated in collaboration with Staff Equity Networks and other teams from across the University.

The Equality and Inclusion Unit has produced a separate Faith calendar specifically focussed on dates of religious observance to support specific inclusive timetabling, events and meeting planning. Please refer to this calendar for specific guidance around supporting staff and students with accommodating religious observation at the University of Leeds.

Key

* - observation begins at sunset on the previous day

** - observation begins at the sighting of the moon

% - work activities are restricted or forbidden on these day(s)

September 2025

1 – 30 September: East and South East Asian Heritage Month
1 September: Sikhism: First Parkash Sri Guru Granth Sahib
**4 – 5 September: Islam: Milad-un-Nabi
4 – 5 September: Hinduism: Onam
22 September: Paganism: Mabon – Autumn Equinox
22 September – 2 October: Hinduism: Navrati
23 September: International Day of Sign Languages
23 September: Bisexuality Visibility Day
*23 – 24 September: Judaism: Rosh Hashana %
28 September – 2 October: Hinduism: Durga Puja

October

1 – 31 October: Black History Month
1 October: International Day of Older Persons
*2 October: Judaism: Yom Kippur – %
2 October: Hinduism and Sikhism: Vijayadashami / Dusshera
*7-13 October: Judaism: Sukkot – %
10 October: Hinduism: Karwa Chauth
11 October: National Coming Out Day
*14 October: Judaism: Shmini Atzeret – %
15 October: International Pronouns Day
*15 October: Judaism: Simchat Torah – %
18 October: World Menopause Day
18 October: Hinduism: Dhanteras
20 October: Hinduism: Diwali
20 October: Sikhism: Installation of Guru Granth Sahib
22 October: Baha’i: Birth of the Báb – %
23 October: Baha’i: Birth of the Bahá’ullah – %
25 – 28 October: Chhath Puja
31 October: Paganism: Samhain

November

1 – 30 November: Islamophobia Awareness Month
1 November: Christianity: All Saints Day
2 November: Christianity: All Souls Day
5 November: Hinduism and Sikhism: Kartik Purinma
5 November: Sikhism: Birthday of Guru Nanak
16 November – 15 December: UK Disability History Month
19 November: International Men’s Day
20 November: Trans Day of Remembrance
25 November: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against women and girls
25 November – 10 December: 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence
25 November: Baha’i: Day of the Covenant
27 November: Baha’i: Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá

December

1 December: World AIDS Day
3 December: International Day of Persons with Disabilities
8 December: Buddhism: Bodhi Day
*15 – 22 December: Judaism: Hannukah
21 December: Paganism: Yule – Winter Solstice
24 December: Christianity: Christmas Eve (University closed)
25 December: Christianity: Christmas Day (University closed)

January 2026

3 January: Buddhism: Mahayana New Year
4 January: World Braille Day
6 January: Christianity: Epiphany
7 January: Eastern Orthodox Christianity: Christmas
13 January: Hinduism: Pongal
** 15 – 16 January: Islam: Lailat-al-Miraj
20 January: Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti
23 January: Hinduism: Vasant Panchami
27 January: International Holocaust Memorial Day

February

1 – 28 February: LGBT History Month
1-7 February: World Interfaith Harmony Week
1 February: Paganism: Imbolc
2 – 8 February: Race Equality Week
3 – 9 February: Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Month
15 February: Buddhism: Nirvana Day
15 February: Buddhism: Maha Shivrati
17 February: Lunar New Year/Chinese New Year
**17 February – 18 March: Islam: Ramadan
18 February: Christianity: Ash Wednesday
18 February – 2 April: Christianity: Lent
20 February: World Day of Social Justice
21 February: International Mother Language Day

March

1-31 March: Women’s History Month
1 March: Zero Discrimination Day
3 March: Buddhism: Magha Puja Day
*3 March: Judaism: Purim
4 March: Hinduism and Sikhism: Holi
4 – 6 March: Sikhism: Holla Mohalla
8 March: International Women’s Day
15 March: International Day to Combat Islamophobia
19 March Hinduism: Ugadi/Samvatsaradi and Gudi Padwa
**19 – 20 March: Islam: Eid-al-Fitr
19 – 27 March: Hinduism: Vasant Navrati
20 March: Paganism: Ostara – Spring Equinox
21 March: International Day for the Eli
22 March: Baha’i: Naw’Rùz – %
26 March: Hinduism: Ram Navami
29 March: Christianity: Palm Sunday
31 March: Trans Day of Visibility

April

1 April: Hinduism: Hanuman Jayanti
2 April: World Autism Day (University closed)
*2 – 9 April: Judaism: Pesach – % 2-3 and 8-9 April (University closed 2 - 7 April)
3 April: Christianity: Good Friday (University closed)
5 April: Christianity: Easter Sunday (University closed)
6 April: International Asexuality Day (University closed)
13 April: Buddhism: Theravada New Year
13 – 15 April: Buddhism: Songkran (Water Festival)
14 April: Sikhism: Vaisakhi
14 – 21 April: Hinduism: Bihu
14 April: Hinduism: Vishu
21 April: Baha’i: First day of Ridván – %
26 April: Lesbian Visibility Day
29 April: Baha’i: Ninth day of Ridván – %

May

1 May: Paganism: Beltane
2 May: Baha’i: Twelfth day of Ridván – %
11 – 17 May: Mental Health Awareness Week
14 May: National Day of Staff Networks
14 May: Christianity: Ascension Day
15 May: Global Accessibility Awareness Day
16 – 22 May: Refugee Week
17 May: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
*22 – 23 May: Judaism: Shavuot – %
24 May: Baha’i: Declaration of the Báb – %
24 May: Christianity: Pentecost/Whitsun
**24 – 29 May: Islam: Hajj (University closed 25 - 26 May)
**26 – 30 May: Islam: Eid-al-Adha (University closed 26 May)
29 May: Baha’i: Ascension of the Bahá’u’llah – No work permitted
31 May: Buddhism: Vesak

Dates tbc: Africa week

June

1 to 30 – Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) History Month
1 – 30 June: LGBT+ Pride Month
8 – 14 June: Men’s Health Week
8 – 14 June: Carer’s Week
15 – 21 June: Learning Disability Week
**16 June: Islam: Muharram
16 June: Sikhism: Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev
21 June: Paganism: Litha – Summer Solstice
22 June: Windrush Day
**25 – 26 June: Islam: Ashura

July

1 – 31 July: Disability Pride Month
10 July: Baha’i: Martyrdom of the Báb
14 July: International Non-Binary People’s Day
18 July – 17 August: South Asian Heritage Month
19 July: Sitalsasthi
23 July: Judaism: Tish’a B’av
29 July: Buddhism: Asala-Dharma Day
29 July: Guru Purnima

Date tbc: Leeds Pride

August

1 August: Paganism: Lammas
13 August: Buddhism: Obon
15 August: Christianity: Assumption Day
28 August: Hinduism: Raksha Bandhan/Rakhi