2021 Global Holiday and Retail Event Calendar: Must Know Dates

Well, we made it to 2021.

While the vibes may not seem so different from 2020 just yet, we’re feeling surprisingly optimistic! To focus on the year ahead and aid in your planning for a successful promotional strategy, we've compiled a list of key dates by month for 2021 including global holidays and retail events.

Note: some dates haven't been announced yet and may be flexible to change due to the pandemic.

January

• 1: New Year's Day
• 14: Korea Grand Sale begins (South Korea)
• 18: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

February

• 1: Black History Month begins (US)
• 2: Groundhog Day
• 7: Super Bowl Sunday
• 12: Chinese New Year begins
• 14: Valentine's Day
• 15: President's Day (US)
• 22: Chinese New Year ends
• 28: Korea Grand Sale ends (South Korea)
• 28: Black History Month ends (US)

March

• 8: International Women's Day
• 14: White Day (Japan and East Asia)
• 14: Mothering Sunday (UK)
• 16: Click Frenzy Travel (Australia)
• 17: St. Patrick's Day
• 20: First Day of Spring (Northern Hemisphere)
• 28: Semana Santa begins (Easter Week, Latin America)
• 28-29 Holi Festival (India, APAC)

April

• 1: April Fool's Day
• 3: Semana Santa ends (Easter Week, Latin America)
• 4: Easter Day
• 9-18: Coachella Festival
• 22: Earth Day
• 30: Children's Day (Mexico)

May

• 4: Star Wars Day (May the 4th be with you!)
• 5: Cinco de Mayo
• 9: Mother's Day (US, Australia, and other regions)
• 9: Europe Day
• 10: Día de las Madres (Mexico)
• 31: Memorial Day (US)
• Variable: Graduation season

June

• 1: Gay Pride Month begins
• 1: Children's Day (China)
• 12: Dia Dos Namorados (Lover's Day, LATAM)
• 18: 618 Shopping Festival (China)
• 19: Juneteenth
• 20: Father's Day (many countries, but some variations)
• 21: First Day of Summer (Northern Hemisphere) / First Day of Winter (Southern Hemisphere)
• 23-27: Glastonbury Festival (UK)
• 29: Gay Pride Month ends
• Variable: Graduation season

July

• 1: Canada Day
• 4: Independence Day (US)
• 14: Bastille Day (France)
• ~12: Back to School Season begins
• 23: Summer Olympics begin
• Variable: Amazon Prime Day (Oct 13-14 in 2020 due to the pandemic)

August

• 8: Father's Day (Brazil)
• 8: Summer Olympics end
• 30: Summer Bank Holiday (UK)
• Back to School Season continues

September

• 6: Labor Day (US)
• 6: Father’s Day (Australia)
• 15: Latinx Heritage Month begins
• 18: Oktoberfest begins
• 22: First day of Fall (Northern Hemisphere)
• ~27: Back to School Season Ends

October

• 1: Black History Month begins (UK)
• 1-7: Chinese National Day (Golden Week, China)
• 3: Oktoberfest ends
• 11: Thanksgiving (Canada)
• 11: Indigenous People’s Day
• 12: Children's Day (Brazil)
• 15: Latinx Heritage Month ends
• 16: Flipkart Big Billion Days (India)
• 30: Black History Month ends (UK)
• 31: Halloween

November

• Variable: Korea Sale FESTA (South Korea)
• 4: Diwali (India, US, Canada)
• 11: Singles' Day (China)
• 11: Veteran's Day (US)
• 11: Remembrance Day (Australia, Canada, UK)
• 13-19: Transgender Awareness Week
• 19: International Men’s Day
• 19-22: El Buen Fin (Mexico)
• 20: Children's Day (UK)
• 25: Thanksgiving (US)
• 26: Black Friday
• 27: Small Business Saturday
• 28: Hanukkah begins
• 29: Cyber Monday
• 30: Giving Tuesday

December

• 3: International Day of Persons with Disabilities
• 6: Hanukkah ends
• 12: Double 12 Day (China)
• 13: Green Monday
• 14: Free Shipping Day
• 24: Christmas Eve
• 25: Christmas Day
• 26: Boxing Day
• 26 - Jan 1: Kwanzaa (US)
• 31: New Year's Eve