Key wellbeing dates October 2026

Looking to support a cause, raise awareness, or plan your wellbeing initiatives around key dates in your workplace? Below you’ll find a regularly updated list of health and wellbeing charity days, weeks, and month-long observances, handily organised by country.

World+

Month-long health awareness themes

Dysautonomia Awareness Month
Rett Syndrome Awareness Month
World Menopause Month

Specific Days and Weeks

1 October | International Day of Older Persons
1 October | World Vegetarian Day
2 October | World Smile Day
5 October | World Habitat Day
5 October | World Meningitis Day
6 October | World Cerebral Palsy Day
8 October | World Dyslexia Awareness Day
8 October | World Sight Day
10 October | World Mental Health Day
11 October | International Coming Out Day
12 October | World Arthritis Day
15 October | Global Handwashing Day
15 October | World Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day
16 October | World Allergy Awareness Day
16 October | World Food Day
16 October | Restart a Heart Day
17 October | International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
18 October | World Menopause Day
19 – 25 October | International Infection Prevention Week
19 October | World Pediatric Bone and Joint Day
20 October | World Osteoporosis Day
21 October | International Pronouns Day
21 October | SUDEP Action Day (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy)
22 October | International Stuttering Awareness Day
24 October | United Nations Day
24 October | World Polio Day
25 October – 1 November | International Brain Tumour Awareness Week
26 October | Intersex Awareness Day
29 October | World Psoriasis Day
29 October | World Stroke Day
30 October | World Hypophosphatasia Day

New Zealand+

Month-long health awareness themes

Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Frocktober

Specific Days and Weeks

8 October | Pink Ribbon Day (Breast Cancer Awareness)
9 – 15 October 2026 | Baby Loss Awareness Week
12 – 18 October | Mental Health Awareness Week
16 October 2026 | Loud Shirt Day
21 October 2026 | ShakeOut (National Earthquake Drill and Tsunami hīkoi)

Australia+

Month-long health awareness themes

9K Per Day
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Buy Nothing New Month
Frocktober
Great Cycle Challenge Australia
Lupus Awareness Month
Mental Health Month
National Safe Work Month
Polio Awareness Month
Shocktober (Defibrillator Awareness)
Sober October
Walktober

Specific Days and Weeks

1 – 7 October | BPD Awareness Week
4 – 11 October | Mental Health Week
4 – 11 October | National Amputee Awareness Week
5 – 11 October | Dyslexia Awareness Week
11 – 17 October | Anti-Poverty Week
11 October | National Coming Out Day
12 – 18 October | National Carers Week
12 – 18 October | National Nutrition Week
12 – 18 October | OCD Awareness Week
13 October | Headspace Day
14 October | National Ride2Work Day
19 – 25 October | Sock it to Suicide Week
23 October | SUDEP Action Day
24 October – 1 November | Children’s Week
29 October | Psoriasis Awareness Day
30 October | Day for Daniel
30 October | Pink Ribbon Breakfast

United Kingdom+

Month-long health awareness themes

ADHD Awareness Month
Black History Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Cholesterol Awareness Month
Eye Injury Prevention Month
Lupus Awareness Month
National Cholesterol Month
Pituitary Awareness Month
Go Sober for October
Stoptober (smoking cessation)

Specific Days and Weeks

1 – 7 October | National Vegetarian Week
4 October | No Disposable Cup Day
5 – 9 October | National Work Life Week
5 – 11 October | Dyslexia Awareness Week
9 – 15 October | Baby Loss Awareness Week
11 October | National Coming Out Day
13 – 18 October | Dyspraxia Awareness Week
13 October | National No Bra Day
14 – 20 October | National Braille Week
23 October | Wear It Pink Day

United States+

Month-long health awareness themes

Charcot-Marie-Tooh Disease Awareness Month
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Eye Injury Prevention Month
Health Literacy Month
Healthy Lung Month
Home Eye Safety Month
Liver Cancer Awareness Month
National ADHD Awareness Month
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Bullying Prevention Month
National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
National Dental Hygiene Month
National Down Syndrome Awareness Month
National Physical Therapy Month
Raynaud’s Awareness Month
Spina Bifida Awareness Month
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month

Specific Days and Weeks

2 October | Lee National Denim Day
5 October | Bullying Prevention Awareness Day
4 – 10 October | Mental Illness Awareness Week
4 – 10 October | National Primary Care Week
6 October | National Child Health Day
7 October | Trigeminal Neuralgia Awareness Day
8 October | National Depression Screening Day
12 – 20 October | Bone and Joint Health Action Week
12 – 18 October | Dyspraxia Awareness Week
13 October | Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day
15 October | National Latino AIDS Awareness Day
15 October | Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day
15 October | White Cane Safety Day
16 October | Loud Shirt Day
16 October | Restart a Heart Day
18 – 24 October | Invisible Disabilities Week
18 – 24 October | National Healthcare Quality Week
18 – 24 October | Respiratory Care Week
19 – 23 October | National Health Education Week
23 – 31 October | Red Ribbon Week

Germany+

Month-long health awareness themes

Brustkrebs-Bewusstseinsmonat Oktober (Breast Cancer Awareness)
ADHS Awareness-Monat Oktober (ADHD Awareness)

Specific Days and Weeks

5 October | Tag der Epilepsie (Epilepsy Day)
10 – 20 October | Woche der Seelischen Gesundheit (Mental Health Week)

Spain+

Month-long health awareness themes

Octubre Rosa – Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Salud Mental (Mental Health Awareness Month)

Specific Days and Weeks

26 October | Día Nacional del Daño Cerebral Adquirido (Acquired Brain Injury Day)