5 min read
Jan 1, 2026
Key Shopper Marketing Holidays, Seasonal Events & Micro Occasions
Retail shopping windows tied to holidays and seasonal moments continue to shape how people buy, both online and in stores. These periods give brands a strong chance to match their marketing to the right moments and deliver more targeted, personalized experiences that build connection, boost sales and strengthen loyalty. A Deloitte 2025 survey indicates that 75% of consumers in the U.S. planned to shop during at least one promotional event to maximize their budgets amid economic uncertainty. And it is no longer just the big events like the Holidays or Back to School. Shoppers are responding to a fast-growing wave of micro occasions that spark spending in smaller but meaningful ways. These moments can be anything from National Coffee Day to National Pet Day and they offer brands fresh ways to stay relevant throughout the year.
Here is an updated look at key national and international holidays, major shopping windows and notable micro occasions to plan for in 2026.
Click here to download the pdf
Q1
| January | February | March | |||
| 1 | New Year’s Day | 2 | Groundhog Day | 3 | World Wildlife Day |
| 2 | National Science Fiction Day | 4 | World Cancer Awareness Day | 6 | National Day of Unplugging |
| 11 | Golden Globes | 6 | Winter Olympics | 8 | International Women's Day |
| 12 | Australian Open (Tennis) | 8 | Super Bowl LX | 14 | Super Saturday |
| 15 | National Bagel Day | 9 | National Pizza Day (USA) | 16 | Academy Awards |
| 15 | Get to Know Your Customers Day | 11 | National Latte Day | 17 | Pancake Day / Shrove Tuesday |
| 16 | Religious Freedom Day | 13 | Galentine's Day | 17 | St. Patrick's Day |
| 19 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | 14 | Valentine's Day | 17 | March Madness (NCAA) |
| 19 | National College Football Playoffs | 15 | NBA All Star Game | 18 | Global Recycling Day |
| 19 | Blue Monday | 16 | Presidents' Day (USA) | 20 | First Day of Spring |
| 21 | National Hugging Day | 16 | Family Day (CAN) | 20 | International Day of Happiness |
| 23 | National Pie Day (USA) | 17 | Random Act of Kindness Day | 21 | World Poetry Day |
| 23 | Winter X Games | 17 | Ramadan starts | 21 | International Day of Forests |
| 25 | National Irish Coffee Day (USA) | 17 | Chinese New Year | 22 | World Water Day |
| 31 | National Hot Chocolate Day | 20 | Love Your Pet Day | 25 | MLB Opening Day |
| Winter Clearance Sales | 21 | MLS Soccer Season | 29 | Mom & Pop Business Owner Day | |
| NFL Playoffs | 22 | National Margarita Day | Allergy Season | ||
| 23 | Green Monday | National Nutrition Month (USA) | |||
| 26 | National Chili Day (USA) | ||||
| American Heart Month | |||||
| Black History Month | |||||
| LGBTQ History Month |
Q2
| April | May | June | |||
| 1 | April Fools' Day | 1 | May Day (Int’l Workers' Day) | 1 | Global Day of Parents |
| 1 | Passover Begins | 2 | National Fitness Day (USA) | 4 | National Cheese Day |
| 2 | National Burrito Day (USA) | 3 | National Lemonade Day | 4 | NBA Finals (Start Date) |
| 3 | Good Friday | 3 | World Laughter Day | 5 | World Environment Day |
| 5 | Easter Sunday | 4 | Star Wars Day | 5 | National Donut Day |
| 7 | World Health Day | 5 | Cinco de Mayo | 13 | Global Wellness Day |
| 7 | National Beer Day | 5 | African World Heritage Day | 14 | Flag Day (USA) |
| 9 | The Masters - Golf | 5 | National Teachers' Day (USA) | 18 | US Open (Golf) |
| 10 | National Siblings Day | 10 | Mother's Day | 19 | Juneteenth (USA) |
| 11 | National Pet Day | 17 | World Baking Day | 21 | Father's Day |
| 15 | Tax Day (USA) | 18 | Victoria Day (CAN) | 21 | First Day of Summer |
| 18 | World Heritage Day | 24 | French Open (Tennis) | 21 | National Selfie Day (USA) |
| 18 | NBA Playoffs begin | 24 | Pentecost | 21 | World Music Day |
| 20 | 4/20 | 25 | National Wine Day | 21 | International Yoga Day |
| 20 | Boston Marathon | 25 | Memorial Day | Stanley Cup Finals | |
| 21 | World Creativity & Innovation | Mental Health Awareness Month | 27 | National Sunglasses Day | |
| 22 | Earth Day | National BBQ Month | 29 | Wimbledon (Tennis) | |
| 23 | World Book Day | 30 | World Social Media Day | ||
| 24 | Arbor Day | LGBTQ Pride Month | |||
| 28 | National Superhero Day | National Camping Month | |||
| Diversity Month | |||||
| Coachella Music Festival |
Q3
| July | August | September | |||
| 1 | Canada Day | 2 | National Ice Cream Sandwich Day | 5 | National Cheese Pizza Day |
| 2 | Made in the USA Day | 2 | National Sister's Day (USA) | 5 | International Bacon Day |
| 4 | Independence Day (USA) | 2 | Friendship Day | 5 | National Tailgating Day |
| 4 | Tour de France (Bicycle race) |
4 | National Night Out | 7 | Labour Day |
| 6 | International Kissing Day | 7 | International Beer Day | 8 | International Literacy Day |
| 7 | World Chocolate Day | 8 | International Cat Day | 11 | Patriot Day |
| 11 | MLB All Star Game | 9 | National Book Lovers' Day (USA) | 13 | Grandparents Day |
| 14 | Bastille Day | 10 | National S'mores Day | 13 | Positive Thinking Day |
| 15 | National Hot Dog Day | 12 | International Youth Day | 16 | National Guacamole Day |
| 15 | World Emoji Day | 14 | Little League World Series | 19 | Oktoberfest begins |
| 16 | The Open Championship (Golf) | 15 | National Relaxation Day | 21 | National Pecan Cookie Day |
| 19 | National Ice Cream Day | 19 | World Photography Day | 27 | World Tourism Day |
| 19 | FIFA World Cup Final | 21 | World Senior Citizens' Day | 28 | National Family Day |
| 21 | National Junk Food Day | 26 | International Dog Day | 29 | National Coffee Day (USA) |
| 26 | National Parents' Day | 26 | Women's Equality Day | 30 | International Podcast Day |
| Amazon Prime Day | 30 | US Open (Tennis) | Back to School Season | ||
| National Grilling Month | Back to School Season | NFL Regular Season | |||
| National Picnic Month | National Sandwich Month | Self Improvement Month | |||
| National Cell Phone Courtesy Month | NCAA Football Season | Friendship Month | |||
| Black Business Month | Hispanic Heritage Month |
Q4
| October | November | December | |||
| 1 | International Coffee Day | 1 | World Vegan Day | 1 | World AIDS Day |
| 1 | World Vegetarian Day | 3 | National Sandwich Day | 1 | Giving Tuesday |
| 4 | World Animal Day | 4 | National Candy Day | 3 | Make A Gift Day |
| 5 | World Teachers' Day | 8 | Diwali | 4 | National Cookie Day |
| 10 | World Mental Health Day | 11 | Veterans' Day | 4 | Hanukkah Begins |
| 12 | Columbus Day (USA) | 11 | Remembrance Day (CAN) | 8 | National Brownie Day |
| 14 | National Dessert Day | 13 | World Kindness Day | 13 | National Cocoa Day |
| 16 | National Boss's Day | 15 | National Recycling Day (USA) | 14 | National Free Shipping Day (USA) |
| 16 | World Food Day | 19 | International Men's Day | 19 | Ugly Christmas Sweater Day |
| 17 | National Pasta Day | 23 | National Espresso Day | 21 | Winter Solstice |
| 19 | National Pharmacy Week | 26 | Thanksgiving (USA) | 24 | Christmas Eve |
| 23 | National Champagne Day | 27 | Black Friday | 25 | Christmas Day |
| 28 | Thanksgiving (CAN) | 28 | Small Business Saturday | 26 | Day after Christmas / Boxing Day |
| 29 | National Cat Day (USA) | 30 | Cyber Monday | 26 | Kwanzaa |
| 31 | Halloween | Movember | 27 | National Fruitcake Day | |
| National Pizza Month | MLS Cup Playoffs | 31 | New Years Eve | ||
| Breast Cancer Awareness Month | Cold & Flu Season | Holiday Season | |||
| National Popcorn Popping Month | National Family Caregivers Month | ||||
| NBA Regular Season | National Entrepreneurship Month | ||||
| Amazon Prime Day | National Native American Heritage Month | ||||
| Target Circle Days | Holiday Season |
Boost Your Shopper Marketing Seasonal Promotions
Use this retail calendar, including the holidays, micro occasions and retailer promotion windows to develop your brand's promotional calendar.
Snipp’s turnkey contests, sweepstakes and shopper marketing promotions solutions – powered by our market-leading AI receipt validation platform can help you acquire and engage customers while capturing first-party consumer purchase and behavioral data!
See examples of shopper marketing promotions here or consult with one of our experts on a specific promotion, holiday or shopping window, contact us by clicking here.
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