February 2026 Events Celebrations & Special Days
Image Credit: Jorge Gardner
Events, celebrations, awareness events, saint's days, annual campaigns, major sporting events - UK and global festivities happening in February 2026.
As winter comes to an end, February is the month for Half Term holidays, World Nutella Day, Groundhog Day and St. Valentine's Day.
Whether you are a teacher, a parent, a carer or just want to know what is going on this month, here are the key dates and events happening this February in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as around the world.
Imbolc (Saint Brigid's Day)
1st Feb 2026
Imbolc is a Gaelic traditional festival marking the start of spring, and for Christians is the feast day of Saint Brigid, Ireland's patroness saint. Held on the 1st February, about halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.
Groundhog Day
2nd Feb 2026
Groundhog Day is a fun US holiday to celebrate the emergence of a Groundhog, which signifies when spring will arrive. If the Groundhog has a shadow, it is thought that winter will continue for six more weeks, if not, spring has arrived.
World Ukulele Day
2nd Feb 2026
A day to have fun and play your ukulele. Try strumming this cute little Hawaiian instrument, it's easy to get started and learn a few chords. 2nd February was chosen because being 2/2, it adds up to four, the number of strings on a uke.
National Hedgehog Day
2nd Feb 2026
This is the European version of Groundhog Day, dating back to Roman times. It is also a day to remember that UK hedgehog populations are shrinking, and to celebrate all things hedgehog.
Winter Olympics 2026
4th Feb to 20th Feb 2026
The world's biggest winter sporting event, held every four years. This time it will be held in Bejing, China.
World Nutella Day
5th Feb 2026
A day dedicated to enjoyment of this most popular of chocolate and hazlenut spreads. Originally started as a joke by Nutella enthusiast Sara Rosso, the day is now officially organised by the manufacturer Ferrero.
– 10 Yummy Recipes Using Nutella
Waitangi Day
6th Feb 2026
New Zealand's National Day, which celebrates the signing of the Waitangi Treaty in 1840 at the home of James Busby at Waitangi.
Charles Dickens Day
7th Feb 2026
This day celebrates one of Britain's greatest writers on his birthday. It is a day to enjoy Dicken's work as a novelist who brought social realism to the fore as his books reflected the real life of the poor in Victorian England.
International Day of Women & Girls in Science
11th Feb 2026
A UN Day to encourage women and girls to fully participate in science, and strive for equality of opportunity in the sciences.
Darwin Day
12th Feb 2026
A celebration of scientist Charles Darwin, author of The Origin of Species. The day is used to highlight Darwin's contributions to science and to promote science in general.
World Radio Day
13th Feb 2026
A day to celebrate and appreciate the medium of radio. Radio is a powerful medium for celebrating humanity in all its diversity and constitutes a platform for democratic discourse.
Galentines & Palentines Day
13th Feb 2026
Held on the day before St. Valentine's Day, this is a day to celebrate your friendships. Galentine's Day was popularised on the TV show Parks and Recreation, and has been adopted by many people who want to celebrate their friendships.
St. Valentine's Day
14th Feb 2026
The annual celebration of love is the day when we take the opportunity to tell the people we love just how much they mean to us. Traditionally one should send a card and a gift such as chocolates or flowers to the one that you love.
Valentine's Day Facts, Puzzles and Colouring Pages
– St. Valentine's Day Colouring Pictures
National Nest Box Week
14th Feb to 21st Feb 2026
British birds are short of nesting holes, and there are many reasons why. Anyone with a garden can help by putting a nestbox, which will attract interesting birds to your garden too. This week is devoted to encouraging people to put up nestboxes.
World Hippo Day
15th Feb 2026
This is a day which is dedicated to hippopotomuses, to help prevent their extinction by poachers who hunt them for meat and for their teeth.
February Half Term Holiday
16th Feb to 20th Feb 2026
Schools break up for a week in the UK for half term for one week, but check with your school for individual date variations of this school holiday. Private schools may have a longer break.
– Things To Do In February Half Term
Chinese New Year
17th Feb 2026
The New Year according to the Chinese Calendar. 2024 welcomes the Year of the Horse. Chinese New Year is celebrated all around the world.
How To Celebrate Chinese New Year
– Do You Know Your Chinese Star Sign? Find It Now!
– The Personality of People Born in the Year of the Horse
Random Acts of Kindness Day
17th Feb 2026
Spend the day doing random acts of kindness. The holiday was started by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, which was founded in 1995.
International Polar Bear Day
27th Feb 2026
Every year, this global event draws attention to the challenges polar bears face in a warming Arctic and how each of us can help.
Pokemon Day
27th Feb 2026
Pokemon Day is an annual celebration of the original Japanese release of Pokemon Red and Green. Various events are held around the world to mark this occasion.
Here are some more important events that are coming soon.