March 2026 Awareness Days Calendar for EYFS, KS1, Nursery & Preschool (Free Printable Download)
Looking for March 2026 awareness days, celebrations and activity ideas for EYFS and KS1? Our free printable March 2026 calendar highlights key special dates, festivals and themed learning opportunities for nursery schools, preschools, childminders and primary classrooms. Use it to support playful provision, seasonal planning and age-appropriate curriculum links throughout the month. Have fun! 😊
Quick Links to our March 2026 Special Date Pages | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas:
CLICK HERE to visit our ‘SPECIAL DATES CALENDAR PAGE’ for an entire year of key EYFS & KS1 events, festivals & celebrations.
Tue 17th Feb - Wed 18th Mar - Ramadan (The dates of this religious festival can change based on observations of the moon.)
Thu 19th - Fri 20th - Eid Al-Fitr (The dates of this religious festival can change based on observations of the moon.)
Sun 29th - Clocks go forward (UK)
Overarching Themes This March 2026 | EYFS & KS1 Adventures 🌿📚
Welcome to March! This month is a vibrant shift towards Spring, blending scientific discovery, cultural literacy, and vital well-being topics. It offers a rich curriculum focusing on renewal, diversity, and healthy living, perfectly timed as the weather improves.
To help you plan a truly engaging month, we've connected the key dates with popular EYFS/KS1 themes. Below you will find possible curriculum connections, provision ideas and playful starting points within optional themes.
📌 Spring, Science, and the Natural World 🔬🌱
March heralds the start of Spring, providing a wealth of topics rooted in Understanding the World and scientific exploration. This theme encourages observation, conservation, and curiosity.
Special Dates: Tue 3rd - World Wildlife Day & Fri 20th - World Sparrow Day
Themes: Habitats, Animals, Wildlife, Conservation
Connections & Learning Focus:
Focuses on local and global wildlife, encouraging observation and discussion about animal care and protection.
Special Date: Fri 6th - Sun 15th - British Science Week
Themes: Science: Simple Experiments, Working Scientifically, Life Cycles
Connections & Learning Focus:
A concentrated period for hands-on, cross-curricular science; exploring properties, forces, and life cycles.
Special Date: Wed 18th - Global Recycling Day
Themes: Materials, The Environment, Sustainability, Recycling
Connections & Learning Focus:
Practical resources based on sorting, reusing, and reducing waste, linking to caring for the planet.
Special Date: Sun 22nd - World Water Day
Themes: Water, Weather, Conservation
Connections & Learning Focus:
Focuses on the importance of water, the water cycle, and how we use water responsibly.
📌 Literacy, Language, and Creativity 📖🎭
March is a powerhouse month for literacy, celebrating books, language, and storytelling across various creative forms.
Special Date: Thu 5th - World Book Day
Themes: Familiar Stories, Traditional Tales, Characters
Connections & Learning Focus:
The biggest annual celebration of books, inspiring costumes, reading for pleasure, and authors/illustrators.
Special Date: Sat 21st - World Poetry Day
Themes: Poetry & Rhyme, Speaking and Listening
Connections & Learning Focus:
Focuses on the expressive side of language, encouraging children to create and perform simple poems.
Special Date: Mon 23rd - Sun 29th - Shakespeare Week
Themes: Historical Stories, History, Drama, Role Play
Connections & Learning Focus:
An accessible introduction to classic literature through simplified stories and dramatic play.
Special Date: Sat 21st - International Colour Day
Themes: Expressive Arts and Design, Colours & Colour Mixing
Connections & Learning Focus:
A visual theme that encourages experimentation with colours, their properties, and their use in art and language (e.g., describing feelings).
📌 Health, Well-being, and Diversity ❤️🌍
This theme addresses essential aspects of Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED), promoting self-care, healthy habits, and understanding diverse family structures and global cultures.
Special Dates: Sun 15th - Mother’s Day (UK) & Sun 8th - International Women’s Day
Themes: My Family, People Who Help Us, PSED
Connections & Learning Focus:
Celebrates important female figures in children's lives and the contributions of women globally.
Special Dates: Mon 16th - Sun 22nd - Nutrition and Hydration Week & Fri 20th - World Oral Health Day
Themes: Healthy Eating, Ourselves, Teeth & Oral Hygiene
Connections & Learning Focus:
Practical experiences on the importance of balanced diets, drinking water, and effective tooth brushing.
Special Dates: Fri 13th - World Sleep Day & Thu 12th - World Kidney Day
Themes: Ourselves, Body Systems, Self-Care
Connections & Learning Focus:
Promotes understanding of the body and the importance of rest and hydration for overall health.
Special Dates: Mon 16th - Sun 22nd - Neurodiversity Celebration Week & Thu 26th - Purple Day
Themes: All About Me, Celebrating Differences, Mental Health, Autism
Connections & Learning Focus:
Crucial focus on inclusion, celebrating different ways of thinking and learning, and promoting empathy.
Special Dates: Tue 17th Feb - Wed 18th Mar - Ramadan & Thu 19th - Fri 20th - Eid Al-Fitr & Wed 4th - Holi
Themes: Festivals and Celebrations, Beliefs
Connections & Learning Focus:
Introduces major global festivals (Hindu, Muslim), focusing on themes like charity, light, and new beginnings.
Special Dates: Sun 1st - St. David’s Day & Tue 17th - St. Patrick’s Day
Themes: Nations of the UK, Culture
Connections & Learning Focus:
Learning about the patron saints, flags, and cultural traditions of Wales and Ireland.
Special Date: Fri 20th - Red Nose Day
Themes: Charity, Community, PSED
Connections & Learning Focus:
A fun, light-hearted event that promotes the concept of giving and helping others in need.
Browse ALL of our March 2026 Special Date Activity Ideas Pages for EYFS & KS1:
Read our new Educational & Informative Event Blog Posts. Browse awareness dates below using the arrows and click through to our dedicated blog post pages to read more.
Monday 23rd - Sunday 29th March 2026: 🎭👑 Shakespeare Week is a special yearly celebration organised by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. It's made to help primary school children learn about William Shakespeare and his plays for the very first time. The goal is to give…
Sunday 22nd March 2026: 💧🌍 World Water Day is a special day celebrated every year on March 22nd. It was chosen by the United Nations (UN) way back in 1993. The main idea of this day is to show everyone how important fresh water is and to encourage us…
Saturday 21st March 2026: 📝✨ World Poetry Day is celebrated every year on March 21st. It was chosen by UNESCO (a part of the United Nations) in 1999. The main idea of this day is to encourage everyone, everywhere, to read, write, share, and learn about poetry. It also celebrates…
Saturday 21st March 2026: 🌈🎨 International Colour Day is celebrated every year on March 21st. This special date was chosen by a group called the International Colour Association (AIC) because it's when day and night are almost the same length, showing how…
Friday 20th March 2026: 🐦🏡 World Sparrow Day (WSD) is a special international day celebrated every year on March 20th. It's all about helping people learn more about the house sparrow and other common birds. It highlights why we…
Friday 20th March 2026: 😁🦷 World Oral Health Day (WOHD) is celebrated all over the world every year on March 20th. It's a special international day that teaches us all about looking after our teeth and gums, and why it's so important to have a healthy mouth. Organised by…
Wednesday 18th March 2026: 🌍♻️ Global Recycling Day is an annual event celebrated all over the world on March 18th. It was started by the Global Recycling Foundation to show everyone how important recycling is for keeping our planet's special resources…
Monday 16th - Friday 20th March 2026: 🧠✨ Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges old ideas and misunderstandings about how different brains work. It wants to change how we see and support people who are neurodivergent (meaning…
Monday 16th - Sunday 22nd March 2026: 🍎💧 Nutrition and Hydration Week is an annual event in the UK that highlights and promotes the vital importance of food and drink in health and social care. It aims to educate and raise awareness among…
Friday 13th March 2026: 😴✨ World Sleep Day (WSD) is an annual event organised by the World Sleep Society and observed on the Friday before the Spring Equinox each year. The main goal of this day is to celebrate the wonderful benefits of getting good, healthy sleep. It also aims…
Thursday 12th March 2026: 💧🧡 World Kidney Day (WKD) is a global health awareness campaign celebrated annually on the second Thursday of March. It's a joint initiative by two important organisations, the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the…
Monday 9th - Sunday 15th March 2026: 🧑🔬🩺 Healthcare Science Week is an annual, UK-wide celebration that promotes and raises awareness of the incredible work done by healthcare science professionals. Organised by NHS England, it typically takes place in March. This special week aims…
Sunday 8th March 2026: 💖💪 International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8th. It's a very important day that commemorates the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women throughout history and…
Friday 6th - Sunday 15th March 2026: 🧪🔬 British Science Week is a fantastic ten-day celebration of science, engineering, technology, and maths (STEM). It features fascinating, entertaining, and engaging events and activities all across the UK for people of all ages. Organised by…
Thursday 5th March 2026: 📚✨ World Book Day is an annual global celebration of books and reading, designated by UNESCO. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, it is typically celebrated on the first Thursday in March. The primary aim of this special day is to encourage children and…
Tuesday 3rd March 2026:🌍🌿 World Wildlife Day is an annual global event, celebrated on March 3rd. It was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly to celebrate the incredible diversity of wild animals and plants across our world. The day aims to…
March 2026 Festivals & Celebrations | Printable Resources and Activity Ideas for EYFS & KS1:
Explore our dedicated festival and celebration pages. Learn more about each event and find a wealth of resources and activity inspiration for your setting or school by clicking on the page buttons below.
Popular March 2026 Themes | Activity Inspiration & Resources for EYFS & KS1:
Whether you’re a nursery, preschool, school, childminder or parent looking for some fresh ideas, please feel free to browse our topics using the arrows on the right to scroll through the buttons below. We’ve selected some of the most popular themes for March.
Popular EVERGREEN Themes | EYFS & KS1 Inspirational Activities & Resources:
Are you looking for themes that are adored by children all-year-round? Use the arrows on the right to browse and select key themes for childminders, nurseries, preschools, year 1 and year 2.
Additional Special Date Events Calendars | EYFS & KS1 Planning Support for the Whole Year
Looking to plan further ahead? Why not check out the rest of our Monthly Special Date Events Calendars?

Thursday 26th March 2026: 💜🎗️ Purple Day is a special international day celebrated every year on March 26th. It was started in 2008 by a brave nine-year-old girl named Cassidy Megan, from Canada. Cassidy has epilepsy and wanted to help people talk about epilepsy to…