The Ultimate Guide to Key Retail Dates in 2026

Welcome to the 2026 edition of your retail calendar, where you can plan ahead for the key retail dates in 2026 with confidence and a solid strategy in place. Whether you run a single shop or a national chain, having a clear, month-by-month view of key dates and events helps you plan stock, staff, promotions and customer engagement ahead of time. With major international sporting events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2026 Commonwealth Games, this year offers unique opportunities to connect with customers, if you’re ready.

2026 Retail Opportunities — Month by Month

January

• 1st – New Year’s Day
• 2nd – Bank Holiday (Scotland)
• 1st-31st – Dry January
• 1st-31st – Veganuary
• 20th – Blue Monday
• 25th – Burns Night
• 1st–31st – Post-Christmas sales & gift card spending peak
• Ongoing – Winter clearance, stock rotation and returns processing

With your customers armed with gift cards, this is your chance to maximise their spending. It’s also an opportunity to attract new customers by cashing in on New Year’s Resolutions – with 59% of those based around improving health and 55% trying new hobbies and sports. This is also a prime month for clearance sales and encouraging customers to use gift cards. It’s also a chance to remove slow-moving seasonal stock and refresh your inventory for spring.

February

• 5th – Six Nations Rugby Begins
• 14th – Valentine’s Day
• 14th–29th – Mid-winter promotions, early spring stock prep
• 17th – Chinese New Year (Year of the Horse)
• 17th – Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day)
• 20th – Love Your Pet Day

Still going with your New Year’s Resolutions? By now 43% of News Year’s Resolutions have been abandoned and February is all about indulgence and romance, making it perfect for themed promotions. Pancake Day, Valentine’s Day and the lead-up to Lent offer plenty of opportunities to engage your customers. Focus on gift items, early spring collections, and promotions around personalised or seasonal presents.

March

• Spring stock planning begins
• 1st – St David’s Day
• 5th – World Book Day
• 8th – International Women’s Day
• 15th – Mother’s Day
• 17th – St Patrick’s Day
• 19th-20th – Eid al-Fitr (Muslim)
• 20th – Red Nose Day
• 29th – British Summer Time Begins
• Pre-World Cup demand building (sportswear, fan gear, electronics) begins mid-month

Use Mother’s Day and International Women’s Day as opportunities to create gift bundles and promote meaningful offers. And with sports fans beginning to plan for summer events, consider boosting stock of sportswear, party supplies and gifts.

April

• 3rd — Good Friday (bank holiday)
• 5th — Easter Sunday
• 6th — Easter Monday (bank holiday)
• 9th — Grand National
• 14th — Garden Day
• 22nd – Earth Day
• 23rd – St George’s Day
• School holidays in some regions

Easter offers a prime opportunity to showcase indulgent confectionery, thoughtful gifts, vibrant seasonal décor and family-focused products that bring celebrations to life

May

• Early-May Bank Holiday (England/Wales/Scotland regional)
• 4th – Star Wars Day
• 16th – Men’s FA Cup Final
• 23rd – Men’s Scottish Cup Final
• 25th – Spring Bank Holiday
• 31st – Women’s FA Cup Final
• 31st – Women’s Scottish Cup Final
• 30th – UEFA Champions League Final
• 2026 may also align for holiday-season stock preparation

June

• 1st-30th – Pride Month
• 10th-14th – Download Festival
• 11th June – start of major global sporting attention as the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches
• 14th – Official Birthday of HM King Charles III
• 21st – Fathers Day
• 29th – Wimbledon Starts
• 30th – Last Day of Term (Northern Ireland)
• Summer stock ramp-up (outdoor, leisure, sportswear, electronics)

Anticipate a surge in demand for products linked to summer festivities, from major sporting events and match-day viewing parties to outdoor gatherings and entertainment. Consumers will be looking for everything that elevates their experience, from convenient food and drink solutions to décor and leisure essentials that make every occasion memorable.

July

• 1st – 12th – Wimbledon Continues
• 2nd – Last Day of Term (Scotland)
• 4th-26th – Tour de France
• 16th-19th – The Open Championship Golf
• 11th June – 19th July – 2026 FIFA World Cup live period
• 20th – Last Day of Term (England & Wales)
• 23rd July – start of 2026 Commonwealth Games host city events ramp-up

This period represents a key commercial opportunity for retailers. Anticipated demand will centre on fan merchandise, convenient snacks, entertainment equipment, outdoor living products and seasonal apparel. To maximise sales and maintain customer satisfaction, ensure robust stock levels across these high-performing categories. Strategic planning around inventory, promotional bundles and themed merchandising will be essential to capture consumer interest and drive incremental revenue.

August

• 1st – Yorkshire Day
• 3rd – Summer Bank Holiday (Scotland)
• 23rd July–2nd August – 2026 Commonwealth Games
• 27th-30th – Reading & Leeds Festivals
• 31st – August Bank Holiday
• Late-summer sales, clearance, back-to-school preparation begins late August depending on region

Leverage August as a pivotal month to manage increased traffic driven by the Commonwealth Games, optimise clearance of remaining summer stock and lay the groundwork for autumn inventory. This is the ideal time to review performance, refine merchandising strategies and ensure supply chains are aligned for the seasonal transition. Proactive planning now will help maintain momentum and position your business for a strong start to the next quarter.

September

• 1st – Back-to-school for most schools in England and Wales
• 13th –  Great North Run
• 14th – Fresher’s Weeks Start for most institutions
• 17th – 21st – London Fashion Week
• Autumn stock rollout starts
• Pre-holiday season planning should begin

Following the summer rush, September provides a crucial window to prepare for the final quarter. Use this time to secure forward orders, map out promotional activity and begin stocking for winter and the festive season. Early planning ensures availability of key lines, supports smooth supply chain operations and positions your business to capture peak seasonal demand.

October

• 8th – Diwali
• 10th – World Mental Health Day
• 24th – 2nd November – River of Light Festival in Liverpool
• 25th – British Summer Time Ends
• 31st – Halloween
• Early autumn promotions and Halloween sales
• Preparations for Black Friday and holiday stock orders

Dedicate this month to building a robust Black Friday and holiday campaign schedule. Prioritise securing stock orders early to avoid supply chain pressures and outline a clear promotional strategy that aligns with consumer trends and peak shopping periods. Consider integrating multi-channel marketing plans, optimising pricing tactics and preparing themed merchandising to maximise engagement and sales during the busiest retail season of the year.

November

• 5th – Bonfire Night
• 8th – Remembrance Sunday
• 11th – Remembrance Day
• 14th – Birthday of HM King Charles III
• 27th – Black Friday
• 30th – Cyber Monday
• 30th – St. Andrew’s Day
• Peak sales season: Black Friday, Cyber Monday, early Christmas shopping begins
• Stock gifts, electronics, winter clothing, homeware and festive items

With high footfall and strong online traffic expected, retailers must ensure inventory levels are sufficient and fulfilment processes are resilient. This includes optimising stock allocation across channels, streamlining order management and reinforcing delivery capabilities to meet heightened demand. Proactive planning now will minimise disruption, maintain customer satisfaction and maximise revenue during peak trading periods.

December

• 24th – Christmas Eve
• 25th – Christmas Day
• 26th – Boxing Day
• 31st – New Year’s Eve Hogmanay
• Boxing Day sales, closure of festive season
• Stock clearance and returns processing

Implement rigorous stock control and efficient returns management to handle high volumes seamlessly while safeguarding profitability. Accurate inventory tracking, clear returns policies and streamlined reverse logistics will help reduce operational strain, minimise losses and maintain customer confidence during peak trading periods.

Why 2026 is Exceptional: Big Global Events Matter

2026 FIFA World Cup & Commonwealth Games
With two major international sporting events dominating the summer, demand for sportswear, fan merchandise, electronics, snacks and outdoor living products is expected to surge. Retailers who plan ahead, aligning promotions, stock and operations will be best positioned to capitalise on the heightened customer interest.

Seasonal Peaks and Holiday Shopping
Alongside these global events, traditional retail peaks still matter: Easter, summer holidays, Black Friday, Christmas and post-holiday clearance all remain crucial revenue drivers.

Tips to Make the Most of 2026’s Calendar

• Use data from previous years to forecast demand spikes, especially around global events.
• Secure stock early for high-demand categories such as electronics, summer wear, sportswear and gift items.
• Align promotions with events — match offers to sporting dates (fan gear bundles), seasonal demands (summer, autumn), holidays and cultural moments.
• Ensure your EPoS and back-office systems are ready with real-time inventory visibility, multi-channel stock syncing, and quick adjustments.
• Plan staffing and operations early — ensure your team is prepared for traffic surges and extended trading periods.

At RMS we provide systems such as OpSuite to give businesses the flexibility and insight required to handle complex retail calendars like 2026’s.

Why Retailers & Wholesalers Need a 12-Month Roadmap

Having a month-by-month key retail dates in 2026 calendar allows you to plan ahead, manage stock intelligently, meet customer expectations and stay ready for surprises. Whether you are selling online, in store or a combination of both, preparation will set you apart.

Use 2026 as an opportunity, start planning now and make it your best trading year yet.

Why Choose RMS?

RMS has supported ambitious businesses since 2004, delivering tailored software and EPoS hardware from the Shetland Islands to the Seychelles. We work across most retail & wholesale verticals, contact us to see how we can help empower your staff with intuitive EPoS.

Let us show you how OpSuite EPoS turns onboarding and user experience into your greatest strength.

Information correct at the time of publication.