When is International Women's Day?
International Women's Day 2027 is on Monday
Monday, March 8, 2027
March 8 every year. That's in 155 days.
until International Women's Day begins, in your time zone
International Women's Day is a global day to recognize women's achievements and push for gender equality. It grew out of early 20th-century labor and suffrage movements, and the United Nations has marked it since 1975.
About International Women's Day
International Women's Day honors what women have achieved in politics, work, science, culture and family life, and it points to the gaps that remain, from unequal legal rights and pay to violence and underrepresentation in leadership. Governments, unions, schools, employers and community groups hold rallies, talks, awards and campaigns on the day.
Its roots are in the labor and socialist movements of North America and Europe. According to the UN's history of the day, the Socialist Party of America held a National Woman's Day in 1909, and in 1910 the Socialist International, meeting in Copenhagen, agreed to create a women's day that would be international in character. The first International Women's Day events followed on March 19, 1911. The March 8 date comes from 1917, when women in Russia went on strike for "bread and peace" on February 23 by the Julian calendar then in use there, which was March 8 on the Gregorian calendar.
The day spread to more countries after World War II, and the UN began observing March 8 during International Women's Year in 1975. In December 1977, General Assembly resolution 32/142 invited member states to proclaim a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace on whatever day suited their own traditions. March 8 remains the date used by the UN and most countries, and UN Women runs a yearly campaign built around a chosen theme.
Sources: United Nations: International Women's Day, United Nations: History of International Women's Day, UN Digital Library: General Assembly resolution 32/142 (1977). How we check dates.
How to mark International Women's Day
- Learn about a woman who shaped your town, your field or your family's history, and share her story.
- Attend a local International Women's Day talk, march or panel, or watch the UN's official commemoration online.
- Buy from a women-owned small business or donate to a women-led nonprofit in your area.
- Ask your employer how it tracks pay, promotion and parental-leave gaps, and what it is doing to close them.
- Offer to mentor a girl or young woman who is starting out in your profession.
International Women's Day dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Saturday, March 8, 2025 |
| 2026 | Sunday, March 8, 2026 |
| 2027 | Monday, March 8, 2027 |
| 2028 | Wednesday, March 8, 2028 |
| 2029 | Thursday, March 8, 2029 |
| 2030 | Friday, March 8, 2030 |
| 2031 | Saturday, March 8, 2031 |
Related days
Explore
Frequently asked questions
When is International Women's Day 2027?
International Women's Day 2027 is on Monday, March 8, 2027. It falls on March 8 every year. In 2028, it is on Wednesday, March 8, 2028.
Why is International Women's Day on March 8?
The date traces to a 1917 women's strike in Russia that began on February 23 under the Julian calendar, which was March 8 on the Gregorian calendar used in most of Europe. March 8 spread to more countries after World War II, and the UN adopted it in 1975.
Is there an International Men's Day?
Yes. International Men's Day is held on November 19. It is not a UN observance; it was started in Trinidad and Tobago in 1999.
Is International Women's Day a public holiday?
No. International Women's Day is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.