When is Women's History Month?
Women's History Month 2027
Mon, Mar 1, 2027 – Wed, Mar 31, 2027
The whole of March. That's in 148 days.
until Women's History Month begins, in your time zone
Women's History Month recognizes the contributions women have made to American history, culture and society, many of them long missing from textbooks. It grew from a single California county's school celebration in 1978 into a national observance.
About Women's History Month
Women's History Month is a time to study and honor the women who shaped the United States, from scientists, writers and athletes to labor organizers, reformers and political leaders. Schools and libraries plan programs around it, and federal institutions including the Library of Congress, the National Archives, the National Park Service and the Smithsonian share exhibits and collections each March.
It started locally. In 1978 the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women in California organized a Women's History Week, choosing the week that included March 8, International Women's Day. Students gave presentations in schools, entered an essay contest and joined a parade in downtown Santa Rosa. The idea caught on, and a coalition of women's groups and historians led by the National Women's History Project, now the National Women's History Alliance, pushed for national recognition.
In February 1980 President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation naming the week of March 8 National Women's History Week. Congress followed in 1981 with Public Law 97-28, which asked the president to proclaim a Women's History Week in March 1982, and it passed similar resolutions for the next several years. In 1987, after a petition from the National Women's History Project, Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating March 1987 as Women's History Month.
Congress renewed the request each year from 1988 through 1994, and every president since 1995 has issued an annual proclamation naming March as Women's History Month. International Women's Day on March 8 still falls inside the month.
Sources: Women's History Month (Library of Congress and partner institutions): About, National Women's History Alliance: Women's History Month. How we check dates.
How to mark Women's History Month
- Read a biography or memoir of a woman whose work you know little about, then pass the book along to someone else.
- Browse the Library of Congress and National Archives online collections on women's suffrage, work and military service.
- Interview a mother, grandmother or mentor about her life and work, and record the conversation for your family.
- Visit a women's history site, such as Women's Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls, New York, in person or through its online exhibits.
- Attend or organize a local event on March 8, International Women's Day.
Women's History Month dates
| Year | Dates |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Sat, Mar 1 – Mon, Mar 31 |
| 2026 | Sun, Mar 1 – Tue, Mar 31 |
| 2027 | Mon, Mar 1 – Wed, Mar 31 |
| 2028 | Wed, Mar 1 – Fri, Mar 31 |
| 2029 | Thu, Mar 1 – Sat, Mar 31 |
| 2030 | Fri, Mar 1 – Sun, Mar 31 |
| 2031 | Sat, Mar 1 – Mon, Mar 31 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is Women's History Month 2027?
Women's History Month 2027 is Mon, Mar 1, 2027 – Wed, Mar 31, 2027. It falls on the whole of March. In 2028, it is on Wednesday, March 1, 2028.
Why is Women's History Month in March?
The original 1978 Women's History Week was planned around March 8, International Women's Day. When Congress expanded the week to a month in 1987, it kept March.
When did Women's History Month become official?
Congress designated March 1987 as Women's History Month through Public Law 100-9. Presidents have proclaimed it every March since 1995.
Is Women's History Month a public holiday?
No. Women's History Month is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.