Important Days in October 2026
October 2026 has 39 days that exams ask about: 31 international and 8 national. Each date comes with a one-line fact and the official source it was checked against. Days fixed by a weekday, such as World Habitat Day, are shown on their 2026 date.
| Date | Day | Important day |
|---|---|---|
| 1 October | Thursday | International Coffee Day · International Day of Older Persons · National Voluntary Blood Donation Day |
| 2 October | Friday | International Day of Non-Violence · Gandhi Jayanti · Swachh Bharat Diwas |
| 5 October | Monday | World Habitat Day · World Teachers' Day · National Dolphin Day |
| 6 October | Tuesday | International Geodiversity Day |
| 7 October | Wednesday | World Cotton Day |
| 8 October | Thursday | World Sight Day · Indian Air Force Day |
| 9 October | Friday | World Post Day |
| 10 October | Saturday | World Hospice and Palliative Care Day · World Migratory Bird Day · World Mental Health Day |
| 11 October | Sunday | International Day of the Girl Child |
| 13 October | Tuesday | International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction |
| 14 October | Wednesday | World Standards Day |
| 15 October | Thursday | Global Handwashing Day · International Day of Rural Women |
| 16 October | Friday | World Food Day |
| 17 October | Saturday | International Day for the Eradication of Poverty · International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage |
| 20 October | Tuesday | World Osteoporosis Day |
| 21 October | Wednesday | Police Commemoration Day |
| 23 October | Friday | International Day of the Snow Leopard |
| 24 October | Saturday | United Nations Day · World Development Information Day · World Polio Day |
| 27 October | Tuesday | World Day for Audiovisual Heritage · Infantry Day (Shaurya Diwas) |
| 29 October | Thursday | International Day of Care and Support · World Coding Day · World Stroke Day |
| 31 October | Saturday | World Cities Day · World Savings Day · Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) |
(Thursday)
International Coffee Day
International Coffee Organization members agreed in 2014 to mark 1 October; the UN General Assembly later designated it by resolution 80/248.
UN General Assembly (with the International Coffee Organization) · Source: un.org
International Day of Older Persons
Designated by the UN General Assembly on 14 December 1990 through resolution 45/106.
UN General Assembly · Source: un.org
National Voluntary Blood Donation DayNational
Observed every year across India to raise awareness about blood donation and promote voluntary blood donation.
Government of India (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) · Source: pib.gov.in
(Friday)
International Day of Non-Violence
Established by UN resolution 61/271 of 15 June 2007 on Mahatma Gandhi's birthday; India introduced it on behalf of 140 co-sponsors.
UN General Assembly · Source: un.org
Gandhi JayantiNational
Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi; the same day is observed worldwide as the International Day of Non-Violence.
Government of India · Source: pib.gov.in
Swachh Bharat DiwasNational
Gandhi Jayanti is marked as Swachh Bharat Diwas, drawing on Gandhi's message of cleanliness under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
Government of India (Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation) · Source: pib.gov.in
(Monday)
World Habitat Day
In 1985 the UN designated the first Monday of October as World Habitat Day to reflect on towns, cities and the right to adequate shelter.
Date: every year on the first Monday of the month
UN General Assembly (UN-Habitat) · Source: un.org
World Teachers' Day
Commemorates the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers.
UNESCO (with ILO) · Source: unesco.org
National Dolphin DayNational
The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife decided in 2022 to observe 5 October every year to promote dolphin conservation.
Government of India (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) · Source: pib.gov.in
(Tuesday)
International Geodiversity Day
Approved by UNESCO's General Conference on 22 November 2021 to highlight the role of geoscience in meeting global challenges.
UNESCO · Source: unesco.org
(Wednesday)
World Cotton Day
Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in August 2021 to recognise the benefits of cotton; FAO hosts the global celebration.
UN General Assembly (FAO) · Source: un.org
(Thursday)
World Sight Day
Held on the second Thursday of October by the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness to spotlight eye care for all.
Date: every year on the second Thursday of the month
International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) · Source: iapb.org
Indian Air Force DayNational
Marks the founding of the Indian Air Force, which was officially established on 8 October 1932.
Indian Air Force (Ministry of Defence) · Source: pib.gov.in
(Friday)
World Post Day
Marks the founding of the Universal Postal Union at Bern in 1874; the UPU Congress at Tokyo declared it World Post Day in 1969.
Universal Postal Union (UPU) · Source: un.org
(Saturday)
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
Organised on the second Saturday of October by the Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance; first marked in 2005.
Date: every year on the second Saturday of the month
Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA) · Source: ehospice.com
World Migratory Bird Day
Marked twice a year, on the second Saturday of May and October; started in 2006 by the AEWA and CMS secretariats.
Date: every year on the second Saturday of the month
CMS and AEWA, with EAAFP and Environment for the Americas · Source: cms.int
World Mental Health Day
First observed in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health; WHO supports the day every year.
World Federation for Mental Health (supported by WHO) · Source: who.int
(Sunday)
International Day of the Girl Child
Declared by the UN General Assembly through resolution 66/170 on 19 December 2011 to recognise girls' rights.
UN General Assembly · Source: un.org
(Tuesday)
International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction
Started in 1989 after a UN General Assembly call to promote a global culture of risk awareness and disaster reduction.
UN General Assembly (UNDRR) · Source: un.org
(Wednesday)
World Standards Day
Members of IEC, ISO and ITU mark it every year to honour the experts who develop voluntary international standards.
IEC, ISO and ITU (World Standards Cooperation); in India, Bureau of Indian Standards · Source: worldstandardscooperation.org
(Thursday)
Global Handwashing Day
Founded by the Global Handwashing Partnership; the first edition in 2008 saw over 120 million children wash hands with soap.
Global Handwashing Partnership · Source: globalhandwashing.org
International Day of Rural Women
Established by UN resolution 62/136 of 18 December 2007; first observed on 15 October 2008.
UN General Assembly · Source: un.org
(Friday)
World Food Day
Established by a UN resolution in 1979 and first observed in 1981; led by FAO, which was founded in 1945.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) · Source: fao.org
(Saturday)
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Traced to a 1987 gathering at the Trocadéro, Paris; the UN General Assembly declared the day by resolution 47/196 in 1992.
UN General Assembly · Source: un.org
International Day of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
Proclaimed by the 42nd session of UNESCO's General Conference in November 2023 (Resolution 42/34).
UNESCO · Source: unesco.org
(Tuesday)
World Osteoporosis Day
Annual global campaign led by the International Osteoporosis Foundation to raise awareness of bone health and fracture prevention.
International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) · Source: osteoporosis.foundation
(Wednesday)
Police Commemoration DayNational
Honours 10 policemen killed by Chinese troops near Hot Springs, Ladakh, in 1959; an IG Police conference in January 1960 fixed 21 October.
Government of India (Ministry of Home Affairs) · Source: pib.gov.in
(Friday)
International Day of the Snow Leopard
Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 2024 to boost cooperation for conserving the snow leopard, listed as vulnerable by IUCN.
UN General Assembly · Source: un.org
(Saturday)
United Nations Day
Marks the anniversary of the UN Charter's entry into force on 24 October 1945, when the United Nations officially came into being.
United Nations · Source: un.org
World Development Information Day
Established by the UN General Assembly in 1972 (resolution 3038 (XXVII)) to draw attention to development problems; it coincides with UN Day.
UN General Assembly · Source: un.org
World Polio Day
Established by Rotary International; 24 October is the birth date of Jonas Salk, who led the first team to develop a polio vaccine.
Rotary International (supported by WHO) · Source: who.int
(Tuesday)
World Day for Audiovisual Heritage
Commemorates UNESCO's 1980 Recommendation for the Safeguarding and Preservation of Moving Images.
UNESCO · Source: unesco.org
Infantry Day (Shaurya Diwas)National
Marks the landing of 1st Battalion, Sikh Regiment at Srinagar airfield on 27 October 1947 to repel Pakistan-backed raiders.
Indian Army (Ministry of Defence) · Source: pib.gov.in
(Thursday)
International Day of Care and Support
Proclaimed by UN resolution 77/317 of 24 July 2023 to highlight the value of care work and investing in the care economy.
UN General Assembly · Source: documents.un.org
World Coding Day
Designated by UNESCO Member States in recognition of coding's importance to the digital world; first celebrated in 2024.
UNESCO · Source: unesco.org
World Stroke Day
The World Stroke Organization leads the annual World Stroke Campaign, with the global day of action marked on 29 October.
World Stroke Organization (WSO) · Source: world-stroke.org
(Saturday)
World Cities Day
Designated by UN resolution 68/239 and first celebrated in 2014; it closes UN-Habitat's 'Urban October' each year.
UN General Assembly (UN-Habitat) · Source: un.org
World Savings Day
Established on 31 October 1924 by the founders of the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI) as 'World Thrift Day'.
World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI) · Source: wsbi-esbg.org
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day)National
Marks the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel; the Government of India decided in 2014 to observe it every year.
Government of India (Ministry of Home Affairs) · Source: pib.gov.in
Frequently Asked Questions
How many important days are there in October 2026?
This list has 39 days in October 2026: 31 international and 8 national. Each was checked against an official page of the UN, a UN agency, the Government of India or the body that runs the day.
Which national days of India fall in October 2026?
National Voluntary Blood Donation Day (1 October); Gandhi Jayanti (2 October); Swachh Bharat Diwas (2 October); National Dolphin Day (5 October); Indian Air Force Day (8 October); Police Commemoration Day (21 October); Infantry Day (Shaurya Diwas) (27 October); Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) (31 October).
Which days in October change their date every year?
These are held on a fixed weekday, so the date moves: World Habitat Day (every year on the first Monday of the month; 5 October in 2026); World Sight Day (every year on the second Thursday of the month; 8 October in 2026); World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (every year on the second Saturday of the month; 10 October in 2026); World Migratory Bird Day (every year on the second Saturday of the month; 10 October in 2026).
Are the themes of these days given?
No. Themes change every year, so this list keeps to the lasting facts: who declared the day, whose memory or which event it marks, and since when. A given year’s theme is in that day’s current affairs story.