Charlie's Almanack

BBC Livestream video: https://www.youtube.com/live/z04BjFdOUyg  

Happy New Year! This is my 20th “annual almanack of the coming year” listing that I send out in lieu of a Christmas E-card on New Year’s Day. 

It started as a “here are a few useful links” email at the end of 2006, but if you read the last section it, like any long-running series, has evolved into a longer “outline of a range of annual knowledge” that leads on to other outlines, which I am still adding to. I explain more about “Outline of Knowledge” choices I make in the final section to the Almanack.

After big revisions in recent years there are no big structural changes this year however it does have some new sections and continues to have a much expanded initial calendar section with over 250 events listed - ideal for marking key dates in your diary/calendar whether a physical one or online. Because of the cost of living era we are in it includes lots of free to attend events (marked as "free" where known) as well as many online links to events televised online or livestreamed (BBC Iplayer and Youtube) minimise costs and maximise accessibility. 

It starts the New Year with a useful calendar of information below for planning ahead this coming year. On other pages it also has a range of hopefully useful Reference Materials on Society, Campaigning, Polling, Science, Culture (with music playlists), London, History, Politics (New)  and other interests/research issues as well as a short page covering the history of Outlines of Knowledge with some ongoing speculation as to the future in the light of modern events.

One of my ongoing projects is to download as much as what I learned in the last 50 or more years of active learning into the minds of others so the energy expended on that aggregation is not lost. Information retention is the only way we can ever partly resist universal entropy!:) 

When I was young I spent much time perusing annual editions of Whitaker's Almanack in a Reference Section of many local libraries and pre-internet I always thought they were very useful as these 2 examples over the years show:

• 1957 Full Edition: https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.528971/mode/2up 

• 2019 Extract: https://issuu.com/bloomsburypublishing/docs/whitaker_s_2019_sample_pages 

Nowadays as I get older writing this document each Christmas helps my mind absorb recent things and also help me plan ahead. As one ages the years seem to speed up and one thus has the choice of fearing that or instead embracing many events (many free or cheap) to remember each distinctive year better. Life seems more rushed in a world of social media, "second screening" (AKA "Netflix and scroll") https://theweek.com/culture-life/tv-radio/netflix-and-the-second-screen-phenomenon and a larger "Attention Economy" than 25 years ago https://x.com/TomHCalver/status/2007778923057434926 so an Almanack calendar can actually help create more points in the year to remember it better.

Contents list this year is below with the 2 items on this page in bold, items 3-16 here and item 17 here.

1. Annual Calendar - Specific Events and Anniversaries this year

2. The Previous Year in Review

3. UK Governance and Society

4. Atlas and Country Information

5. Help Science online

6. New: The Universe in Context 

7. New: Learn More through Online Lectures

8. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

9. My Guides to Campaigning, London and Research issues

10. Newsletters

11. Polling and Election Results

12. New: Political Writing, Articles, Papers and Book Contribution

13. Conflicts and Aid

14. History Writing

15. Arts and Culture - things that grabbed my attention in the past year

16. General and Archive Material

17. Outlines of Knowledge

Below are some useful links:

A Printable or Pdf Calendar with lots of additional options you can customise

http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/create.html

General Year Calendar for this Year: https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/?year=2026&country=9 

General points: Next leap year is 2028

New: This has an expanded list of long-standing common UK events and observations. 

Note: This calendar does get updated through the year as some dates marked with a question mark are assumed dates based on previous years and get confirmed during the year.

The Year in General

New: Not quite Nostradamus or Old Moore’s Almanack but a few general observations:

• Donald Trump will continue to impact on global politics but may see his domestic power reduced with a mid-term elections loss of control of the House of Representatives in November. Elon Musk may also be less influential after expressed expectations of his investors, the abolition of DOGE & the reach/effectiveness of X lower than in 2024/5?

• Perhaps the biggest global news will be the Artemis II mission - the first human spaceflight to fly-by and circle the Moon since 1972 that is meant to happen in April. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_II 

• Ongoing big conflicts in Burma, Sudan, Sahel countries, Congo, Middle East and Ukraine will sadly continue to see tragic loss of life https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ongoing_armed_conflicts 

• In terms of big sporting events, the Men's Football World Cup will be the biggest event with Scotland also hosting the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

• The Bayeux Tapestry will be exhibited at the British Museum later in the year from September until July 2027. Will it be as popular as the 1972 Tutankhamen exhibition was? https://www.britishmuseum.org/about-us/press/press-releases/bayeux-tapestry-displayed-british-museum 

• Not as many big elections this year though the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Senedd and UK Local Elections will also be a big “mid-term” political event for the Government in the UK this year. Hungary could in April see a change of Government after 16 years and later in the year Israel after 4 years.

Jan

Jan

London Ice Sculpting Festival (free) (often held at Canary Wharf): https://theicebox.com/gallery/london-ice-sculpting-festivals/ 

1 Jan

New Year’s Day: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_Day 

London New Years Day parade (free) : https://lnydp.com/ and other London events: https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/event/42844535-new-years-day-in-london 

New Year’s Day Concert by Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (online): https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002p26m 

Barbican, London, New Year’s Day Proms: https://www.barbican.org.uk/ 

Bank Holiday: https://www.gov.uk/bank-holidays 

1 Jan 

Bulgaria Joins the Euro: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgaria_and_the_euro 

1-18 Jan

Southbank, London Winter Lights Trail (free): https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/winter-light/ 

3 Jan

London Christmas Tree Fire (free) - first Saturday of New Year (illustrating how new customs evolve): https://x.com/paulpowlesland/status/2007764991701647758 

3 Jan

Tolkien Society, Tolkien Birthday Toast: https://www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolkien-birthday-toast-2026/ 

3-24 Jan

January Blues Festival, London: https://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/januarybluesfestival/2026 

4 Jan 

Twelfth Night - London event (free): https://thelionspart.co.uk/twelfthnight/ More on it here: https://londonist.com/london/things-to-do/bankside-twelfth-night-january-holly-man 

Related Winter Wassail events: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/history/art-collections/wassailing-ritual-and-revelry 

Dulwich has one on 17 Jan: https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/events/2026-01-17-wassail-day-village-orchard-dulwich 

And Barnes Common on 7 Feb: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/barnes-common-winter-wassail-tickets-1977268056985 

6 Jan

Plough Monday (Weather Folkore and agricultural tradition) - beginning of Ploughing Season and start of the Agriculltural year (First Monday after Twelfth Night): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plough_Monday 

11 Jan

No Trousers Tube Ride Day: https://www.facebook.com/events/867384226240336 which is based on the New York Metro "No Pants (ie US term for trousers) Subway Ride": https://londonist.com/london/latest-news/no-trousers-tube-ride-london-january-2026 

11 Jan

Golden Globes US Film Awards: https://goldenglobes.com/ 

16-18 Jan

Lewes Speakers Festival: https://www.speakersfestivals.com/lewes-speakers-festival 

17-18 Jan

Whittlesea, Peterborough, Straw Bear Festival (free): https://www.strawbear.org.uk/ 

19 Jan 

Blue Monday (Pseudoscience): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Monday_(date) 

19-23 Jan

World Economic Forum (WEF), Davos, Switzerland: https://www.weforum.org/ 

20-30 Jan

Canary Wharf Winter Lights Festival (free): https://canarywharf.com/whats-on/winter-lights-2026/ 

21-31 Jan

Mime London: https://mimelondon.com/ 

23 Jan- 1 Feb

London Short Films Festival: https://www.shortfilms.org.uk/ 

25 Jan

Burns’ Night https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burns_supper & London events here: https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/event/11235521-burns-night-in-london & also here: https://londonist.com/london/things-to-do/best-places-in-london-to-celebrate-burns-night 

26 Jan

100th anniversary of 1st public demonstration of Television, London: https://diamondgeezer.blogspot.com/2026/01/tv100.html 

26 Jan-1 Feb

Independent Music Venue Week: https://independentvenueweek.com/uk/ 

27 Jan 

International Holocaust Memorial Day: https://hmd.org.uk/ 

27 Jan

“Up Helly Aa” torch-lit Festival, Lerwick, Shetland: https://www.uphellyaa.org/

Last Tuesday of January

29-30 Jan

City of London Vibrance Sound and Light Art Installation Festival (free): https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/free-light-and-sound-show-to-fill-city-of-londons-historic-sites-86094/ 

31 Jan

6 years since Brexit Day in 2020: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7960/

31 Jan

6 years since Covid 19 arrived in the UK:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_the_United_Kingdom 

31 Jan 

London "Frost Fair", Bankside (free): https://banksidelondon.co.uk/frost-fair-2026/? 

Feb

1 Feb

Imbolc (Celtic Festival): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imbolc 

1 Feb

US Grammy Music Awards: https://www.grammy.com/ 

2 Feb

Groundhog Day (US weather folklore): 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day 

6-22 Feb

Winter Olympics, Northern Italy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Winter_Olympics 

13-15 Feb

London Bookshop Crawl: https://www.bookshopcrawl.co.uk/londonprogramme 

14 Feb

Valentine's Day: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine%27s_Day# 

15 Feb

American Football "Superbowl": https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/american-football/articles/cn41r331333o 

Second Sunday in February

17 Feb

Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day (Moveable Day): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrove_Tuesday 

London Events: https://londonist.com/london/food-and-drink/pancake-day-in-london-races-events-menus including at least 4 Pancake Races in London: Leadenhall Market, London Guildhall, Greenwich Market and Bankside (free).

Royal Shrovetide “Medieval” Football, Ashbourne, Derbyshire (free): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Shrovetide_Football 

17 Feb 

Lunar (or Chinese) New Year (Official Calendrical Date this year): https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/lunar-new-year-dates-animals-zodiac 

London Lunar New Year Festival (free) is 21-22 Feb  

https://www.london.gov.uk/events/lunar-new-year-festival-spring-2026 

http://www.lccauk.com/

https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/event/4733685-chinese-new-year-in-london  

https://chinatown.co.uk/en/events-en/chinese-lunar-new-year-2025/ 

https://londonist.com/london/things-to-do/chinese-new-year-london-lunar-new-year 

20-22 Feb

Wakefield Rhubarb Festival (free): https://www.facebook.com/RhubarbFestival 

A celebration of West Yorkshire’s 9 square-mile “Rhubarb Triangle”: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhubarb_Triangle 

22 Feb

BAFTA UK film awards: https://www.bafta.org/ 

24 Feb

4th anniversary of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Ukrainian_war_(2022%E2%80%93present) 

24 Feb

US President State of the Union Address to Congress (online): https://www.whitehouse.gov/sotu/ 

Dates varies each year but generally Jan-Mar

25 Feb

Soho Calling Music Festival, London: https://sohocalling.com/ 

28 Feb?

Brit Awards (UK Music awards): https://www.brits.co.uk/ Moving to Manchester for 2026 and 2027

Mar

March

The BBC Richard Dimbleby Lecture: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006ptbl History here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Dimbleby_Lecture 

1 Mar

Start of Meteorological Spring (Mar, Apr, May): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_(season) 

1 Mar

St David’s Day (Wales): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_David%27s_Day 

3 Mar

Chancellor’s Spring Statement: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-treasury 

3-5 Mar

Futurebuild Annual Sustainable Development Event at the Excel, London (free): https://www.futurebuild.co.uk/ 

5 Mar

St Piran’s Day (Cornwall): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Piran%27s_Day 

5 Mar

World Book Day: https://www.worldbookday.com/ 

8 Mar

International Women’s Day: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/ Women of the World (WOW) Foundation events: https://thewowfoundation.com/ 

8 Mar

National Covid Day of Reflection https://dayofreflection.campaign.gov.uk/ 

8 Mar

Colombia Parliamentary Election (significant in the light of events in Venezuela): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Colombian_parliamentary_election  

9 Mar

Commonwealth Day: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_Day 

Second Monday of March

12 Mar-23 Aug

David Hockney later works exhibition (free) at the Serpentine Gallery North, Hyde Park, London: https://www.serpentinegalleries.org/ 

15 Mar

Mother’s Day: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother's_Day 

Moveable date - 4th Sunday in Lent

15 Mar

US Academy Awards for Film (Oscars): https://www.oscars.org/ 

17 Mar

St Patrick’s Day (Ireland): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick%27s_Day 

London St Patrick’s Day Festival (free) is on 15 Mar: https://www.london.gov.uk/events/st-patricks-festival-2026 

20 Mar

Spring, March or Vernal Equinox  (Sun crosses North on the Celestial Equator): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_equinox 

Also known as Eostre (Anglo-Saxon) or Ostara (Old High German)

Slightly different to the Equilux (equal time day and night reached before it gets lighter) - see Calendar Notes below.

London Druid Ceremony: https://calendarcustoms.com/articles/druid-spring-equinox/ 

20 Mar

Comic Relief Red Nose Day https://www.comicrelief.com/rednoseday/ 

TV programme here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002svj2 2025 here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006zrvr 

21 Mar

World Poetry Day: https://www.unesco.org/en/days/poetry 

25-28 Mar

BBC 6 Music Festival, Manchester: https://www.bbc.co.uk/backstage/6musicfestival/ and https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b03nj13d/6-music-festival 

26 Mar

MOBO music awards, Manchester: https://www.mobo.com/ BBC programme: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b0080jw2/the-mobo-awards 

28 Mar

Earth Hour - 8.30pm Local Time: https://www.earthhour.org/ 

29 Mar

Clocks “Spring” Forward: https://www.gov.uk/when-do-the-clocks-change 

Apr

1 Apr 

April Fool’s Day: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_Fools%27_Day  Polling on generational views on whether April's Fools Day pranks should be in the morning suggests in the future the whole day may be seen as fair game: https://x.com/YouGov/status/2039371527104119174 

1 Apr

Pints Day at the French House pub Soho: https://londonist.com/london/drink/pints-day-french-house-soho

1 Apr

Launch of Artemis II - first crewed fly-by/orbit of the Moon since 1972

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artemis_II 

Your name can be on the SD card that will circle the Moon: https://x.com/NASAArtemis/status/1999547839668474282 

Details here: https://www3.nasa.gov/send-your-name-with-artemis/ 

And news coverage of it here: https://x.com/SkyNews/status/2041237605832896672 

You will also be able to track the flight in real time: https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/artemis-2/track-nasas-artemis-ii-mission-in-real-time/? 

Tracker here: https://eyes.nasa.gov/apps/solar-system/#/sc_artemis_2?lighting=flood&surfaceMapTiling=true 

Live feed from Artemis II https://www.youtube.com/live/6RwfNBtepa4 

Multimedia: https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-ii-multimedia/ 

Nasa website with full mission details and timeline: https://www.nasa.gov/ 

3-6 Apr

Easter (moveable date): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter 

Good Friday and Easter Monday Bank Holidays: https://www.gov.uk/bank-holidays 

4 Apr

Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race (free): https://www.theboatrace.org/ 

6 Apr

Start of UK Fiscal Year (tax and accountancy calendar): https://www.sage.com/en-gb/blog/fiscal-year/ & https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiscal_year 

10-12 and 17-19 Apr

Coachella - Big US Music Festival: https://www.coachella.com/ which is often livestreamed https://www.youtube.com/@Coachella 

11 Apr

Grand National horse race: https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/aintree/events-tickets/grand-national/grand-national-day/ 

12 April

Laurence Olivier Theatre Awards: https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/ 

12 Apr

Hungarian General Election: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Hungarian_parliamentary_election  

12 Apr

Peruvian General Election (significant in the light of events in Venezuela): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Peruvian_general_election 

13 Apr

London Games Festival (free) in Trafalgar Square: https://www.london.gov.uk/events/london-games-festival-2026 

18 Apr

Opening of V&A East, Stratford Olympic Park, London (free entrance venue after opening): https://www.vam.ac.uk/articles/about-va-east-museum 

18 Apr-4 May

World Snooker Championship: https://www.wst.tv/tickets/world-championship-2026-tickets/ 

20-27 Apr

London Digital Art Week: https://digitalartweek.io/ 

22 Apr

Earth Day: https://www.earthday.org/ 

22 Apr

Stephen Lawrence Day: https://stephenlawrenceday.org/ 

23 Apr

St George’s Day (England): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_George%27s_Day and also Shakespeare day too: https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/uk/shakespeare-day 

London St George’s Day Festival (free) is on 19 Apr: https://www.london.gov.uk/events/st-georges-day-2026 

23 Apr

World Book Night: https://worldbooknight.org/ 

23-26 Apr

Brick Lane Jazz Festival: https://www.bricklanejazzfestival.com/ 

26 Apr 

London Marathon https://www.tcslondonmarathon.com/ 

26 Apr

40th Anniversary of Chernobyl nuclear disaster: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernobyl_disaster 

28 Apr

Ed Balls Day: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/63518/what-ed-balls-day and https://twitter.com/edballs/status/63623585020915713 

30 Apr

Edinburgh Beltane Fire Festival: https://beltane.org/ 

May

May-July

London Balloon Regatta (often canceled due to the weather conditions): https://www.balloonregatta.com/the-regatta so Updates page is important: https://www.balloonregatta.com/updates/ 

1 May 

May Day (or Beltane) Ancient Festival: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Day 

International Workers Day: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Workers%27_Day 

Oxford May Morning: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_Morning 

Padstow Cornwall, “Obby Oss” Festival (free): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%27Obby_%27Oss_festival 

1-4 May

Hastings, Sussex Jack in the Green Festival (free): https://hastingstraditionaljackinthegreen.co.uk/ 

2-4 May

IWA Canalway Cavalcade, Little Venice, London (free): https://waterways.org.uk/support/ways-to-get-involved/events/iwa-canalway-cavalcade-2026 

4 May

Early May Bank Holiday: https://www.gov.uk/bank-holidays 

4-12 May

100th anniversary of the UK General Strike: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1926_United_Kingdom_general_strike 

A daily timeline and digitised primary source documents: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/collections/digital/gs/timeline/ 

General Strike 100 Map Project here: https://generalstrike100.com/#map=5/54.8/-3.4 

7 May

Electoral Commission list of elections https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/who-we-are-and-what-we-do/elections-and-referendums/upcoming-elections 

Scottish Parliament Election: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Scottish_Parliament_election 

Welsh Senedd Election: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Senedd_election 

Local Elections in England: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_United_Kingdom_local_elections

8 May

VE Day anniversary: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_in_Europe_Day 

9 May

Europe Day https://european-union.europa.eu/principles-countries-history/symbols/europe-day_en

9 May

Liberation Day (in World War II) for Jersey https://liberationday.je/  and Guernsey https://liberationday.gg/ 

9 May

With Banners Held High Trade Union Festival, Wakefield (free):  

https://www.facebook.com/withbannersheldhigh/ 

9 May

Republic Day for UK campaigners for a Republic: https://www.republic.org.uk/ 

10 May

Streatham Common Kite Day (free): https://www.streathamkiteday.org.uk/ 

10 May?

Day for Rejoin by Pro EU campaigners:  https://marchforrejoin.co.uk/rejoinday25 

10 May?

London Grand Flâneur Summer Walk: https://thechap.co.uk/grand-flaneur-walk-2025-2/

10 May

Covent Garden May Fair and Puppet Festival (free): https://alternativearts.org.uk/events/covent-garden-may-fayre-puppet-festival 

10 May?

BAFTA UK TV Awards: https://www.bafta.org/ 

10 May-12 Sept

Highland Games, Scotland: https://www.visitscotland.com/things-to-do/events/highland-games 

13 May

State Opening of UK Parliament 

Last one was in 2024 and next is not until this date

https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/occasions/stateopening/ 

12-16 May

Eurovision Song Contest, Vienna, Austria: https://eurovision.tv/ 

14-17 May

London Coffee Festival, Truman Brewery Brick Lane, London: https://www.londoncoffeefestival.com/ The Gilbert & George Arts Centre (which opened in 2023) is just around the corner too: https://gilbertandgeorgecentre.org/ 

15 May

Museum of Youth Culture opens near St Pancras: https://www.museumofyouthculture.com/ 

15 May

Council of Europe meeting on the ECHR: https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/home 

16 May

FA Cup Final, Wembley: https://www.thefa.com/competitions/thefacup/round-dates 

16-17 May

Vauxhall May Fair: https://beinvauxhall.com/article/vauxhall-may-fair-2026/ 

18-20 May

Pint of Science Festival in pubs across the UK: https://pintofscience.co.uk/ 

19-23 May

RHS Chelsea Flower Show: https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show 

21 May 

UK Press Awards: https://www.thepressawards.com/ 

21 May

Ivor Novello Awards for songwriting & composing: https://ivorsacademy.com/the-ivors/ 

21-31 May 

Hay on Wye Literature and Arts Festival: https://www.hayfestival.com/hay-on-wye/home 

22 May

International Sherlock Holmes Day: https://apnews.com/article/sherlock-holmes-day-arthur-conan-doyle-a588a0e80e44350dfd9324ade418c8e6 and https://sherlock-holmes.org.uk/ 

22-24 May

Radio 1 Big Weekend, Sunderland (TV Programmes): https://www.bbc.com/backstage/bigweekend/ and https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p08d4zbh/radio-1s-big-weekend 

Line Up: https://www.bbc.co.uk/backstage/bigweekend/line-up2026/ 

Background: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr5pzmj31y6o 

New Acts: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg34dy9122o 

23-31 May

London Rivers Week (free): https://www.thames21.org.uk/joinacampaign/london-rivers-week-2026/ 

25 May

Towel Day to celebrate the life of Douglas Adams: https://www.towelday.org/ This year also has a live stream of the "Dont Panic!" Festival in Stalbridge, North Dorset, where Adams first started writing Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy: https://www.dontpanicfestival.org/live-stream 

25 May

Spring Bank Holiday: https://www.gov.uk/bank-holidays 

Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling and Wake (free): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooper%27s_Hill_Cheese-Rolling_and_Wake

BBC TV coverage here:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/l00589l1/coopers-hill-cheese-rolling-races-2026 

29 May

Cotswold Olimpick Games (free): https://olimpickgames.co.uk/ including the old sport of shin-kicking:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/4605157.stm 

Held on the Friday after the Spring Bank Holiday

29 May-2 Aug

Scarborough Fair Festival (modern day version of the original Fair after which the ballad is named): https://scarboroughfair.uk/ Most well known song version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Jj4s9I-53g 

The core Scarborough Streets Festival is 29-32 May, Scarborough Fringe 12-21 June and Scarborough Art of 4 July-2 Aug: https://theyorkshirepress.co.uk/news/the-scarborough-fair-returns-with-170-events-for-2026-summer-season/ 

30 May

Rugby League Challenge Cup, Wembley: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenge_Cup 

30 May

Champions League Final, Budapest: https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/ 

31 May

Colombia Presidential (significant in the light of events in Venezuela):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Colombian_presidential_election 

June

June?

Marylebone Summer Festival (generally held this month) (free): https://www.marylebonevillage.com/whats-on-and-features/item/262-marylebone-summer-festival 

June

World Worm Charming Championship, Willaston, Cheshire (free): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worm_charming#World_Worm_Charming_Championship 

June-September

No Liverpool Arts Biennial this year as held in odd numbered years: https://www.biennial.com/ 

1 June

Start of Meteorological Summer (June, July, Aug): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer 

1-30 June 

London Festival of Architecture: https://www.londonfestivalofarchitecture.org/ 

3 June - 12 July

Shakespeare in the Square annual tour of London Squares with a Shakespeare play: https://shakespeareinthesquares.co.uk/whats-on/ 

5 June

Opening of Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, Clerkenwell, London (free entrance once open): https://qbcentre.org.uk/ 

5-6 June

Epsom Derby horse race (free to watch at some parts of the track): https://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/epsom/events-tickets/epsom-derby/ 

5-8 June

The Big Lunch: https://www.edenprojectcommunities.com/the-big-lunch 

6 June

D-Day anniversary: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Normandy_landings 

6 June

Cambridge Strawberry Fair (free): https://www.strawberry-fair.org.uk/ 

Programme from 2024 https://www.strawberry-fair.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Strawberry-Fair-Programme-2024-v2.pdf 

6-7 June 

London Open Gardens (free): https://londongardenstrust.org/ 

6-7 June

Great Exhibition Road Science & Arts Festival, South Kensington (Free): https://www.imperial.ac.uk/festival/ 

6-7 June?

NO Lambeth Country Show, Brockwell Park, Lambeth (free) this year: https://www.lambethcountryshow.co.uk/ 

7 June?

US Tony Theatre Awards: https://www.tonyawards.com/ 

7 June

Clarion Sunday - Last Clarion Cycling House: https://www.londonclarion.org.uk/event-details/clarion-sunday-2026-a-celebration-at-the-last-clarion-house 

11 June-19 July 

FIFA Men’s Football World Cup, USA, Mexico, Canada: https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026 

14 June

World Naked Bike Ride, London: https://wnbrlondon.uk/ and https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/world-naked-bike-ride-2026-london-route-date-time-b1285563.html 

15 June

Magna Carta Day: https://www.magnacartatrust.org/ 

16 June-23 Aug

Royal Academy Summer Exhibition: https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/summer-exhibition-2026 

16 June

Bloomsday, (James Joyce, Ulysses & events in Dublin): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomsday 

19-23 June

Jo Cox Foundation "Great Get Together": https://www.jocoxfoundation.org/our-work/stronger-communities/great-get-together/ 

20-21 June

West End Live festival event in London (free): https://www.westendlive.co.uk/

20 June 

Election of the "Mock Mayor of Ock Street" Abingdon, Oxfordshire (free): https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/discover-abingdon/witness-a-living-tradition/election-of-the-mayor-of-ock-street 

Nearest Saturday to the Summer Solstice

More on "Mock Mayor" elections and where they take place here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mock_mayor with examples in Barton Street, Gloucester in August https://www.bartonandtredworth.org.uk/content/living-barton-tredworth/memories/the-mock-mayors-of-barton-street and Old Woodstock, Oxfordshire https://www.mockmayor.co.uk/ and Penryn, Cornwall https://www.penryn-tc.gov.uk/council_events/mock-mayor-2025/ in Sept 

20 June

National Rejoin March IV (Pro-EU March on 10th Anniversary of the Brexit Referendum): https://marchforrejoin.co.uk/ 

21 June

Father’s Day (third Sunday of June): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father%27s_Day 

21 June 

Summer Solstice https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_solstice 

Also known as “Litha” (Anglo-Saxon)

Glastonbury Tor may have a better event at 4am than Stonehenge as these two videos from 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r66oI22vpos and 2024 show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svIaKNi8vIU 

The latter video shows the early morning summer mist on the Somerset Levels which, viewed from a height, having seen it in 1995, is magnificent.

Summer 

Venus Life Finder probe may be launched: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_Life_Finder 

22 June

Windrush Day: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windrush_Day

23 June

10th Anniversary of the UK Brexit Referendum:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_United_Kingdom_European_Union_membership_referendum 

24 June

Midsummer Day: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midsummer 

Cornish Golowan Festivals (free): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golowan_Festival including the big Penzanze Golowan (free) from 19-28 June: and its main event Mazey Day on 27 June (free): https://golowanfestival.org/ 

24 June

US Pulitzer prices for Journalism and Books: https://www.pulitzer.org/ 

24-28 June

NO Glastonbury Festival THIS YEAR as a fallow year for the farm: https://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/ 

Line Up: https://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/line-up/ 

BBC Coverage: https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/egmzp6 and https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007r6vx 

For the full at home experience, which probably does work better if you have been at least once:

Webcam: https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/glastonbury/webcam

Maps: https://glastopedia.com/festivals/maps/

Worthy FM Radio: https://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/news/listen-to-our-festival-radio-station-worthy-fm-3/ 

27 June

Armed Forces Day: https://www.armedforcesday.org.uk/ 

Last Saturday in June

27 June?

Cradley Heath Chainmakers Festival (Women’s low pay strike commemoration) (free): https://www.womenchainmakers.org.uk/ 

29 June-12 July

Wimbledon Tennis Championship: https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/atoz/dates.html 

30 June-5 July

Royal Society Summer Science Festival, Carlton House Terrace, The Mall, London (free): https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/summer-science-exhibition/ 

July

July

RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival - not being held in 2026 https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-hampton-court-palace-garden-festival 

July

No London Arts Biennale this year as held in odd numbered years: https://www.londonbiennale.co.uk/ 

2-5 July

Silverstone British Formula 1 Grand Prix: https://www.silverstone.co.uk/events/formula-1-british-grand-prix  

3 July - 7 Sept (though some put it finishing earlier at 11 or 15 Aug) 

The Dog Days of Summer (weather folklore): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_days 

4 July

250th Anniversary of USA Independence: https://www.state.gov/america-250/ 

Events: https://america250.org/ 

4 July

2nd anniversary of the election of the current Labour Government under Keir Starmer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_United_Kingdom_general_election 

4 July?

Pride in London LGBTQIA Festival (free): https://prideinlondon.org/ 

4 July?

International Day of Co-operatives: https://www.coopsday.coop/ 

First Satuday in July

4 July

Cooper's Cask Race, London Guildhall (free): https://caskrace.com/ More here: https://londonist.com/london/things-to-do/coopers-cask-race-guildhall-yard 

5 July

NHS Founding Day: https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/nhs-history/ 

6 July

Tynwald Day, Isle of Man: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tynwald_Day 

Usually 5 July but if falls on a Sat or Sun then held on the Monday after

7-12 July

Summer in the Square, Portman Square, Marylebone (free): https://makeitmarylebone.co.uk/summer-in-the-square/ 

11 July

Durham Miners Gala (free): https://www.durhamminers.org/gala 

11-12 July

Whitecross Street Party and arts/music festival (just north of the Barbican Centre) (free): https://www.wxstreetparty.co.uk/ 

12 July

London Chess Fest, Trafalgar Square: https://www.chess-fest.com/london 

12-19 July

The British Open in Golf, Royal Birkdale, Southport, Lancs: https://www.theopen.com/ 

Third Week of July

“Swan Upping” traditional events for the conservation of Swans on the Thames:

https://www.royalswan.co.uk/ 

15 July

St Swithin’s Day (Weather folklore): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swithun 

17-18 July

London Craft Beer Festival: https://londoncraftbeerfestival.co.uk/ 

17-19 July

Tolpuddle Festival, Dorset (free): https://www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk/festival 

18 July

City of London Cart Marking Ceremony (free): https://www.cartmarking.org/ More here: https://www.thecityofldn.com/event/cart-marking-ceremony/ 

19 July

Soho Village Fete: https://www.thesohosociety.org.uk/village-fete-sunday-19-july-2026 including Soho Waiters Race: https://londonist.com/london/things-to-do/soho-waiters-race 

20-24 July 

Farnborough International Airshow. Generally held even years: https://www.farnboroughairshow.com/ 

23 July-2 Aug

Commonwealth Games, Glasgow, Scotland: https://www.glasgow2026.com/ 

29 July

Most Wuthering Heights Day (annual tribute event to Kate Bush) Generally late July (free): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Most_Wuthering_Heights_Day_Ever and https://x.com/AFP/status/2082128528154218680 

30 July

60th Anniversary of England winning the World Cup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0aK2IgORGA 

Aug

Aug?

Ride London Cycling event - has been held for a number of years in London: https://www.londonmarathonevents.co.uk/ridelondon 

Aug?

Mindsports Olympiad, generally held in London: https://mindsportsolympiad.com/ 

1 Aug 

Lughnasadh (Celtic Festival): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lughnasadh 

1 Aug

Yorkshire Day: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkshire_Day 

1 Aug

Ronnie Scott's Street Party (Jazz) (Free): https://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/find-a-show/ronnie-scotts-street-party-2026 

1-8 Aug

National Eisteddfod Wales: https://eisteddfod.wales/ 

4-8 Aug?

NO Great British Beer Festival this year

https://greatbritishbeerfestival.co.uk/ 

5 Aug

60th Anniversary of Beatles Revolver Album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMdcE8jdz70&list=OLAK5uy_n9q-ezB2RZF1WS7PR3h3drrTgNCf-DRSk 

6 Aug

Hiroshima Day:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki 

7-9 Aug

Bristol Balloon Fiesta (free): https://www.bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk/ 

7-14 Aug

Broadstairs Folk Week: https://broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk/ 

7-30 Aug

Edinburgh International Festival (official one not the fringe - see below): https://www.eif.co.uk/ 

7-31 Aug 

Edinburgh Festival Fringe: https://www.edfringe.com/ 

9 Aug

Nagasaki Day

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki 

9 Aug?

Carneval del Pueblo, Burgess Park, Southwark (free): https://www.carnavaldelpueblo.co.uk/home.html 

12 Aug

Partial Solar Eclipse: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2026-august-12 Details and timings https://x.com/metoffice/status/2085992167982387523 and good places to watch safely in London https://www.timeout.com/london/news/august-2026-solar-eclipse-where-to-watch-tips-080726 

13 Aug

A Level Results Day: https://www.theuniguide.co.uk/advice/clearing-results-day/a-level-results-day-grades-what-to-expect 

13 Aug-15 Aug

Fairport Cropredy Convention Festival: https://www.fairportconvention.com/ 

15 Aug

VJ Day anniversary: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_over_Japan_Day 

15 Aug

Imberbus - an annual bus service from Warminster across Salisbury Plain to the lost village (in WW2) of Imber: https://imberbus.org/  and https://londonist.com/london/beyond-london/ride-these-vintage-london-buses-over-salisbury-plain-this-august and timetable: https://imberbus.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/imberbus-2026-timetable.pdf

20 Aug

GCSE Results Day: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgn7p198x9o 

20-23 Aug

Green Man Festival, Brecon Beacons, Wales: https://www.greenman.net/ 

22 Aug - 7 Sept?

Greenwich and Docklands outdoor performing arts festival (free):  https://festival.org/gdif/ 

24-27 Aug

All Points East In the Neighbourhood Festival, Victoria Park, London (free): https://www.allpointseastfestival.com/in-the-neighbourhood/ 

25-28 Aug

The TV Festival, Edinburgh but moves to Manchester in 2027 (Often important speeches on future of the medium): https://www.thetvfestival.com/ 

27-30 Aug

Reading and Leeds Festival (TV Programmes): Shown here but not live: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b007xt4m/radio-1-at-reading-and-leeds-festival and more here 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007xt4m/episodes/player and here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m003117h 

28 Aug

Partial Lunar Eclipse: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2026-august-28 

29 Aug

60th Anniversary of the final Beatles Concert Gig, Candlestick Park, San Francisco, USA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdnVPY71gpI (this was a formal gig unlike the final 1969 London Rooftop concert)

30-31 Aug

Notting Hill Carnival held on August Bank Holiday Weekend (free): https://nhcarnival.org/ 

I always recommend attending via Warwick Avenue tube where only around 6-12 get off the tube at peak times compared to the 1000's elsewhere. As a bonus you get to walk through Little Venice too 

31 Aug

Summer Bank Holiday: https://www.gov.uk/bank-holidays

World Bog Snorkelling Championship, Llamwrtyd Wells, Wales (free): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bog_snorkelling 

Sept

1 Sept

Start of Meteorological Autumn (Sept, Oct, Nov): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autumn 

1-30 Sept?

Mayor London’s Totally Thames Festival (free): https://thamesfestivaltrust.org/ 

3-13 Sept

London Podcast Festival, (Annual event) Kings Place, King's Cross: https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/london-podcast-festival/ 

4-5 Sept?

Reform Party Conference: https://reformpartyconference.co.uk/ 

5 Sept

Denmark Street, London - Music Sessions festival (Free): https://chateaudenmark.com/denmark-street-sessions 

6 Sept

Great North Run:

https://www.greatrun.org/events/great-north-run/ 

6 Sept

Burston Strike School Rally (longest ever strike commemoration) (free): https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/events/burston-strike-school-rally 

6 Sept

Abbot’s Bromley Horndance, Staffordshire (free): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbots_Bromley_Horn_Dance 

First Sunday after 4 Sept

6 Sept

MTV Music Video Awards: https://www.mtv.com/event/vma 

8 Sept

Star Trek Day - 60th Anniversary of it starting in US (6 Sept in Canada): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek_Day 

9 Sept

Doggetts Coat and Badge Race along the Thames in London (free):

https://doggettsrace.com/

9-13 Sept

Soho Jazz Festival: https://www.soho.live/categories/soho-jazz-festival-2025 

10 Sept-11 July 2027

Bayeux Tapestry displayed at the British Museum until July 2027: https://www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/bayeux-tapestry 

11-13 Sept

Radio 2 in the Park Festival (TV Programmes): https://www.bbc.co.uk/backstage/radio2inthepark/ and https://www.bbc.co.uk/backstage/radio2inthepark/ 

11-20 Sept

Heritage Open Days (across England) (free): https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/ 

12-20 Sept? 

London Open House Festival (free): https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/ 

12-20 Sept

London Design Festival: https://londondesignfestival.com/ 

12 Sept 

Emerge East Festival, Barking Riverside (free): https://www.emergeeast.uk/ 

12 Sept

Last Night of the Proms which runs 17 July-12 Sept: https://www.bbc.co.uk/proms 

13 Sept

US TV Emmy Awards: https://theemmys.tv/ 

13 Sept -30 Oct?

Oktoberfest German Beer events in London: https://londonist.com/london/drink/oktoberfest-parties-events-london 

13-16 Sept

TUC Congress: https://www.tuc.org.uk/events/tuc-congress-2026 

18-19 Sept

World Gurning Championship, Egremont Crab Fair, Cumbria (free): https://www.egremontcrabfair.com/ 

18-20 Sept

Last date for Russian Parliamentary Elections: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Russian_legislative_election 

19 Sept

Bermondsey Street Festival (free): https://bermondseystreetfestival.com/

19-22 Sept

Liberal Democrat Annual Conference: https://www.libdems.org.uk/conference 

23 Sept

Autumnal or September Equinox (Sun crosses South on the Celestial Equator): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_equinox 

Also known as “Mabon” (1970’s Pagan revival naming based on Welsh mythology)

Slightly different to the Equilux (equal time night and day reached before gets darker) - see Calendar Notes below.

23-28 Sept

"Liberty" Disability Festival, London (free): https://cripticarts.org/liberty-festival-2025/ 

27 Sept?

Annual Sheepdrive across Southwark Bridge and a Livery Fair by the Worshipful company of Woolmen (free):

https://sheepdrive.london/ 

27- 30 Sept

Labour Party Conference: https://labour.org.uk/annual-conference/ 

Oct

Oct

Black History Month: https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/ 

1 Oct

National Poetry Day (UK) - first Thursday in October: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Poetry_Day 

2-4 Oct?

Green Party Conference: https://greenparty.org.uk/get-involved/conference/ 

3 Oct

Peckham Conker Championship: https://peckhamconker.club/ and also: https://londonist.com/london/things-to-do/play-conkers-tournament 

4 Oct

Battle of Cable Street 90th Anniversary https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/events/the-battle-of-cable-street-90th-anniversary & https://togetheroncablestreet.com/ 

4 Oct

Japan Matsuri Festival, Trafalgar Square, London (free): https://japanmatsuri.com/ 

4 Oct

Hampstead Heath Conker Championship: https://www.heath-hands.org.uk/whatson/hampsteadheathconkerchampionships-05oct25 

4 Oct

Brazilian General Election (significant in the light of events in Venezuela): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Brazilian_general_election 

4-5 October

Abingdon Michaelmas Fair (longest street fair in Europe) and Runaway Fair (free): https://www.abingdon.gov.uk/town-council/town-council-services/fairs 

4-7 Oct 

Conservative Party Conference: https://www.conservatives.com/conference 

5-12 Oct?

Nobel Prize Announcements https://www.nobelprize.org/ Awards ceremony  on 10 Dec each year - the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death

7-18 Oct

BFI London Film Festival: https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/default.asp 

13 Oct?

Berggruen Prize for Philosophy and Culture (the “Nobel Prize” for Philosophy): https://berggruen.org/prize 

15 Oct

Likely date Mercury Music Prize awarded https://www.mercuryprize.com/ 

16-18 Oct

Bloomsbury Festival, London (free): https://bloomsburyfestival.org.uk/ 

21 Oct 

Apple Day: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Day 

21 Oct

60th anniversary of the Aberfan Disaster: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberfan_disaster 

24 Oct

United Nations (UN) Day: https://www.un.org/en/observances/un-day 

25 Oct

Clocks “Fall” Back: https://www.gov.uk/when-do-the-clocks-change 

25 Oct

White Ribbon Day (awareness of gender based violence): https://www.whiteribbon.org.uk/white-ribbon-day 

27 Oct

Latest date for Israel General Election: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Israeli_legislative_election 

28 Oct 

UK Budget: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-treasury 

29 Oct-7 Nov

70th anniversary of the Suez Crisis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Crisis 

31 Oct-1 Nov 

Halloween (Samhain): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain 

Nov

Nov

Being Human Festival - national festival of the Humanities - various venues (free): https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/ 

1 Nov?

London to Brighton Veteran Car Run (free to watch): https://www.veterancarrun.com/ 

3 Nov

US Mid-term elections: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_elections 

Including one-third of Senate: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_Senate_elections 

And all the House of Representatives: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections 

5 Nov

Guy Fawkes/Bonfire Night: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night 

Where to watch fireworks in London: https://londonist.com/london/things-to-do/where-to-watch-fireworks-on-bonfire-night-in-london 

Lewes, Sussex, Bonfire celebrations (free): https://www.lewesbonfirecelebrations.com/ 

Ottery St Mary, Devon, Tar Barrels (free): https://www.tarbarrels.co.uk/ 

7 Nov

New Zealand General Election: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_New_Zealand_general_election 

7 Nov

Lord Mayor’s Show London (free): https://www.lordmayorsshow.london/ 

8 Nov

Remembrance Sunday: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_Sunday and https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/get-involved/remembrance/remembrance-events/remembrance-sunday with Remembrance Day itself on 11 Nov

9 Nov

Booker Prizes presented: https://thebookerprizes.com/ 

13 Nov

BBC Children in Need: https://www.bbcchildreninneed.co.uk/ 

TV programme here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002m4d4 

13-22 Nov?

London Jazz Festival: https://efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk/ 

15 Nov

Voyager 1 reaches 1 “light-day” distance from Earth 49 years after launch showing how big universe distances are: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyager_1 

19 Nov

Beaujolais Nouveau Wine released: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaujolais_nouveau 

Big in Swansea Wales: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyv75yznqe0o

And various Beaujolais Runs from France to the UK for charity: https://beaujolaisrun.com/ 

Third Thursday In November

19-20 Nov

COP 31 Climate Conference, Antalya, Turkey: https://unfccc.int/ 

22 Nov?

London Grand Flâneur Winter Walk: https://thechap.co.uk/grand-flaneur-winter-walk/ and https://thechap.co.uk/the-grand-flaneur-winter-walk-2/ 

23-29 Nov

UK Parliament Week promoting democracy: https://www.ukparliamentweek.org/en/ 

25 Nov- 15 Dec

World Chess Championship  - generally held every two years: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Chess_Championship_2026

26 Nov-16 Dec

Annual BBC Reith Lectures: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00729d9 History here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reith_Lectures 

27 Nov

Black Friday (Shopping Day): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(shopping) 

28 Nov

The new London Museum (renamed from Museum of London) relocated to Smithfield Market likely to open: https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/ 

30 Nov

St Andrew’s Day (Scotland): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Andrew%27s_Day

30 Nov

Cyber Monday (Online Shopping): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyber_Monday 

Dec

1 Dec

Start of Meteorological Winter (Dec, Jan, Feb): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter 

1 Dec

World Aids Day: https://worldaidsday.org/ 

1 Dec?

Likely day Turner Arts Prize awarded: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/turner-prize 

5 Dec

Small Business Saturday: https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/

First Saturday in December

10 Dec-3 Jan 2027?

World Darts Championship, London?: https://www.pdc.tv/tournament/paddy-power-world-darts-championship-1 

13 Dec

Santacon London: https://www.facebook.com/londonsantacon/ and also: https://londonist.com/london/we-tagged-along-with-santacon-to-see-what-the-fuss-was-about 

17 Dec

Likely date of BBC Sports Personality of the Year: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sports-personality 

Programme website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002nn80 

18 Dec

Mad Friday/Black Eye Friday (Pre-Christmas Works Drink/Party): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(partying) 

21 Dec

Winter Solstice: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solstice 

Live streaming of the Winter Sunrise at Stonehenge here: https://www.youtube.com/c/EnglishHeritage 

Live streaming from Newgrange, County Meath, Ireland of sunlight entering the passage tomb (I’ve been inside it in the late 1990s & seen the experience) here: https://www.youtube.com/@OpwIe 

Brighton Burning the Clocks festival NOT on this year: https://samesky.co.uk/projects/burning-the-clocks-2/ 

24 Dec

Christmas Eve

Smithfield Market Christmas Eve Auction: (free to watch) https://londonist.com/london/christmas-in-london/smithfield-meat-market-christmas-eve-auction 

Carols from King’s College Chapel, Cambridge: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002p1m0 

25 Dec

Christmas Day (and many other Yule, Saturnalian or otherwise Mid Winter festivals): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas 

Peter Pan Cup - Serpentine Christmas Day swimming race (free to watch)

https://serpentineswimmingclub.com/christmas-day-race-and-peter-pan-cup 

London Events Christmas Day: https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/whats-on/christmas/things-to-do-in-london-on-christmas-day and also here: https://londonist.com/london/christmas-in-london/what-open-london-christmas-day-restaurants-cafes-pubs-museums 

Bank Holiday period: https://www.gov.uk/bank-holidays 

26 Dec

Boxing Day: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_Day 

London Events Boxing Day: https://londonist.com/london/christmas-in-london/things-to-do-in-london-on-boxing-day 

28 Dec 

Bank Holiday (substitute day due to when Boxing day falls at a weekend): https://www.gov.uk/bank-holidays 

Things to do in London between Christmas and New Year: https://londonist.com/london/christmas-in-london/things-to-do-in-london-between-christmas-and-new-year 

28-30 Dec?

Royal Institution Christmas Lectures: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00pmbqq and https://connect.open.ac.uk/ri2025/ 

29 Dec - 1 Jan

Edinburgh Hogmanay: https://www.edinburghfestivalcity.com/ 

31 Dec

New Year’s Eve: Traditions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_Eve and also https://metro.co.uk/2025/12/31/19-weird-new-years-eve-traditions-around-world-25952674/ 

BBC London Fireworks webpage https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04yqbtc and history of them is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_Eve_in_London 

Things to do in London: Here: https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/whats-on/new-years-eve/things-to-do-on-new-years-eve-in-london and here: https://londonist.com/london/christmas-in-london/things-to-do-in-london-on-new-year-s-eve 

Other Dates

Past issues of the Almanac are here for 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

Basic information with events and deaths added as they happen throughout the year

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026 

New: Weather Replay - find what the weather was like each day back to 1940: https://weather-replay.climate.copernicus.eu/ 

New: Useful Guide to Politics in the coming year: https://www.politico.eu/article/how-to-watch-british-politics-in-2026-like-a-pro/ 

Sporting Calendar for this year:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_in_sports 

New: Next Year of Major Non-Annual Sporting Event

• World Cup Football Men  (4 yearly): 2026

• Commonwealth Games (4 yearly): 2026

• World Cup Football Women  (4 yearly): 2027

• Cricket World Cup Men (4 yearly): 2027

• Rugby Union World Cup Men (4 yearly): 2027

• Ryder Cup (Golf) (2 Yearly) - 2027

• World Athletic Championships (2 yearly): 2027

• UEFA Men’s European Football (4 yearly): 2028

• Olympics (4 Yearly): 2028

• UEFA Women’s European Football (4 yearly): 2029

• Rugby Union World Cup Women (4 yearly): 2029

• Cricket World Cup Women (4 yearly): 2029

New: Religious Festivals across the Year - 6 main faiths in UK:

https://www.aston.ac.uk/about/mission/inclusive-aston/religious-festival-calendar 

New: Modern Pagan Wheel of the Year Festivals: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_of_the_Year 

New: British Calendar of Folk and Other Traditions/Events: https://calendarcustoms.com/ 

New: Less well known London events and rituals: https://londonist.com/london/features/wacky-events-rituals-annual 

New: Music/Cultural Festivals: https://www.thefestivalcalendar.co.uk/ and https://www.efestivals.co.uk/ 

UN International Days List 

https://www.un.org/en/observances/list-days-weeks 

New: Useful lists of International Days and Observances across the year

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_minor_secular_observances 

• https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/ 

• https://nationaltoday.com/ 

• https://www.daysoftheyear.com/ 

• https://www.thereisadayforthat.com/countries/united-kingdom 

NHS Employers - National Campaign Days: https://www.nhsemployers.org/events/calendar-national-campaigns 

New: On this day by year and day

https://www.onthisday.com/events-by-year.php 

https://www.onthisday.com/ 

New: My 2011 argument for the psychological benefits of keeping Christmas Decorations and Lights up until at least the 2nd February: https://www.thecampaigncompany.co.uk/uncategorized/the-120-days-of-christmas-are-there-psychological-benefits-to-extending-christmas-lights/ 

New: List of County Days in England: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_county_days_in_the_United_Kingdom  and also here: https://abcounties.com/county-days/  

New: UK Fairs, Markets and Trade Shows

An old Almanac tradition for what were still agricultural societies was to list these and that tradition continues here:

• Fairs in the UK: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Fairs_in_the_United_Kingdom

• Markets in England: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Retail_markets_in_England 

• Markets in London: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_markets_in_London 

• UK Trade Shows Calendar: https://www.expocart.com/exhibition/calendar/ 

New: Universal Exhibitions Also known as World Fair’s, Universal Expositions and Expos:

The literal “Olympics” of Fairs and Festivals . The UK was a pioneer with the Great Exhibition in 1851 and also held many before the Second World War with places like South Kensington, White City, Crystal Palace, Earls Court and Wembley being venues. However since the War the UK has only held the Festival of Britain on the South Bank in 1951 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festival_of_Britain (not internationally classed as an Expo), the Liverpool International Garden Festival in 1984: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Garden_Festival and the Millenium Experience in Greenwich in 1999 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Dome (not internationally classed as an Expo).

These very large international events have their own 1928 International Convention signed by 184 countries and a Paris based official sanctioning body: the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_International_des_Expositions which distinguishes two types of Expos:

• International Registered Exhibitions (commonly referred to as World Expos)

• International Recognised Exhibitions (commonly referred to as Specialised Expos)

The BIE may also grant recognition to A1 Horticultural Exhibitions approved by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) since 1960, and to the Triennale di Milano since 1933. More of the history of Expos here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%27s_fair and a full historical list here with links to the many UK pre-War events: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_world%27s_fairs 

Useful Calendar Notes

UK Bank Holidays

https://www.gov.uk/bank-holidays

Clocks “spring” forward an hour: 

Clocks “fall” back an hour:

https://www.gov.uk/when-do-the-clocks-change

Leap Years - 2028 is the next Leap Year

https://www.timeanddate.com/date/leapyear.html

Perpetual Calendar - designed to look up the day of the week for a given date in the past or future

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_calendar

The difference between Astronomical and Meteorological Seasons

https://www.rmets.org/metmatters/difference-between-meteorological-and-astronomical-seasons 

The very slight difference between an Equilux and an Equinox https://x.com/metoffice/status/1901635678234153363 

Why do the Clocks go back 2 months before the Winter Solstice in October but go forward 3 months after in March? https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/mar/07/readers-reply-why-do-we-wait-until-late-march-to-put-the-clocks-forward

Even with this it is still a little unclear why we have an irregular 5 month period with 2 months before the Winter Solstice and 3 months after, but it seems this has both developed as custom and practice but may reflect that mornings are slightly darker further north but also that ground temperatures lag behind the meteorlogical/astronocmical calendars thus late Sept/Oct is warmer than late Feb/Mar so rural roads further north can still be quite icy.

New: Other Calendars to Mark a Year

The UK has used the Gregorian Calendar since 1752: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_calendar 

This is mainly used but others exist for social and religious purposes and can be solar, lunar or a lunisolar mix as well as having a different number of years recorded: 

• General (which explains solar, lunar or a lunisolar terms): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendar# 

• Julian Calendar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar 

• Islamic Calendar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_calendar 

• Hebrew Calendar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_calendar 

• Coptic Calendar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coptic_calendar 

• Hindu Calendar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_calendar 

• Solar Hijri Calendar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Hijri_calendar 

• Bengali Calendar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengali_calendar 

• Buddhist Calendar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_calendar 

• French Republican: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Republican_calendar (not in use now, but sometimes quoted in political argument, academic texts and literature)

New: Calendar Timelines

• Timelines of Big History: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timelines_of_Big_History Big History definition here: https://bighistory.org/whatisbighistory/ 

• List of Calendar Year Links from 999BC to 2033AD: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_years 

Astronomical Information

Almanacs started off providing astronomical and meteorological information for primarily agricultural societies when harvest times mattered and also for mariners in the absence of modern GPS tracking

Useful Guides to the Night Sky This coming year:

• General: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/astronomy/guide-night-sky 

• BBC Highlights Guide: https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/cn975wrrvy9o 

• New: Moon Phases through the year: https://moonphases.co.uk/  and also more here https://science.nasa.gov/moon/moon-phases/ along with NASA’s Daily Moon Observation Guide: https://moon.nasa.gov/moon-observation/daily-moon-guide/?intent=021 

• New: Supermoons and their Dates: https://science.nasa.gov/moon/supermoons/ 

• New: Names of Full Moons through the year. Know your Wolf Moon from your Harvest Moon or Hunter’s Moon: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/what-are-names-full-moons-throughout-year 

• Planets: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/astronomy-guide-viewing-planets-night-sky/ 

• New: Future Comets - some may be visible to the naked eye: https://www.cometwatch.co.uk/future-comets-northern-hemisphere/ 

• Eclipses: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/ 

• Meteor Showers: https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/meteor-shower-guide - see also below the Citizen Science network on how you can report the occasional fireball

• Aurora Borealis:. For alerts follow :https://x.com/aurorawatchuk More information here: https://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/

• Why we see more Aurora at present (Solar cycle peak period, but also better forecasting, alerts and phones on cameras https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/ce8nz3m3k10o? 

• New: Atmospheric Optical Phenomena: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_atmospheric_optical_phenomena 

• New: Track when the International Space Station (ISS) is flying across the sky. ESA Tracker here: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/International_Space_Station/Where_is_the_International_Space_Station  Another one here also tracks another 70,000 satellites https://isstracker.pl/en “Spot the Station” mobile app here: https://www.nasa.gov/spot-the-station/ 

• Downloadable Monthly Sky Maps with Notes: https://skymaps.com/downloads.html More are available here: https://ancientphotonsobservatory.com/star-atlases/ 

• New: Guides & Maps to all 88 Star Constellations:

  • https://noirlab.edu/public/education/constellations/ 

  • https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.htm

  • https://sky-tonight.com/constellations/all 

  • https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-resources/constellation-names-and-abbreviations/ 

  • https://www.iau.org/Iau/Iau/Science/What-we-do/The-Constellations.aspx 

• New: Deep Sky Atlas PDF: https://www.deepskywatch.com/deepsky-atlas-release1.html 

• New: Norton Star Atlas 1910 (Can be downloaded as a PDF) - classic for amateur astronomers in the past: https://archive.org/details/nortonsstaratlas0000unse/page/50/mode/2up 

• Encyclopedia of the Universe Flipbook https://fliphtml5.com/fwspv/tojk/Illustrated_Encyclopedia_of_the_Universe_%28DK%29/ 

For those who want to observe the sky from indoors the following online planetariums are useful but they also double up as useful star atlases for outdoor observing:

• Stellarium https://stellarium-web.org/ Can be downloaded as an app too https://stellarium.org/ 

• The Sky Live https://theskylive.com/planetarium# 

• In the Sky https://in-the-sky.org///skymap.php?skin=0 

• Google Sky with maps of Moon and Mars too https://www.google.com/sky/ 

Make a Moon Phases calculator and calendar: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/resources/project/make-a-moon-phases-calendar-and-calculator/ 

Meteorological Information

• Met Office https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/

• BBC Weather https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather 

Annual Trend sites

• http://www.trendwatching.com/

• http://www.trendhunter.com/

New: New Years Resolutions - useful choice architecture & design advice

Design advice:

• https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8xd7vg7872o 

• https://www.bi.team/comment/why-your-new-years-resolutions-are-built-to-fail-and-how-to-make-them-stick/ 

• https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/new-years-resolutions-are-notoriously-slippery-but-science-can-help-you-keep-them/ 

• https://thedecisionlab.com/insights/society/a-behavioral-science-perspective-on-new-years-resolutions 

• https://www.sciencealert.com/new-years-resolutions-didnt-stick-in-2024-scientists-say-try-this-for-2025 

• https://www.marketingsociety.com/the-library/how-little-behavioural-science-can-make-new-years-resolutions-stick 

• https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2024/1216/1424543-new-years-resolutions-psychology-behavioural-science-motivation/ 

• https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/news/what-makes-a-good-new-years-resolution-and-how-do-you-stick-to-it 

• https://warwick.ac.uk/news/pressreleases/how_to_go/ 

• https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/psychologist_positive_diet

• https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2084q9079po 

Polling on take up and adherence to New Year's resolutions: https://x.com/YouGov/status/2011486100112421305 

The Previous Year in Review

Year summary: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025 

News Tracker for the Year: https://x.com/YouGov/status/2008161929060032923 and also here:  https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/53796-what-news-stories-did-britons-hear-most-about-in-2025 

Brittanica: https://www.britannica.com/topic/2025-Year-in-Review 

BBC TV: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00x8d5n/episodes/guide

Ipsos: https://www.ipsos.com/en/ipsos-year-review-2025 

Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/global/video/2025/dec/19/the-guardian-lens-on-2025-how-we-covered-a-year-of-turmoil-and-hope-video 

Guardian Politics Weekly Review of the Year: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/audio/2025/dec/18/review-2025-politics-uk-another-fine-mess-podcast

Science Stories: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3v17ylvn57o 

Past BBC Radio News Reviews of the Year:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00268xq