How to Celebrate International Women's Day 2026

International Women’s Day 2026 is on the horizon, and with events going on around the globe, there are loads of ways you can get involved as a student. To give you a hand, UniHomes has put together a list of the best ways you can make the most of the celebration.

What is International Women’s Day?

International Women’s Day (or IWD) is a global day celebrating the social, cultural, economic and political achievements of women around the world. The day is devoted to achieving gender equality, promoting the empowerment of women, and celebrating female role models.

When is International Women’s Day 2026?

International Women’s Day is held on 8th March every year (which falls on a Sunday this year).

Why do we celebrate International Women’s Day?

Even in the 21st century, gender inequality is still ingrained in society. The UN estimates that women in the workforce earn just 80% of what men do, with this gap being even bigger for women of colour, women with disabilities, and women with children – and that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

Things need to change, and International Women’s Day is devoted to supporting women, raising awareness of issues, and working towards eliminating gender inequality and discrimination, all by fundraising, fostering a sense of community, celebrating achievements, and providing a platform for marginalised women to speak out.

Here's how to celebrate this International Women's Day

Wondering how you can support and celebrate International Women’s Day 2026 as a student? Here are our top ways you can get involved:

Raise awareness 💡

The IWD website says that the theme for International Women’s Day 2026 is #GiveToGain, which encourages us to uphold and support other women through acts of generosity. The small act of using this hashtag on your IG can collectively lead to a big change. Through raising awareness of the impact of IWD, more and more voices are heard. So, this Sunday, share the hashtag on your social media to get the word out there.

Join an event ♀️

Grab your pals (even the boys) and check your local events or marches. International Women's Day has events up and down the country, and there’s bound to be one near you (or if not, why not organise your own?). It’s a great way to make new friends, get together with your current ones, and celebrate women collectively.

Celebrate women in film 🎬

From Wuthering Heights to Clueless, some of the best films are directed by women, acted by women, or about women. Why not work your way through the BBC’s list of the 100 greatest films directed by women, or Rotten Tomatoes' ranking of the 21st century's best movies directed by women? Or pick some faves from Harper's Bazaar’s list of 30 essential feminist movies? Whatever you choose, grab some popcorn and a cuppa and immerse yourselves in the world of women in film.

Offer your time 🤝

Whether it’s volunteering through your university or raising money for a local women’s shelter, donating your time is a great way to celebrate International Women’s Day 2026. Have a look at your Students’ Union’s website to see what they offer when it comes to volunteering, or ask your friends if they know anyone who’s looking for a hand. Even just helping out for a few hours can make a big difference.

Support a local female-run business 🫶

Running a small business can be difficult, so giving your support to local independent shops is crucial. Whether you're after somewhere for brunch with your mates or you're in need of a mechanic for your car, women exist in all sectors – so why not head down to a local, female-run business this International Women’s Day?

Send a card to a lady you love 💕

Sending a card is a great way to let your loved ones know you appreciate them. Post a card to your grandma or write some out to your gal pals to celebrate the women in your life who inspire you. You could even go a step further and take them out for some brunch (who doesn’t love that?).