Every senior executive should know the dates, months, and holidays that are important to their workforce. That ranges from important religious holidays and cultural awareness months to days of remembrance.
Recognizing these 2023 DEI key dates helps management build an inclusive workplace. Your leaders can provide time off for different observances, which will assist in your retention efforts and improve your workflow. Furthermore, companies can celebrate these dates with DEI events or share information to help your team members feel like they belong.
When creating your internal diversity, equity, and inclusion calendar for 2023, be sure to consult your employee resource groups. Many dates are overlooked due to historical marginalization. In addition, some dates may be more relevant to your workforce than others. Chief diversity officers can work with their ERGs to find out which observances are most important and to gather DEI event ideas.
Senior Executive DEI Think Tank is a criteria-based membership community for chief diversity officers and senior-level DEI leaders at large organizations to share difference-making tactics, trade valuable resources, and seek the counsel of experienced peers in a private, confidential setting.
Do you qualify?Below is a diverse list of holidays and observances that every DEI executive should keep their eye out for. Additionally, you’ll find links to monthly guides with suggestions on how to recognize these important milestones.
Note: Our 2023 DEI calendar is assembled from our frequent review of similar calendars maintained by your peers. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or exclusive list. Want to share your DEI calendar? Did we miss any important dates? Send us an email to help us keep this resource up-to-date.
As 2023 comes to an end, be sure to bookmark your 2024 DEI calendar.
See 2023 dates and observances by month.
DEI Calendar: January 2023
- Poverty in America Awareness Month
- Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Month
- January 1 — New Year’s Day
- January 4 — World Braille Day
- January 7 — Mahayana New Year
- January 14 — Old/Orthodox New Year
- January 15 — Makar Sankranti
- January 16 — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- January 17 — National Day of Racial Healing
- January 22 — Lunar New Year
- January 22 — Tết
- January 27 — International Holocaust Remembrance Day
DEI Calendar: February 2023
- Black History Month
- February 5-6 — Tu b’shevat
- February 17 — National Caregivers Day
- February 18 — Maha Shivratri
- February 20 — World Day of Social Justice
- February 21 — Mardi Gras
- February 22 — Ash Wednesday
DEI Calendar: March 2023
- Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
- Irish-American Heritage Month
- Women’s History Month
- March 3 — Employee Appreciation Day
- March 6 — Purim
- March 6 — Makha Bucha Day
- March 8 — Holi
- March 8 — International Women’s Day
- March 13 — Deaf History Month begins
- March 13-19 — Neurodiversity Celebration Week
- March 14 — Equal Pay Day
- March 17 — St. Patrick’s Day
- March 21 — International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (United Nations)
- March 22 — Ramadan begins
- March 25 — International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery
- March 31 — International Transgender Day of Visibility
DEI Calendar: April 2023
- Arab-American Awareness Month
- Autism Acceptance Month
- Diversity Month
- April 2 — Palm Sunday
- April 2 — World Autism Awareness Day
- April 5 — Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Women’s Equal Pay Day
- April 5 — Passover begins
- April 7 — World Health Day
- April 7— Good Friday
- April 9 — Easter
- April 13 — Passover ends
- April 14 — Vaisakhi
- April 15 — Deaf History Month ends
- April 20 — Ramadan ends*
- April 21 — Eid al Fitr*
*Dates may vary due to the sighting of the new moon.
DEI Calendar: May 2023
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
- Haitian Heritage Month
- Jewish-American Heritage Month
- Mental Health Awareness Month
- Speech and Hearing Awareness Month
- May 5 — Cinco de Mayo
- May 5 — Visakha Bucha Day
- May 14 — Mother’s Day
- May 17 — International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia
- May 21 — World Day for Cultural Diversity
- May 29 — Memorial Day
DEI Calendar: June 2023
- National Caribbean American Heritage Month
- Pride Month
- June 12 — Loving Day
- June 15 — LGBTQIA+ Equal Pay Awareness Day
- June 18 — Father’s Day
- June 19 — Juneteenth
- June 26 — The Hajj begins
- June 27 — Helen Keller’s Birthday
- June 28 — Pride Day
- June 28-29 — Eid al-Adha
DEI Calendar: July 2023
- Disability Pride Month
- French American Heritage Month
- July 1 — The Hajj ends
- July 18 — South Asian Heritage Month begins
- July 18-19 — Islamic New Year
- July 26 — Americans with Disabilities Act anniversary
- July 27 — Black Women’s Equal Pay Day
DEI Calendar: August 2023
- August 9 — International Day of Indigenous People
- August 15 — Moms Equal Pay Day
- August 17 — South Asian Heritage Month ends
- August 26 — Women’s Equality Day
- August 30 — Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) Women’s Equal Pay Day
DEI Calendar: September 2023
- Suicide Prevention Month
- September 4 — Labor Day
- September 11 — National Day of Service
- September 15 — Hispanic Heritage Month begins
- September 15-17 — Rosh Hashanah
- September 16 — Mexican Independence Day
- September 19 — Ganesh Chaturthi
- September 20 — HeForShe movement anniversary
- September 22 — American Indian Day
- September 24-25 — Yom Kippur
- September 28 — Anant Chaturdash
DEI Calendar: October 2023
- Filipino American History Month
- LGBTQ History Month
- National Disability Employment Awareness Month
- Polish-American Heritage Month
- October 5 — Latina Equal Pay Day
- October 9 — National Indigenous Peoples Day
- October 10 — World Mental Health Day
- October 11 — National Coming Out Day
- October 15 — Hispanic Heritage Month ends
DEI Calendar: November 2023
- Military Family Month
- National Native American Heritage Month
- November 1-2 — Día de los Muertos
- November 11 — Veterans Day
- November 12 — Diwali
- November 13-19 — Transgender Awareness Week
- November 16 — International Day for Tolerance
- November 17 — International ERG Day
- November 20 — Transgender Day of Remembrance
- November 30 — Native Women’s Equal Pay Day
DEI Calendar: December 2023
- Universal Human Rights Month
- December 1 — World AIDS Day
- December 3 — International Day of Persons with Disabilities
- December 7-15 — Hanukkah
- December 10 — International Human Rights Day
- December 16-24 — Las Posadas
- December 21 — Winter Solstice
- December 25 — Christmas
- December 26-January 1 — Kwanzaa
