Happy International Women’s History Month!
Every year, International Women’s History Month is observed in March, with Women’s History Day falling on March 8 every year. This year’s Women’s History Month theme focuses on sustainability.
“In this pivotal moment of history, we are called to confront a range of overlapping global challenges: climate change, economic insecurity, healthcare disparities, and threats to democratic participation,” the National Women’s History Alliance says.
“These issues are deeply intertwined – and women, particularly from marginalized communities, often experience their impacts most acutely.”
Here’s when Women’s History Month was established, the official theme for 2026 and what day International Women’s Day falls on this year.
When is Women’s History Month?
International Women’s History Month is celebrated annually in March. International Women’s History Day 2026 will be observed on Sunday, March 8.
Why do we celebrate Women’s History Month in March?
“Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history,” womenshistory.org says.
“In 1980, a consortium of women’s groups and historians — led by the National Women’s History Project (now the National Women’s History Alliance) — successfully lobbied for national recognition.”
President Jimmy Carter was the first president to issue a proclamation declaring the week of March 8 as National Women’s History Week in February 1980.
“Subsequent Presidents continued to proclaim a National Women’s History Week in March until 1987 when Congress passed Public Law 100-9, designating March as ‘Women’s History Month,'” womenshistory.org says.
“Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month.”
Is International Women’s Day the same date every year? Why is March 8 Women’s Day?
Yes, International Women’s Day is observed on March 8 every year.
National Women’s History Day originated in the U.S. in 1909 and eventually spread to other countries, with the first International Women’s Day observed in 1911. The first National and International Women’s History Days were in February, but moved to March in 1913.
“On the eve of World War I campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women’s Day on February 23, the last Sunday in February,” the International Women’s Day website says.
“Following discussions, International Women’s Day was agreed to be marked annually on March 8 that translated in the widely adopted Gregorian calendar from February 23 — and this day has remained the global date for International Women’s Day ever since.”
What is the theme for Women’s History Month 2026?
Every year, the National Women’s History Alliance selects a theme for that year’s observance. The 2026 theme is “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.”
“This theme honors the women who have and are reimagining and rebuilding systems to ensure long-term sustainability — environmental, economic, educational and societal,” the National Women’s History Alliance says.
“It recognizes the powerful leadership of women in creating a future that is rooted in equity, justice and opportunity for all.”
