2026 Recognition Days, Weeks, and Months in Healthcare
Physicians
APPs
Employers
Healthcare professionals support patients and communities every day of the year, often behind the scenes. Recognition months and appreciation days offer an opportunity to intentionally acknowledge the physicians, Advanced Practice Providers, nurses, allied health professionals, and support teams who make care possible.
Below is a month-by-month guide to 2026 healthcare recognition days, weeks, and awareness months, designed to help healthcare organizations, employers, and recruiters plan ahead while ensuring no important observance is missed.
Below is a month-by-month guide to 2026 healthcare recognition days, weeks, and awareness months, designed to help healthcare organizations, employers, and recruiters plan ahead while ensuring no important observance is missed.
January
National Birth Defects Awareness Month
National Blood Donor Month
Thyroid Awareness Month
Cervical Health Awareness Month
National Glaucoma Awareness Month
National Blood Donor Month
Thyroid Awareness Month
Cervical Health Awareness Month
National Glaucoma Awareness Month
Days and Weeks
- January 12: National Pharmacist Day
- January 18–24: National Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) Week
- January 23: Maternal Health Awareness Day
- January 25: National IV Nurse Day
February
National Cancer Prevention Month
Black History Month
American Heart Month
Kids ENT Health Month
Days and Weeks
Black History Month
American Heart Month
Kids ENT Health Month
Days and Weeks
- February 2–8: PeriAnesthesia Nurse Awareness Week
- February 3: National Women Physicians Day
- February 2–6: American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists National Well-Being Week
- February 7–15: Cardiovascular Professionals Week
- February 18: Critical Care Transport Nurses Day
- February 16–20: National Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant Week 2026
- February 21: Mental Health Nurses Day
- February 23–March 1: National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
March
National Nutrition Month
Brain Injury Awareness Month
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
National Kidney Month
National Athletic Training Month
Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month
Days and Weeks
Brain Injury Awareness Month
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
National Kidney Month
National Athletic Training Month
Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month
Days and Weeks
- March 1–7: National Dental Assistants Recognition Week
- March 6: National Hospitalist Day
- March 6: National Dentists Day
- March 10–12: National Healthcare Diversity Week
- March 10–14: Medical Genetics Awareness Week
- March 11: Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day
- March 15–21: GI Nurses & Associates Week
- March 16–22: Brain Awareness Week
- March 16–20: Healthcare HR Week
- March 19: Certified Nurses Day
- March 25–31: National Physicians Week
- March 30: National Doctors’ Day
April
Occupational Therapy Month
Oral Cancer Awareness Month
National Minority Health Month
National Foot Health Awareness Month
Days and Weeks
Oral Cancer Awareness Month
National Minority Health Month
National Foot Health Awareness Month
Days and Weeks
- April 5–11: Patient Access Week
- April 5–11: Occupational Health Nursing Week
- April 6–12: National Public Health Week
- April 12: Radiological and Imaging Nurses Day
- April 12–18: Wound, Ostomy, and Continence (WOC) Nurse Week
- April 18–24: National Health Information Professionals Week
- April 19–25: Medical Laboratory Professionals Week
- April 19–25: Transplant Nurses Week 2026
- April 19–25: Neurodiagnostic Week
- April 20–26: Physician and Provider Recruitment Professionals Week
May
Older Americans Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
National Nurses Month
Oncology Nursing Month
Healthy Vision Month
National Critical Care Awareness and Recognition Month
Days and Weeks
Mental Health Awareness Month
National Nurses Month
Oncology Nursing Month
Healthy Vision Month
National Critical Care Awareness and Recognition Month
Days and Weeks
- May 6: National School Nurse Day
- May 6–12: National Nurses Week
- May 8: National Student Nurses Day
- May 10–16: National Hospital Week
- May 10–16: National Skilled Nursing Care Week
- May 10–16: Neuroscience Nurses Week
- May 10–16: Women’s Health Week
- May 12: International Nurses Day
- May 14–20: Healthcare Technology Management Week
- May 17–23: National EMS Week 2026
- May 20: Emergency Medical Services for Children Day
- May 25: World Thyroid Day
June
Wound Healing Awareness Month
Days and Weeks
Days and Weeks
- June 2: National Healthcare Recruiter Recognition Day
- June 9–15: Men’s Health Week
- June 11–17: Certified Nursing Assistants Week
- June 21–27: World Allergy Week
July
Days and Weeks
- July 5–11: National Therapeutic Recreation Week
- July 15: World Plastic Surgery Day
- July 26–August 1: National Black Nurses Week
August
National Ambulatory Surgery Center Month
Neurosurgery Awareness Month
National Immunization Awareness Month
Days and Weeks
Neurosurgery Awareness Month
National Immunization Awareness Month
Days and Weeks
- August 10–14: National Locum Tenens Week
- August 23–29: Health Unit Coordinator Recognition Week
September
Peripheral Arterial Disease Awareness Month
Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month
National Recovery Month
NICU Awareness Month
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Days and Weeks
Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month
National Recovery Month
NICU Awareness Month
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Days and Weeks
- September 1–7: National Clinical Nurse Specialist Recognition Week
- September 7–13: Vascular Nurses Week
- September 8: World Physiotherapy Day
- September 8: National Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses Day
- September 12–18: National Neonatal Nurses Week
- September 13–19: Nephrology Nurses Week
- September 13–19: Nursing Professional Development Week
- September 14–20: National Rehabilitation Awareness Week
- September 20–26: National Surgical Technologists Week
- September 22: National Hispanic Nurses Day
- September 25: World Lung Day
- September 29: World Heart Day
October
Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month
Health Literacy Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Audiology Awareness Month
National Dental Hygiene Month
National Physical Therapy Month
Days and Weeks
Health Literacy Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Audiology Awareness Month
National Dental Hygiene Month
National Physical Therapy Month
Days and Weeks
- October 4–10: National Midwifery Week
- October 4–10: Emergency Nurses Week
- October 4–10: National Healthcare Foodservice Workers Week
- October 4–10: National Primary Care Week
- October 5–9: Pediatric Nurses Week
- October 6–12: National Physician Associate Week
- October 11–17: National Case Management Week
- October 16: World Anesthesia Day
- October 18–24: International Infection Prevention Week
- October 18–24: National Healthcare Quality Week
- October 18–24: Respiratory Care Week
- October 20: National Pharmacy Technician Day
- October 21–24: Infectious Diseases Week
- October 25–31: National Healthcare Facilities and Engineering Week
- October 26–30: Orthopaedic Nurses Week
November
National Hospice and Palliative Care Month
American Diabetes Month
National Care at Home Month
Days and Weeks
American Diabetes Month
National Care at Home Month
Days and Weeks
- November 1: Medical-Surgical Nurses Day
- November 1–7: Forensic Nurses Week
- November 1–7: Urology Nurses and Associates Week
- November 1–7: National Patient Transport Week
- November 8: World Radiography Day
- November 8–14: Perioperative Nurses Week
- November 8–14: National Radiologic Technology Week
- November 10–16: National Nurse Practitioner Week
- November 11: International Pathology Day
- November 14: World Diabetes Day
December
Days and Weeks
- December 1: World AIDS Day
