With a new year on the horizon, it’s time to start thinking about how you can make your organization more inclusive and celebrate diversity in 2023. From religious holidays to cultural festivals, there are plenty of opportunities for employers to recognize the backgrounds that make your workforce unique. Not only is celebrating diversity important for fostering a welcoming environment, but it also has the potential to boost morale and productivity.

The benefit of celebrating diversity

Companies with inclusive practices generate up to 30% higher revenue per employee and greater profitability than their competitors, according to Deloitte. A study by Limeade shows that employees who feel included are 28% more engaged at work, have 19% greater well-being in their lives, are 43% more committed to their company, and are 51% more likely to recommend their company as a great place to work.

Celebrating diversity isn’t just a way to be better to one another— it has real advantages for businesses across industries. As we look ahead into 2023, let’s all strive towards creating an environment where everyone feels safe and respected, regardless of their background or beliefs. Taking steps such as recognizing different holidays will make sure that our workplaces remain equitable and inviting for years to come!

How to use the diversity calendar

Keep this calendar close-at-hand or add these events to your online calendar tool. Doing so is an easy way for senior management and people teams to ensure that the organization is respecting cultural and religious events. This can help avoid potential conflicts, and help your organization be mindful of the special occasions that your employees may be celebrating throughout the year.

As the business leader, you can use the calendar to remind yourself to encourage your employees and colleagues to take full advantage of their paid time off. Celebrating holidays is also a great way to promote diversity within the workplace.

Your organization can choose some key holidays for everyone to get involved in and plan fun activities that help bring your team closer together. It’s also a wise idea to share the calendar with other departments so that they can plan around relevant dates, such as creating content or campaigns that align with certain occasions.

2023 diversity calendar at a glance

Here are important dates at a glance. Be sure to download the full version for more information about each holiday.

January 2023

Month Long Observances	National Mentoring Month
	Poverty in America Awareness Month
Important Dates
January 4	World Braille Day
January 15	World Religion Day
January 16	Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 22	Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year)
January 27	International Holocaust Remembrance Day

February 2023

Month-long Observances	Black History Month
Important Dates
February 1	National Freedom Day
February 20	World Day of Social Justice

March 2023

Month-long Observances	Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
	National Women’s History Month
Important Dates
March 8	International Women’s Day
March 8	Holi
March 22	Ramadan Begins
March 25	International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
March 31	International Transgender Day of Visibility

April 2023

Month-long Observances	National Volunteer Month
Important Dates
April 5 to April 13	Passover
April 9	Easter
April 14	National Day of Silence
April 21	Ramadan Ends
April 22	Earth Day
April 21-22	Eid al-Fitr

May 2023

Month-long Observances	Mental Health Awareness Month
	Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Important Dates
May 17	International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia
May 21	World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
May 29	Memorial Day

June 2023

Month-long Observances	Pride Month
Important Dates
June 12	National Loving Day
June 19	Juneteenth National Independence Day
June 20	World Refugee Day
June 28-29	Eid al-Adha

July 2023

Month-long Observances	Family Reunion Month
Important Dates
July 4	Independence Day
July 18	Nelson Mandela International Day
July 26	National Disability Independence Day

August 2023

Month-long Observances	Win with Civility Month
Important Dates
August 7	Purple Heart Day
August 9	International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
August 21	Senior Citizen Day
August 26	Women’s Equality Day

September 2023

Month-long Observances	Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15)
Important Dates
September 4	Labor Day
September 15	International Day of Democracy
September 15	Rosh Hashanah begins
September 16	Mexican Indepence Day
September 22	National Native American Day
September 24-25	Yom Kippur
September 29	Sukkot Begins

October 2023

Month-long Observances	Bullying Prevention Month
Important Dates
October 2	International Day of Nonviolence
October 11	National Coming Out Day
October 15	White Cane Safety Day
October 15	Sharad Navratri Begins
October 17	Spirit Day
October 24	Sharad Navratri Ends

November 2023

Month-long Observances	Movember
	Native American Heritage Month
Important Dates
November 1	Dia de los Muertos
November 11	Veterans Day
November 12	Diwali
November 16	National Day for Tolerance
November 18	World Adoption Day
November 19	International Men’s Day
November 20	Transgender Day of Remembrance
November 23	Thanksgiving

December 2023

Month-long Observances	Universal Human Rights Month
Important Dates
December 1	World AIDS Day
December 3	International Day for People with Disabilities
December 5	International Volunteer Day
December 7	Hanukkah begins at sunset
December 10	International Human Rights Day
December 15	Hanukkah ends at sunset
December 25	Christmas
December 26	Kwanzaa begins