PR calendar template: updated for 2026 (UK). A UK PR calendar plots 12 months of editorial opportunities against UK seasonal moments: Budget (Spring and Autumn Statement), end of tax year (April 5), Christmas (peak Q4 consumer PR), back-to-school (September), Black Friday, World-X-Days relevant to your sector, party conference season, and trade conferences specific to your industry.
UK PR calendar key moments 2026
Q1 (Jan-Mar)
- New Year / Blue Monday (consumer PR opportunities).
- Chinese New Year.
- Six Nations rugby (sports PR).
- Spring Statement (February-March).
- End of tax year (5 April — prepare Q4).
Q2 (Apr-Jun)
- New tax year start (6 April).
- Easter.
- Local elections.
- Summer Season launches (May).
- Pride Month (June).
- Wimbledon (June-July).
Q3 (Jul-Sep)
- Summer consumer peak.
- Back-to-school (August-September).
- Party conference season (Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, SNP).
Q4 (Oct-Dec)
- Autumn Statement / Budget.
- Black Friday.
- Christmas campaigns.
- Year-end review pieces (journalists write predictions for 2027).
How to use this PR calendar template
- Add your own dates first. Product launches, results, anniversaries, events and awards deadlines are the backbone of your calendar.
- Layer on national moments. Add the seasonal and news events from the list above that genuinely relate to your business.
- Work backwards from deadlines. Monthly magazines often plan months ahead, so note pitch dates as well as publication dates.
- Assign owners. Every entry needs a person responsible and a status.
- Review monthly. Add reactive opportunities and drop ideas that no longer fit.
What to include in each PR calendar entry
- Date or week, and the related news moment.
- Story angle and key message.
- Target publications and journalists.
- Assets needed: data, images, spokesperson.
- Pitch deadline and owner.
- Result and notes for next year.
Seasonal lead times to remember
- Christmas gift guides: many print titles plan in summer.
- Summer features: often planned in spring.
- Budget and tax stories: prepare comment before the announcement date.
- Awards: entry deadlines are often months before the ceremony.
FAQs
Where can I find official dates for the year?
UK bank holidays are published on GOV.UK, and government departments publish statistics release calendars that are useful for reactive PR.
Can a PR calendar template work for small businesses?
Yes. Even a simple spreadsheet with ten well-chosen moments a year is more effective than ad hoc announcements. See how to write a PR plan to connect it to your goals.