Black History Month 2027 runs from Monday, February 1, to Sunday, February 28, 2027, in the United States and Canada.
The United Kingdom and Ireland hold it in October instead, from Friday, October 1, to Sunday, October 31, 2027.
This guide explains why the dates differ, how the month began, the themes, and the anniversaries that fall in 2027.
Key takeaways
- Black History Month is February in the US and Canada, and October in the UK and Ireland.
- It grew from Negro History Week, which historian Carter G. Woodson launched in February 1926.
- The US month became official in 1976, Canada’s in 1995, and the UK’s first Black History Month was held in London in 1987.
- The 2027 US theme has not been announced yet; the 2026 theme was “A Century of Black History Commemorations.”
Table of Contents
When is Black History Month 2027?
Black History Month 2027 depends on where you live. It is February 1–28, 2027, in the United States and Canada, and October 1–31, 2027, in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
| Country | Black History Month 2027 | Recognized since |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Monday, February 1 – Sunday, February 28 | 1976 (as a month) |
| Canada | Monday, February 1 – Sunday, February 28 | 1995 (House of Commons) |
| United Kingdom | Friday, October 1 – Sunday, October 31 | 1987 (first event, London) |
| Ireland | Friday, October 1 – Sunday, October 31 | 2010 (begun in Cork) |
Why is Black History Month in February?
Black History Month is in February because Carter G. Woodson placed Negro History Week there in 1926. He chose February partly because it holds the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln, on February 12, and Frederick Douglass, who celebrated his on February 14 (ASALH).
Black communities already marked both birthdays, so Woodson built on an existing tradition. He wanted schools to teach Black history all year, and saw the week as a way to start that work.
Why is Black History Month in October in the UK?
The UK holds Black History Month in October because the first event, in London in 1987, was planned for that month. Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, coordinator of special projects at the Greater London Council, is credited as its founder (Senedd).
The Senedd notes that October sets the UK month apart from February in the US. It also suited the guest of honor, Sally Mugabe, and the Commonwealth Institute venue was free. Ireland later followed the October date.
How did Black History Month start?
Black History Month began as a single week in 1926 and grew into a month across several countries. The main steps:
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1915 | On September 9, Carter G. Woodson founds the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in Chicago, today’s ASALH. |
| 1926 | Woodson launches Negro History Week in February. |
| 1960s | Black History Month gradually replaces Negro History Week on college campuses. |
| 1976 | ASALH expands the week to a month during the US bicentennial, and President Gerald Ford recognizes it. |
| 1986 | Congress passes Public Law 99-244, designating February as National Black History Month. |
| 1987 | The UK’s first Black History Month is held in London, in October. |
| 1995 | Canada’s House of Commons recognizes February as Black History Month, on a motion by Jean Augustine. |
| 2008 | Canada’s Senate adopts a matching motion by Senator Donald Oliver on March 4, 2008. |
| 2010 | Black History Month Ireland begins in Cork. |
| 2026 | The US marks 100 years since Negro History Week. |
What is the Black History Month 2027 theme?
The 2027 themes have not been announced yet. In the US, ASALH sets the national theme each year; in the UK, Black History Month UK publishes its own.
| Country | 2026 theme | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| United States | A Century of Black History Commemorations | ASALH (GovInfo) |
| United Kingdom | Honouring Our Communities | Black History Month UK (University of East London) |
We will add the 2027 themes when they are published.
Black history people and topics people search for most
Frederick Douglass is the Black history figure people search for most, ahead of Brown v. Board of Education and the Harlem Renaissance.
| Rank | Person or topic | Who or what |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frederick Douglass | Abolitionist, writer, and speaker who escaped slavery |
| 2 | Brown v. Board of Education | The 1954 Supreme Court ruling that ended legal segregation in public schools |
| 3 | Harlem Renaissance | The 1920s–1930s flowering of Black art, music, and writing in Harlem, New York |
| 4 | Tuskegee Airmen | The first Black military pilots in the US armed forces, in World War II |
| 5 | Shirley Chisholm | The first Black woman elected to Congress, in 1968 |
| 6 | Black Panther Party | The political organization founded in Oakland, California, in 1966 |
| 7 | Madam C. J. Walker | Hair-care entrepreneur and one of the first self-made female millionaires in the US |
| 8 | Rosa Parks | Civil rights activist whose 1955 arrest sparked the Montgomery bus boycott |
Black history anniversaries in 2027
2027 marks several round-number anniversaries in Black history. These make good themes for 2027 lessons and displays, by our count:
| Anniversary in 2027 | Event | Original date |
|---|---|---|
| 101st | Negro History Week, the start of Black History Month | February 1926 |
| 85th | The first class of Tuskegee Airmen graduates | March 7, 1942 |
| 80th | Jackie Robinson breaks Major League Baseball’s color line | April 15, 1947 |
| 70th | The Little Rock Nine enter Central High School in Arkansas | September 1957 |
| 60th | The Supreme Court strikes down bans on interracial marriage in Loving v. Virginia | June 12, 1967 |
| 60th | Thurgood Marshall becomes the first Black Supreme Court justice | October 2, 1967 |
Black History Month ideas for 2027
Schools, workplaces, and families mark Black History Month with learning, displays, and events. Popular ideas include:
- Make posters or a bulletin board: feature one person a day, or build a timeline from 1926 to today.
- Run a quiz: base questions on the people and anniversaries above.
- Read primary sources: Frederick Douglass’s autobiography and speeches are free online and suit older students.
- Visit a museum: in the US, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC, offers online collections too.
- Use school resources: UK teachers often use BBC Bitesize and Black History Month UK materials for October lessons.
- Support Black-owned businesses and creators: buy books, art, and food from Black makers in your area.
Other heritage months in 2027, including Native American Heritage Month in November, are listed in the Awareness Calendar 2027.
Black History Month dates 2026 to 2031
| Year | US and Canada (February) | UK and Ireland (October) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday, February 1 – Saturday, February 28 | Thursday, October 1 – Saturday, October 31 |
| 2027 | Monday, February 1 – Sunday, February 28 | Friday, October 1 – Sunday, October 31 |
| 2028 | Tuesday, February 1 – Tuesday, February 29 | Sunday, October 1 – Tuesday, October 31 |
| 2029 | Thursday, February 1 – Wednesday, February 28 | Monday, October 1 – Wednesday, October 31 |
| 2030 | Friday, February 1 – Thursday, February 28 | Tuesday, October 1 – Thursday, October 31 |
| 2031 | Saturday, February 1 – Friday, February 28 | Wednesday, October 1 – Friday, October 31 |
2028 is a leap year, so the US and Canadian month runs to February 29.
Frequently asked questions
When is Black History Month 2027?
Black History Month 2027 is February 1–28 in the US and Canada, and October 1–31 in the UK and Ireland.
When is Black History Month in the UK?
Black History Month in the UK is October every year. In 2027, it runs from Friday, October 1, to Sunday, October 31.
Why is Black History Month in February?
Carter G. Woodson established Negro History Week in February in 1926, partly because it contains the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
Who started Black History Month?
Historian Carter G. Woodson started Negro History Week in 1926, which became Black History Month in the US in 1976. In the UK, Akyaaba Addai-Sebo organized the first Black History Month in 1987.
Is Black History Month a federal holiday?
No, Black History Month is a commemorative month, not a public holiday, in the US, Canada, or the UK.
What is the Black History Month 2027 theme?
The 2027 themes have not been announced. The 2026 US theme was “A Century of Black History Commemorations,” and the 2026 UK theme was “Honouring Our Communities.”
