March 8, 2026, is the 67th day of the year, with 298 days remaining, and it falls on a Sunday in the tenth week of the year.
March 8 is best known as International Women’s Day — a global celebration of women’s achievements and a call for gender equality. Beyond that, the date also honors food lovers with National Peanut Cluster Day, and nostalgia seekers with National Retro Video Game Day.
National & International Days on March 8
Below is a list of all 12 national and international days observed on March 8, each explained briefly.
Be Nasty Day
Be Nasty Day, observed on International Women’s Day, reclaims the word nasty as a badge of honor — a term famously turned on its head after Donald Trump called Hillary Clinton a nasty woman during the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. The day encourages people, particularly women, to be unapologetic, assertive, and formidable when standing up for their beliefs.
Check Your Batteries Day
Check Your Batteries Day* (Second Sunday in March) coincides with the start of Daylight Saving Time in the U.S., using the clock change as an annual reminder to inspect and replace batteries in household safety devices like smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and emergency flashlights. Its slogan, “Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery,” was popularized by safety organizations to turn a routine habit into a potentially life-saving one.
🔋 A related day, National Battery Day, is celebrated every February 18 to honor the birth of Alessandro Volta, the inventor of the electric battery.
COVID-19 Day of Reflection
COVID-19 Day of Reflection 🇬🇧* (Dates change) is an annual UK-wide commemoration bringing people together to remember those who lost their lives during the pandemic and honor the resilience and sacrifices of the NHS, social care staff, researchers, and volunteers.
Exceed Medical Microneedling Day
Exceed Medical Microneedling Day was established in 2021 by Candela Medical to help patients make informed decisions about skin treatments. The day warns against unsafe devices and promotes professional, FDA-cleared tools like the Exceed system — the first microneedling device authorized to treat both facial wrinkles and acne scars.
International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day (IWD) honors women’s achievements and keeps the spotlight on issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence against women. Rooted in the labor and suffrage movements of early 20th century Europe and North America, it has grown into a truly global call for women’s rights and liberation.
National Biobased Products Day
National Biobased Products Day, first observed in 2023, was established by the USDA BioPreferred® Program to encourage businesses and consumers to choose products made from renewable materials like plants, corn, and soybeans over petroleum-based alternatives. The day highlights how this shift supports American farmers and rural communities while reducing carbon emissions and fossil fuel dependence.
National Dry Shampoo Day
National Dry Shampoo Day* (Second Sunday in March) was founded in 2017 by hair care brand Batiste to celebrate the quick, waterless alternative to traditional hair washing. March was chosen to align with the busy spring season, when people are most in need of fast, on-the-go styling solutions.
National I AM Day
National I AM Day* (Second Sunday in March) was founded by the I AM Collective, an organization focused on mental health and self-empowerment, to encourage people to recognize their own value regardless of their achievements or struggles. The day highlights the power of positive self-affirmation and the impact conscious self-talk can have on confidence and mental well-being.
National Peanut Cluster Day
National Peanut Cluster Day celebrates the irresistible combination of crunchy peanuts and chocolate. The treat’s origins are often traced back to the Goo Goo Cluster, created in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1912 — one of the first candy bars to combine multiple ingredients, including caramel, marshmallow, and peanuts, into a single confection.
National Proofreading Day
National Proofreading Day was created in 2011 by corporate trainer Judy Horner, who chose March 8 to honor her grammar-loving mother’s birthday. The day encourages people to take a second look at their writing before sending — because even the smallest typo can change everything.
National Oregon Day
National Oregon Day, founded in 2017, celebrates the heritage of the Beaver State, which joined the Union on Valentine’s Day 1859 — though the news didn’t reach Portland until over a month later. Home to Crater Lake, ancient forests, volcanic landscapes, and rugged coastlines, Oregon is a state of natural extremes, and one of only five in the U.S. with no sales tax.
National Retro Video Game Day
National Retro Video Game Day honors the birthday of Ralph Baer, the Father of Video Games, who invented the Magnavox Odyssey, the world’s first commercial home video game console. The day celebrates the golden era of gaming, from early classics like Pong, Pac-Man, and Super Mario Bros. to the 8-bit and 16-bit titles that shaped the industry into what it is today.
