May includes more than 90 national, international, and awareness months covering health campaigns, heritage celebrations, safety initiatives, food traditions, and community recognition. Some of the most widely observed nationwide campaigns take place now, including Mental Health Awareness Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, National Military Appreciation Month, Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, giving May a strong focus on wellness, service, and cultural history.
To make this long list easier to explore, the months below are organized into thematic groups. This layout helps you quickly find observances related to health, food, culture, education, safety, or lifestyle topics. You can use it to plan content, prepare campaigns, or see what May highlights.
See also the full calendar of national days taking place throughout May.
🏥 Health & Medical Awareness
General Health & Wellness
- Mental Health Awareness Month
- Better Sleep Month
- Family Wellness Month
- National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
- National Walking Month
- Global Employee Health and Fitness Month
- May Measurement Month
- National Teen Self-Esteem Month
Heart & Stroke
- National Stroke Awareness Month
- Make May Purple / Action on Stroke Month
- National High Blood Pressure Education Month
- National Blood Pressure Education Month
Cancer Awareness
- Skin Cancer Awareness Month
- Melanoma Awareness Month
- Brain Tumor Awareness Month (US)
- Bladder Cancer Awareness Month
Autoimmune & Chronic Conditions
- Lupus Awareness Month
- Celiac Disease Awareness Month
- Celiac Awareness Month
- Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month
- ALS Awareness Month
- Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
- Lyme Disease Awareness Month
- Vascular Anomalies Awareness Month
- Food Allergy Awareness Month
- Osteoporosis Month
Genetic & Rare Conditions
- Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Awareness Month
- Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Month
- Sturge-Weber Syndrome Awareness Month
Speech, Hearing & Development
- Better Speech and Language Month
- National Speech-Language-Hearing Month
Safety Awareness
- National Water Safety Month
- National Wildfire Awareness Month
- Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
- National Electrical Safety Month
- National Deck Safety Month
- National Clean Air Month
🐾 Animals & Pets
- National Pet Month
- National Chip Your Pet Month
- Responsible Animal Guardian Month
- National Duckling Month
🍓 Food & Drink
- National Barbecue Month
- National Hamburger Month
- National Strawberry Month
- National Salad Month
- National Salsa Month
- National Asparagus Month
- National Egg Month
- American Cheese Month
- Lettuce Month
- International Mediterranean Diet Month
- No Meat May
📚 Education, Literacy & Reading
- National Get Caught Reading Month
- National Share a Story Month
🎵 Arts, Music & Creativity
- National Photography Month
- International Drum Month
- National Chamber Music Month
- New Zealand Music Month
🌿 Environment, History & Preservation
- National Preservation Month
- Local and Community History Month
- Labor History Month
- National Miniature Garden Month
🌎 Heritage & Cultural Observances
- Jewish American Heritage Month
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
- Haitian Heritage Month
- Kaamatan Festival
👨👩👧👦 Family, Community & Social Awareness
- National Foster Care Month
- National Military Appreciation Month
- Older Americans Month
- International Victorious Woman Month
- National Recommitment Month
- Date Your Mate Month
- National Returning Youth Month* (May 4–June 4)
💼 Business & Professional Recognition
- National Inventors Month
- Small Business Month
- International Business Image Improvement Month
- National Moving Month
🧘 Lifestyle & Personal Development
- Correct Your Posture Month
- Zombie Awareness Month
