October 2026: Key EDI dates for your studio's caldendar

From Black History Month to religious festivals and awareness days, October offers plenty of opportunities to build understanding and make games workplaces more inclusive. Here are some key dates…

Throughout October: Black History Month, ADHD Awareness Month & Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Black History Month in the UK celebrates Black history, culture and contributions. The theme this year is ‘Honouring Our Communities’.
https://www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/black-history-month-2026/

ADHD Awareness Month provides an opening to learn about different ways of working. Ask colleagues what helps them do their best work: clearer priorities, fewer interruptions, flexible working arrangements or different ways of communicating may all be useful starting points. Avoid assuming that everyone with ADHD needs the same support.
https://www.adhdawarenessmonth.org/

Breast Cancer Awareness Month encourages women to check their breasts, and discover how to help raise funds for research and support.
https://breastcancernow.org/get-involved/breast-cancer-awareness-month

October 5-11: Dyslexia Awareness Week
This year, Dyslexia Awareness Week focuses on dyslexic adults and their experiences of work and the workplace. The British Dyslexia Association’s theme for 2026, Dyslexia in real life: At work, will look at how recruitment, communication, workplace systems, management and access to adjustments can affect dyslexic employees. Dyslexia is often associated with school, reading and spelling, but it is lifelong and can affect many parts of working life. This may include completing applications, processing information, managing workloads, using workplace systems and progressing in a career.
https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/support-us/awareness-events

October 8: World Sight Day
World Sight Day encourages everyone around the world to prioritise their eye health.
https://www.iapb.org/news/world-sight-day-2026-an-important-milestone-toward-eye-care-for-all/

October 9-15: Baby Loss Awareness Week
This week recognises pregnancy and baby loss and those affected by it. For employers, it is a sensitive opportunity to make support more visible and consider whether managers feel equipped to respond with compassion. Explain how colleagues can access confidential help, discuss leave or request flexibility. Any awareness activity should be optional and handled thoughtfully. The week concludes with the Wave of Light at 7pm local time on October 15, when people light candles in remembrance.
https://www.tommys.org/get-involved/campaigns/baby-loss-awareness-week

October 10: World Mental Health Day
You could use this date to look at the working conditions that influence wellbeing: workloads, deadlines, working hours and whether people feel comfortable raising concerns. Alongside signposting support, consider one practical improvement your team can sustain beyond October, such as clearer escalation routes when workloads become unmanageable.
https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day/2026

October 11: International Day of the Girl & National Coming Out Day
International Day of the Girl celebrates girls and their rights. Games employers could use it to support outreach, introduce young people to the range of careers available or highlight women working across creative, technical and leadership roles.
https://www.unicef.org/gender-equality/international-day-girl

National Coming Out Day celebrates LGBTQ+ visibility. It is also a reminder that sharing someone’s identity is their decision. Focus on creating a workplace where people feel respected and supported, with participation in any storytelling or awareness activity entirely voluntary.
https://www.inclusiveemployers.co.uk/awareness-day/national-coming-out-day/

From October 11: Navratri
Navratri, a Hindu festival spanning nine nights, begins on 11 October in 2026. Colleagues may take part in worship, community celebrations or fasting. Be open to conversations about scheduling, food and time off, recognising that practices vary between individuals and traditions.
https://rampuri.com/navratri-durga-puja-2016-dates/

October 11-17: OCD Awareness Week
This week challenges misconceptions about obsessive compulsive disorder. It is an opportunity to share reliable resources and discourage casual descriptions of tidiness or perfectionism as “being OCD”. Help managers understand how to discuss support privately and respectfully.
https://www.ocduk.org/tag/ocd-awareness-week/

October 18: World Menopause Day
Use World Menopause Day to make workplace support easier to find and discuss. Consider whether managers know how to respond to requests for flexibility or adjustments, and whether colleagues can raise concerns confidentially. Invite conversations about individual needs without expecting anyone to disclose personal health information publicly.
https://www.imsociety.org/education/world-menopause-day-2026/

October 19-25: National Adoption Week
National Adoption Week raises awareness of adoption and the experiences of adopted people and their families. Review how your organisation communicates adoption leave, family support and flexible working options. Inclusive language in policies and team conversations can help recognise different routes to parenthood and different family circumstances.
https://www.adoptionengland.co.uk/news/national-adoption-week-2026

October 21: International Pronouns Day
International Pronouns Day encourages respect for the pronouns people use. Studios can offer the option to include pronouns in introductions, profiles or email signatures, while keeping disclosure voluntary. If someone makes a mistake, a brief correction and moving on respectfully is usually the most helpful response.
https://pronouns.org/day

Making October Count
You do not need to organise an event for every date. A small studio might choose one learning session and one policy improvement; a larger company might support employee networks to shape activities around what matters to them.

Use October’s calendar to identify an action, give it an owner and check what changed. Visit Empower Up for resources to help your studio build a more inclusive workplace throughout the year.