Marketing Dates and Key Business Opportunities for January 2026
January sets the tone for the year ahead – a strategic, forward-looking month where UK businesses move from festive trading into planning, optimisation, and fresh starts. It’s a time to review performance, reset budgets, refine priorities, and put new goals into action, while also dealing with the first wave of post-Christmas admin and compliance responsibilities.
From New Year campaigns and January sales to more reflective, purpose-led dates such as International Day of Education and Data Protection Day, January offers valuable opportunities to re-engage audiences, reposition your brand around growth and improvement, and tap into renewed customer motivation. It’s also a crucial month for getting organised behind the scenes – from cash-flow forecasting and tax planning to preparing for upcoming submissions to Companies House and HMRC later in the quarter.
Whether you’re refining your marketing strategy, onboarding new clients, or laying the operational foundations for a successful year, this guide explores the key marketing dates, business opportunities, and practical considerations for January 2026 – helping you start the year with clarity, confidence, and momentum.
Key Accounting Dates – January 2026
January is a critical month for UK businesses from an accounting and compliance perspective. With multiple tax payments, returns, and reporting obligations falling early in the year, staying on top of these deadlines helps you avoid penalties, manage cash flow more effectively, and establish a strong operational rhythm for the months ahead.
| Date | Deadline |
|---|---|
| 1 January | Corporation Tax payment due for companies with 28 February 2025 year ends |
| 1 January | New advisory fuel rates published for company car drivers |
| 7 January | VAT return submission and payment (online) for month or quarter ending 31 October 2025 |
| 19 January | PAYE, National Insurance and CIS payment (postal) for month ending 5 December 2025 |
| 19 January | CIS return due for payments made to subcontractors in the month ending 5 December 2025 |
| 22 January | PAYE, National Insurance and CIS payment (electronic) for month ending 5 December 2025 |
| 30 January | Self Assessment: payment of 2024–25 tax via PAYE coding out (online returns only) |
| 31 January | Corporation Tax returns due for companies with 31 December 2024 year ends |
Staying organised with these January deadlines can make a noticeable difference to your workload and stress levels as the year gets underway. Setting reminders, reviewing cash flow early, and getting professional support where needed can help ensure everything is handled smoothly – leaving you free to focus on planning, growth, and execution.
For a full breakdown of January 2026 accounting dates and deadlines, visit:
Important January 2026 Accounting Dates and Deadlines
Key Marketing and Social Media Dates – January 2026
January is all about fresh starts, healthier habits, and post-festive resets. For many brands, it’s a strong month for wellbeing-led messaging, value-focused offers, and content centred on improvement, reflection, and planning. Audiences are typically receptive to practical advice, positive change, and brands that help them feel more organised and motivated.
All month: 1–31 January 2026
- Ginuary
- Dry January
- Veganuary
These month-long themes are particularly effective for food, drink, health, hospitality, and lifestyle brands, but they also work well as broader metaphors for discipline, habit-building, sustainability, and reset-focused messaging across many sectors.
Marketing dates – January 2026
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | New Year’s Day |
| 2 January 2026 | New Year’s Day (observed) |
| 5 January 2026 | Twelfth Night |
| 6 January 2026 | National Shortbread Day |
| 16 January 2026 | International Hot & Spicy Food Day |
| 19 January 2026 | Blue Monday |
| 19 January 2026 | National Popcorn Day |
| 20 January 2026 | National Cheese Lovers Day |
| 24 January 2026 | Peanut Butter Day |
| 25 January 2026 | Burns Night |
| 26 January 2026 | Australia Day |
| 27 January 2026 | Chocolate Cake Day |
| 27 January 2026 | Holocaust Memorial Day |
| 31 January 2026 | Hot Chocolate Day |
January’s calendar offers a well-balanced mix of light-hearted food moments, cultural events, and more reflective awareness days. Used thoughtfully, these dates can support promotional campaigns, social media content, brand storytelling, and community engagement – helping your business start the year with relevance, sensitivity, and purpose.
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Discover more key dates and marketing tips in our guides for 2025:







