Guide to Celebrate International Women’s Day at Work
Imagine a world where every woman feels empowered, valued, and celebrated, not just for a day but every single day. International Women’s Day isn’t just another date on the calendar. It’s a global moment to recognize women’s achievements, reflect on the challenges that still exist, and take meaningful steps toward change.
This is exactly what International Women’s Day is about: recognizing strength, resilience, and potential.
For workplaces, this day offers a unique opportunity. It’s a chance to celebrate women in your organization, create meaningful conversations about equality, and inspire employees to support women’s causes within their communities.
In this guide, we’ll explore how to celebrate International Women’s Day at work, why it matters, and some impactful activities your team can organize.
Why Workplaces Should Celebrate International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day celebrations in the workplace go beyond appreciation posts or small gestures. They can be powerful opportunities for organizations to reflect, learn, and take action.
However, many employees feel companies still have room to grow in this area. 64% of women believe employers treat International Women's Day more as a celebration than an opportunity for accountability on supporting female employees, according to recent Canadian workplace surveys.
That’s why meaningful participation matters.
When organizations celebrate International Women’s Day with intention, they can:
- Recognize the achievements and contributions of women employees.
- Encourage open conversations about equity and career growth.
- Build a workplace culture where everyone feels valued.
- Demonstrate real commitment to supporting women at work and in communities.
- Inspire employees to support causes that uplift women and girls.
When done right, an International Women’s Day celebration can strengthen both workplace culture and community impact.
Why Do We Celebrate International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day is an annual celebration that acknowledges and highlights the unique challenges women face and overcome worldwide. Organizations and civic society come together on this day in a show of support and commitment towards women’s rights and issues such as gender equity, autonomy, access to education, and violence against women.
For organizations, it’s an opportunity to
- Spotlight trailblazing female leaders and inspire employees to realize their potential.
- Create societal impact that improves outcomes for underserved women in local communities through volunteering and fundraisers.
- Formulate and launch women-centric initiatives in collaboration with stakeholders, including women's ERGs, to address issues including workplace flexibility, career advancement, and diversity in hiring.
When Is International Women’s Day Celebrated, and What’s the Theme for 2026?
International Women’s Day is celebrated globally every year on March 8.
Each year, a new focus helps guide conversations and initiatives worldwide. The International Women's Day celebration theme often shapes how organizations, nonprofits, and communities design their campaigns and events.
Many workplaces use the theme as inspiration for employee engagement activities, discussions, and volunteering initiatives that promote gender equality and empowerment.
When Was International Women’s Day Created?
International Women’s Day celebrations date back to 1909, when it was first celebrated in the US on February 28th and was termed “National Women’s Day.”
Later, during the International Women’s Year in 1975, the United Nations officially recognized March 8 as International Women’s Day.
Today, the day is celebrated across the globe as a reminder of the progress women have made and the work that still lies ahead.
How to Plan an International Women’s Day Celebration at Work
If you're wondering how to celebrate International Women’s Day at work, a little planning can go a long way. Thoughtful celebrations foster greater engagement and help employees feel connected to the day's purpose.
Here are a few things to consider when planning your celebration:
1. Align the Celebration With the Annual Theme
Every year’s theme offers a direction for conversations and activities. Aligning your events with the theme helps connect your workplace celebration with the global movement.
2. Involve Employee Resource Groups and Internal Champions
Women’s ERGs and workplace advocates can help shape programs that resonate with employees and reflect real experiences.
3. Choose Activities That Combine Celebration and Learning
The most impactful events often mix appreciation with learning, such as panels, volunteering activities, or storytelling sessions.
4. Encourage Cross-Team Participation
When employees from different teams participate together, it creates stronger connections and shared experiences.
5. Think Beyond a Single Event
Rather than limiting the celebration to just one activity, consider organizing multiple initiatives throughout Women’s History Month.
How to celebrate International Women's Day at work?
Goodera fosters meaningful employee engagement for organizations year-round and champions various women’s causes. Interest and participation naturally peak during Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day.
To help you celebrate Women's Day with a strong purpose, we’ve curated a selection of impactful and engaging activities aligned with the 2026 theme.
Top 7 Women’s Day celebration ideas in the office
1. Volunteer activities for International Women’s Day:
Volunteering your time is the most meaningful way to appreciate the contributions of women around us. There are various volunteer activities that organizations participate in to keep the spirit of International Women’s Day alive.
Some activities include:
A. Mentoring young women: Share your skills, knowledge, and experiences to help someone else grow and break the glass ceiling.
For instance, Goodera organized a virtual skills-based volunteering session where volunteers came together to “Review Resumes to Guide Young Women.” During the event, participants shared career insights, reviewed resumes, and offered constructive feedback to help young women strengthen their professional profiles. Through personalized guidance and mentorship, volunteers helped aspiring professionals build confidence and prepare for future career opportunities.
B. Educating young girls about STEM fields: Support educational programs that spark curiosity and inspire interest in STEM-based learning among young girls this International Women's Day.
C. Improving financial literacy among young women: Provide young women and girls with insights into personal finance and money management to unlock a brighter, secure future for themselves.
D. Making women's health and hygiene accessible: Create hygiene kits and self-help resources for underserved women to improve access to vital information about women's health.
Not sure how to plan? Please fill the adjacent form and talk to an expert from Goodera.
2. Women's History Month Trivia
A Trivia is a fun and engaging Women’s Day celebration idea for the office. The game can be played in teams or individually and may include questions about notable women in various fields, such as politics, science, the arts, and sports. This activity can help employees gain greater appreciation for the role that women have and continue to play in shaping our world.
3. Make Thank-You Videos
Organizations can create thank-you videos to acknowledge women co-workers. This is a personalized way of appreciating employees and helps create a supportive workplace culture.
4. International Women’s Day Bingo
This activity typically features a bingo card with categories related to women’s history and achievements, such as influential women, women’s rights, and women in different fields. Participants mark the squares they have learned, and the first person to fill a row or complete the entire card is declared the winner. This is a fun activity for organizations to educate employees about the important roles women have played in our history.
5. Reading Circles
Reading Circles promote visibility and appreciation of women’s voices, perspectives, and their contributions to the world. Participants have the opportunity to discuss their perspectives and the key themes or issues the piece addresses.
Reading List for International Women’s Day 2026
6. Women’s Day Party
Hosting an in-person or virtual party is a fun event idea for Women’s Day. You can block an hour or two on everyone’s calendars for colleagues and friends to gather and enjoy fun activities and sessions.
Here are some activities for a women’s day party
- Play games such as scavenger hunts and charades.
- Hold a lottery with prizes.
- Create a playlist of songs by women musicians.
- Host a crafting session to create and send thank-you cards to women coworkers.
- Wear purple to mark the day.
For instance, Goodera organized a meaningful Women’s Day engagement activity with IBM, in partnership with the nonprofit Children of Asia Philippines. During the session, employees participated in a creative activity called “Craft Inspiring Book Gifts of Visionary Women for Students.” Volunteers illustrated and assembled personalized book gifts featuring inspiring women leaders.
7. Attend Online Summits or Panel Events
Workshops and summits are great engagement opportunities for female employees to learn from others’ experiences and gain expert insights on topics such as leadership and career advancement. By conducting or sponsoring these events, organizations can nurture employee talent and create a supportive work culture among women employees.
Creative Ideas to Celebrate International Women’s Day as a Team
While company-organized events and large initiatives play an important role, meaningful celebrations do not always have to be complex or highly structured. Sometimes the most powerful moments come from small team actions that create space for reflection, appreciation, and conversation.
Teams can use the day to recognize contributions, share stories, and celebrate the women who shape their workplaces and communities. These simple activities help make the celebration feel more personal, inclusive, and authentic.
Here are a few ideas teams can adopt to make the day meaningful.
1. Share Stories of Inspiring Women
One of the most engaging ways to celebrate the day is by sharing stories. Invite employees to talk about women who have inspired them; this could be a mentor, a colleague, a leader in their industry, or even a family member who influenced their journey.
These stories often reveal powerful experiences of resilience, leadership, and support. A team member might talk about a teacher who encouraged them to pursue a challenging field, a manager who helped them grow professionally, or a family member who demonstrated strength in difficult circumstances.
Story-sharing sessions can be informal and conversational. Teams might host a short virtual or in-person gathering where employees share a story in a few minutes. Some organizations also invite participants to post their stories on internal platforms or newsletters.
These moments help build empathy across teams while highlighting the diverse ways women influence people’s lives and careers.
2. Spotlight Women Leaders in the Organization
Another meaningful way to celebrate the day is by highlighting the journeys of women leaders within the organization.
Many employees only see leaders in formal settings such as meetings or presentations. Taking time to share their stories, including the challenges they faced, the lessons they learned, and the decisions that shaped their careers, can be incredibly inspiring.
Organizations might host a panel discussion, an informal conversation session, or a short interview series where women leaders talk about their professional journeys. These conversations can explore topics such as navigating career growth, building confidence, overcoming obstacles, or balancing responsibilities.
Hearing directly from leaders within the organization makes the conversation more relatable and impactful. It reminds employees that leadership journeys are often built through perseverance, mentorship, and continuous learning.
3. Recognize Mentors and Colleagues
Recognition is a simple yet powerful way to celebrate the day. Encouraging employees to acknowledge the women who have supported their growth can create a culture of appreciation across teams.
Employees might send short thank-you messages to mentors who guided them through career decisions, colleagues who supported them during challenging projects, or managers who advocated for their growth.
These acknowledgments can be shared privately or highlighted in team meetings or internal communication channels. Even small gestures, such as a thoughtful note or a public shout-out, can have a lasting impact.
Recognizing the contributions of mentors and colleagues also reinforces the importance of support networks and allyship in building inclusive workplaces.
4. Support Women-Owned Businesses
Celebrating the day can also extend beyond the workplace by supporting women entrepreneurs and businesses.
Teams might choose to source event catering, gifts, or services from women-owned companies. This simple decision helps direct spending toward businesses that contribute to economic empowerment and entrepreneurship.
Organizations can also create curated lists of women-owned businesses that employees can support; from local cafes and artisans to service providers and online brands.
These initiatives not only celebrate the day but also encourage employees to think about how everyday purchasing decisions can support broader goals of economic inclusion and equality.
5. Create Appreciation Boards or Digital Walls
A shared appreciation board is another engaging way to celebrate women’s contributions across the workplace.
Organizations can create a physical board in the office or a digital wall on internal platforms where employees post messages celebrating women who have made an impact in their lives or careers.
These messages might recognize achievements, express gratitude, or highlight moments when someone’s support made a difference. Over the course of the day, the board fills with stories, acknowledgments, and reflections.
The collective effect is powerful. Employees can see how many voices come together to celebrate leadership, mentorship, and collaboration across the organization.
Beyond the celebration itself, these boards often leave a lasting impression by reminding teams that appreciation and recognition are important parts of building a positive workplace culture.
How International Women’s Day Activities at Work Can Create Long-Term Impact
International Women’s Day is often celebrated through events, conversations, and recognition. But its real value lies in the momentum it can create for lasting change inside organizations.
When companies use the day as more than a symbolic celebration, it can become the starting point for initiatives that support women’s growth, representation, and leadership across the workplace.
For example, a single event may spark conversations that lead to new mentorship relationships, leadership development programs, or stronger community partnerships. Over time, these initiatives help build more inclusive workplaces where women have greater opportunities to grow and lead.
Mentorship is one area where the long-term impact becomes especially clear. Studies show that companies with structured mentorship programs for women see 24% higher retention rates among female employees over five years. These programs help employees gain guidance, expand professional networks, and navigate career challenges more confidently.
Even one initiative launched around International Women’s Day can create meaningful ripple effects. A mentorship program started this year may support emerging leaders across teams. A volunteering initiative focused on women’s causes may strengthen connections with community organizations. Leadership conversations held during the celebration can inspire future programs that nurture talent across the organization.
In this way, the day becomes more than a moment of recognition. It becomes a catalyst for progress, helping organizations move from conversation to action and building a workplace culture where women’s growth and leadership continue to be supported throughout the year.
Attention ERGs!
Whether you're already a member of a Women's Employee Resource Group (ERG) seeking a year-round activity plan or looking to establish one at your workplace, we've got you covered. Explore our dedicated page featuring engaging and empowering Women's ERG activities. Additionally, don't miss our comprehensive Guide to Women's ERGs, designed to help you enhance or establish a successful ERG for women in your organization.
Frequently Asked Questions About International Women’s Day at Work
1. How Do Companies Celebrate International Women’s Day at Work?
Companies often organize volunteering activities, workshops, panel discussions, recognition programs, and employee engagement events.
2. What Are Some Women’s Day Celebration Ideas in the office?
Trivia games, appreciation videos, reading circles, volunteering initiatives, and interactive team activities are all popular options.
3. Why Should Organizations Celebrate International Women’s Day?
It helps recognize women’s achievements, strengthen workplace culture, and support gender equality initiatives.
4. What Are Simple International Women’s Day Activities at Work?
Simple ideas include sharing inspiring stories, recognizing women colleagues, organizing discussions, or hosting learning sessions.
