Rethinking International Women’s Day: What If We Did It Differently?

Let’s talk about International Women’s Day (IWD). Whether you’re an advocate, an attendee, or someone who creates events to mark the day, chances are you’ve crossed paths with IWD in some form. Or maybe not. Maybe you’ve skipped the events altogether because they didn’t feel like they were for you.

For years, I used to attend at least one IWD event annually. These days, I don’t attend any.

That’s not because IWD has lost its importance. Quite the opposite. It’s because, for many people, the way we gather to celebrate it doesn’t always reflect the full spectrum of women it’s meant to represent.

A Day That Should Be for Everyone

International Women’s Day has been around for over 115 years. At its heart, it’s about:

• Celebrating women’s achievements

• Advocating for inclusion, equity, and equality

• Supporting fundraising efforts for important causes

• Advancing the conversation around gender parity

But somewhere along the way, many IWD events have started to feel very similar. Formal. Business-focused. Often expensive. Typically in person. While there’s absolutely value in those types of gatherings, there’s a growing gap between the intention of IWD and the experience of many women who want to feel connected to it.

Who Are We Really Including?

When I look at the majority of IWD events being promoted, they tend to attract a similar kind of audience — professional, business-oriented women, often in corporate or entrepreneurial spaces.

There’s nothing wrong with that. But if we’re genuinely talking about inclusion, we have to ask,  who else is missing?

Where are the events for women who work part-time, are raising families, are carers, students, artists, community leaders, or retired? For younger girls just starting to find their voice, or for women navigating cultural identities or systemic barriers that aren't often reflected in mainstream events?

Inclusion isn’t about assuming who belongs where. It’s about creating options that are accessible and meaningful for more people. It’s about reimagining what these events can look like so they connect with different lives, experiences, and priorities.

Who Owns International Women’s Day?

Here’s something most people don’t realise. While the IWD logo is trademarked, the name International Women’s Day isn’t. And that means there are multiple interpretations of the day’s theme and agenda.

The website www.internationalwomensday.com is run by a commercial entity. It’s often mistaken for the official UN Women campaign, which also sets a theme each year.

So if you search for the 2026 IWD theme, you might get two different answers depending on which source you use. Confusing, right?

So which theme should you use?

According to my friend ChatGPT:

“If your event is corporate, local business, school or community-based, many use the InternationalWomensDay.com campaign theme (e.g. #InspireInclusion).
If your event is aligned with advocacy, gender equality, human rights, or government bodies, you may prefer to align with the UN theme.
Both are valid, but don’t mix them — and if you use campaign-specific materials like logos, be sure to follow their usage guidelines.”

What Could IWD Look Like If We Thought Outside the Box?

Imagine an IWD event that:

• Costs less than a school lunch

• Attracts mums, grandmothers, young girls, and women of all ages

• Is a relaxed picnic in the park or a backyard potluck

• Becomes a virtual showcase of women-led businesses in your network

• Doesn’t require anyone to dress up or buy a new outfit

• Is hosted at your local community centre with food from diverse cultures

• Takes shape as a storytelling session at your workplace

• Is a weaving workshop led by Indigenous women

• Is simply a group of friends gathering with intention

None of these ideas require a big budget or a formal venue. But what they do require is heart, purpose, and an inclusive mindset.

Be Intentional About How You Celebrate

International Women’s Day is on 8 March 2026, though events often take place across the surrounding days. Whether you’re attending, speaking, volunteering, or hosting something yourself, let it be done with intention.

Celebrate women in all their diversity. Create space for stories and voices that are often overlooked. And if you’re dreaming up an event that feels different to what’s out there, I would love to help you bring it to life.

Reach out. Let’s brainstorm something bold, creative, and inclusive. Something that feels like home for every woman who joins.

See you in the audience