Do you ever feel like you’re running out of marketing angles for your book? We get it. After months or even years of marketing the same book, it can sometimes be difficult to keep your marketing from growing stale. But when you stop marketing your book, sales tend to dry up. Not cool. So, the (marketing) show must go on.
Holiday Inspired Marketing
When I was a kid, holidays were pretty limited. But now? You can find a holiday to celebrate almost every day of the year. Yes, yes. Roll your eyes. But then think about it… There are hundreds of holidays ranging from classic to obscure. That translates into hundreds of potential marketing angles. And, as someone who makes a living marketing books, I’m kind of okay with that.
Unique Marketing Opportunities
Holidays present a unique opportunity to market your book. Consider the following:
- Social media posts with a holiday tie in. Does your main character have a serious coffee addiction? It may be time to celebrate International Coffee Day.
- Holiday themed book displays at your local library. Don’t just hope your book makes it on the display table – pitch a holiday display idea featuring your book to your local librarian.
- A holiday inspired bookstore event staring your latest novel. Have you written a book on grammar or editing? Pitch a book signing or event for National Punctuation Day!
- Creative press releases tying your book to an upcoming holiday celebration. If your book has strong themes that can be tied to a well known and recognized holiday, don’t be afraid to play on that for the media.
And, while I certainly don’t want you to ignore the classic holidays like Christmas, I also want you to start thinking outside of the box with holidays like Bad Poetry Day or Take Your Dog to Work Day.
Get Inspired
Here’s a list of upcoming holidays to get your creative juices flowing. You can also download a full calendar of National and Book Holidays for free here: 2026 Book Holiday Calendar PDF.
JANUARY 2026
January — Mystery Reader Month
January 1 — New Year’s Day
January 2 — National Science Fiction Day
January 18 — Thesaurus Day
January 19 — Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 22 — Library Shelfie Day
January 28 — Library Shelfie Day (widely used social date)
January 31 — Read Your World Day
FEBRUARY 2026
Early February — Children’s Authors & Illustrators Week
February — Library Lovers Month
February 4 — World Read Aloud Day
February 7 — Take Your Child to the Library Day
February 14 — Valentine’s Day
February 14 — International Book Giving Day
February 14 — Library Lovers Day
February 16 — Presidents’ Day
MARCH 2026
March 1–7 — Read an eBook Week
March 4 — National Grammar Day
March 5 — World Book Day
March 8 — International Women’s Day
March 8 — Daylight Saving Time Begins
March 11 — International Crime Writers’ Association Day
March 17 — St. Patrick’s Day
March 20 — World Storytelling Day
March 20 — First Day of Spring
March 21 — World Poetry Day
Want more holiday inspiration? Claim your free downloadable National and Book holidays calendar!
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