National Windrush Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
The UK government announced on 18 June 2018 that National Windrush Day would take place on 22 June every year; later official material identifies 2019 as the first national Windrush Day, and MHCLG continues the Windrush Day Grant Scheme in 2026.
About National Windrush Day
National Windrush Day is a United Kingdom observance held on June 22 each year to recognize the Windrush generation and their descendants and their contribution to UK life.
The UK government announced the annual observance in June 2018, and later government material identifies 2019 as the first national Windrush Day.
Why National Windrush Day matters
The day combines commemoration, education and celebration around the histories and contributions of Caribbean people who came to the United Kingdom in the post-war period and the generations that followed.
Coverage should recognize both contribution and the documented injustices experienced by members of the Windrush generation without reducing individuals or families to a single political controversy.
History of National Windrush Day
On June 18, 2018, the UK government announced that a national Windrush Day would take place on June 22 every year and be backed by annual community funding.
June 22 marks the anniversary associated with passengers from the Empire Windrush disembarking at Tilbury in 1948.
Government material identifies June 22, 2019 as the first national Windrush Day with funded community-led events across the country.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government continued the Windrush Day Grant Scheme in 2026, requiring funded projects to include a lead event or activity on June 22.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
UK Government / Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
The 18 June 2018 government announcement states that Communities Minister Lord Bourne announced the annual National Windrush Day after consultation with the British Caribbean community.
UK Government / Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
UK government announcement “Annual day of celebrations for the Windrush Generation”
First documented observance
Later GOV.UK material explicitly identifies 2019 as the first national Windrush Day.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)
MHCLG continues the Windrush Day Grant Scheme in 2026 and requires a lead activity on National Windrush Day.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
2 fields not established in reviewed sources
Also known as
Windrush Day
How to Observe National Windrush Day
Learn from museums, archives, oral-history projects and official educational resources about Windrush history and wider post-war Caribbean migration to the UK.
Attend a community event, exhibition, performance or educational program where participation is welcome and appropriate.
When sharing family or community stories, protect privacy and obtain consent before publishing names, photographs, immigration experiences or other personal details.
Discuss historical injustice and current policy questions with sourced, neutral language rather than assuming a person’s political views from their background or family history.
Check current official event information before traveling; National Windrush Day is an observance and should not be treated as proof of nationwide school, bank or workplace closures.
National Windrush Day Facts
National Windrush Day is observed on June 22 each year in the United Kingdom.
The annual observance was announced by the UK government on June 18, 2018.
Official government material identifies 2019 as the first national Windrush Day.
The date connects with the June 1948 arrival and disembarkation of passengers from the Empire Windrush at Tilbury.
The reviewed sources establish a national observance and grant program, not a general statutory public holiday requiring nationwide closures.
National Windrush Day Messages
Honouring National Windrush Day through careful history, community memory and respect for personal stories.
May National Windrush Day encourage thoughtful learning across generations and communities.
Remembering the past and recognising continuing contributions on National Windrush Day.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Remembrance Civic Context Care.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
GOV.UK — Annual day of celebrations for the Windrush Generation (opens in a new tab)
Uk Government Establishment Announcement
GOV.UK — Nation pays tribute to the Windrush Generation (opens in a new tab)
Uk Government First Observance History
GOV.UK — Windrush Day Grant Scheme 2026 guidance (opens in a new tab)
Uk Government Current Program
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is National Windrush Day?
22 June each year The documented recurrence rule is: 22 June.
Does National Windrush Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is National Windrush Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Kingdom / National Windrush Day and Windrush history, heritage and communities. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes National Windrush Day?
The reviewed sources identify UK Government / Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
Is National Windrush Day international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to United Kingdom. Its fuller verified scope is: United Kingdom / National Windrush Day and Windrush history, heritage and communities.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-24.
When is National Windrush Day?
It is observed on June 22 each year in the United Kingdom.
When was the annual observance announced?
The UK government announced the annual National Windrush Day on June 18, 2018.
When was the first national Windrush Day?
Later UK government material identifies June 22, 2019 as the first national Windrush Day.
Why is June 22 used?
The date marks the anniversary associated with the Empire Windrush passengers disembarking at Tilbury on June 22, 1948.
Is National Windrush Day a nationwide public holiday?
The reviewed government sources establish a national observance and funded commemorative program; they do not establish a general UK statutory public holiday with mandatory closures.
Other observances on June 22
These observances are also listed on June 22, 2027.
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National Pet Choking Prevention Day
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World Rainforest Day
Rainforest Partnership states that it founded World Rainforest Day in 2017 and identifies the observance date as 22 June.