Black History Month 2026 begins with a centennial theme and new national spotlights

Black History Month is underway across the United States and Canada, with 2026 marking a rare milestone: it has been a century since the first organized national observance began as “Negro History Week” in 1926. This year’s commemorations are leaning into that history, pairing anniversary programming with renewed attention on how Black history is taught, archived, and presented in public life.

In many cities, February calendars are filling quickly—museum exhibitions, author talks, campus programs, and concerts—while schools and workplaces revisit how to move beyond one-off celebrations and build year-round engagement.

Black History Month 2026 theme in the U.S.

In the United States, the national theme set by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History is “A Century of Black History Commemorations.” The theme frames 2026 as a look back at how public observances shaped education and civic culture—from early community-led celebrations to the month becoming a fixture in schools, libraries, museums, workplaces, and houses of worship.

The centennial angle is also pushing institutions to show their work: not just spotlighting famous names, but explaining how Black history has been preserved, who did the preserving, and why some stories were sidelined for decades. The theme has already translated into programming built around archives, local history projects, and exhibitions that connect national narratives to neighborhood-level contributions.

Why 2026 hits differently

The anniversary has a straightforward calendar logic: the first week-long observances took hold in 1926, and the modern month-long form became widely recognized later. In the U.S., federal-level recognition accelerated in the 1970s, with a presidential message in 1976 during the nation’s bicentennial period and subsequent congressional action in the 1980s.

That history is shaping the tone of 2026: more “how we got here,” less “one month of highlights.” Organizers are also drawing clearer lines between commemoration and civic literacy—what gets taught, what gets funded, and what institutions choose to collect and exhibit.

Canada’s 30-year marker and a policy-heavy message

Canada is also observing Black History Month in February, and 2026 is being framed as the 30th year of the national observance there. The federal theme is “30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries.”

This year’s messaging has leaned noticeably toward economic inclusion and community services. In a February 1, 2026 statement (ET), Canada’s prime minister highlighted a $189 million renewal of the Black Entrepreneurship Program announced in October 2025 and said the program has supported more than 24,000 Black entrepreneurs since launch. The statement also pointed to support for community-based, Black-led initiatives focused on mental health and well-being—an emphasis that suggests February programming will be paired with longer-horizon investments and measurable outcomes.

How observances differ across countries

Black History Month is not a single global event, even when the name is shared. Timing and themes shift by country and often by organizer.

What to watch in February programming

The most visible events will be the big stages—major museum shows, headline concerts, flagship university talks—but the more lasting signals often show up in quieter decisions: which archives get digitized, which collections are expanded, which school districts adopt updated materials, and whether organizations build follow-through beyond February.

Several early patterns are emerging for 2026:

• Local history is getting more attention, with institutions highlighting community builders, businesses, and civic leaders whose impact is best understood at the city or regional level.

• Archives and preservation are a central thread, reflecting the centennial theme and the practical reality that what survives in public memory often depends on what gets collected and maintained.

• Workplace programming is being pressured to mature, shifting from single-day events toward mentorship, recruiting pipelines, leadership development, and measurable inclusion goals.

By the end of the month, the real story may be less about the volume of celebrations and more about what institutions choose to keep doing on March 1.

Sources consulted: Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Government of Canada (Canadian Heritage), Office of the Prime Minister of Canada, People Magazine