Earth Week is the seven-day period surrounding Earth Day on April 22. In 2026, Earth Week runs from Monday April 20 to Sunday April 26. Earth Month is the whole of April. The distinction matters for planning: a single Earth Day event is a moment, Earth Week is a campaign, Earth Month is a commitment.
Key Takeaways
- Earth Week 2026 runs April 20-26. Earth Day 2026 is Wednesday April 22.
- The 2026 Earth Day theme is “Our Power, Our Planet”, focused on clean energy and collective action.
- Earth Week is the primary window for corporate sustainability campaigns, tree planting for employees and clients, ESG announcements, and internal sustainability challenges.
- ForestNation works with 500+ companies on Earth Week campaigns. For corporate Earth Week tree planting: forestnation.com/corporate-gift-a-forest.
When Is Earth Week 2026?
Earth Week 2026 runs from Monday April 20 to Sunday April 26. Earth Day itself is Wednesday April 22. The seven-day window gives individuals, schools, and companies a full week to run campaigns, events, and activities rather than compressing everything into a single day.
For future years: Earth Week always centres on April 22 (Earth Day). Dates shift as the day of the week changes. Earth Month is always the full month of April.
Earth Week History
The first Earth Day was April 22, 1970, organised by US Senator Gaylord Nelson and environmental activist Denis Hayes following a major oil spill off Santa Barbara, California. An estimated 20 million Americans participated, making it the largest civic event in US history at the time. Within the year, the US created the Environmental Protection Agency and passed the Clean Air Act.
Earth Week evolved from Earth Day as environmental organisations and companies recognised that a single day could not contain the depth of programming needed to generate real awareness and action. Earth Month followed as the concept expanded further. Today, Earth Week is the primary planning unit for most corporate sustainability teams and many schools.
Earth Week 2026 Theme, Our Power, Our Planet
The 2026 Earth Day and Earth Week theme is “Our Power, Our Planet”, a focus on clean energy and the power of both individual and collective action. The theme reflects the state of global climate commitments: significant pledges exist, but implementation is lagging. “Our power” refers both to renewable energy specifically and to the agency that individuals, communities, and companies have to accelerate the transition.
For companies: the theme provides a strong framing for internal sustainability campaigns. Publishing your renewable energy targets, announcing a tree planting programme for employees, or switching to digital corporate gifting, all align naturally with “Our Power, Our Planet.”
Earth Week Activities, Day by Day
Monday April 20, Launch day. Announce your company’s Earth Week programme. Send a campaign preview to employees. Launch a tree planting initiative or a green commute challenge.
Tuesday April 21, Education day. Host a lunch-and-learn on your company’s environmental footprint. Run a workshop on the EU Deforestation Regulation or green claims compliance. For students: nature journalling, species surveys, environmental documentaries with discussion.
Wednesday April 22, Earth Day. The centrepiece. Plant a tree for every employee or client through ForestNation, a personalised Gift Story delivered to each person’s email on Earth Day itself. Organise a local clean-up. Make an ESG announcement. See Earth Day activities for the full guide.
Thursday April 23, Action day. Commit to a specific, measurable change. One policy, one procurement switch, one energy action. What will your organisation have done differently by Earth Week 2027?
Friday April 24, Community day. Volunteer in a local green space. Partner with a conservation organisation. Plant trees on school grounds. Connect the internal campaign to something visible in the community.
Saturday April 25, Family and community day. For individuals: plant something, visit a nature reserve, cook from local seasonal ingredients. For community organisations: a clean-up event, a tree planting session, a sustainability market.
Sunday April 26, Reflection and commitment day. Commit to one action for the year ahead. Write it down. Share it. Earth Week creates a moment, sustainable action requires a habit.
Earth Week for Companies, What Actually Works
The most effective Earth Week corporate programmes combine a visible gesture with a measurable commitment. The gesture creates attention and engagement. The commitment provides something to report on next year.
- Tree planting for every employee. A ForestNation Gift Story delivered to every employee on Earth Day, their name on a real tree in Tanzania, a personalised multimedia experience from the company. Field-measured CO2 data for ESG reporting. For corporate Earth Week campaigns: forestnation.com/corporate-gift-a-forest.
- Green commute challenge. Track commuting methods across the company for Earth Week. Cycling, walking, public transport, leaderboard with recognition for the most improved.
- Sustainability audit and public commitment. Run an internal audit during Earth Week. Publish one specific commitment, a renewable energy target, a supply chain change, a reduction in physical corporate gifting, that you will report on by Earth Week 2027.
- ESG announcement. Earth Week is a natural moment to publish an environmental report, announce a carbon reduction target, or launch a reforestation partnership. The context amplifies the impact.
Earth Week vs Earth Day vs Earth Month
- Earth Day: April 22, the specific date, established 1970. A moment, an anchor, a global focal point.
- Earth Week: The seven days around April 22, typically April 20-26. The primary planning window for campaigns, events, and activities.
- Earth Month: The whole of April. Some organisations run their sustainability campaigns across the full month, using Earth Day and Earth Week as peak moments within it.
Related: Earth Day activities for adults, work and families | Earth Day gift ideas | World Environment Day activities.
Research and References
- Earth Day Network: earthday.org, official Earth Day and Earth Week resources, 2026 theme, global campaign materials.
- Earth Day history: US EPA, Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
- ForestNation: Earth Week corporate tree planting campaigns for 500+ companies including Marriott, Logitech, and Salesforce. forestnation.com/corporate-gift-a-forest
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Earth Week 2026?
Earth Week 2026 runs Monday April 20 to Sunday April 26. Earth Day 2026 is Wednesday April 22. The 2026 Earth Day theme is Our Power, Our Planet, focused on clean energy and collective action.
What is Earth Week?
Earth Week is the seven-day period surrounding Earth Day (April 22). It gives schools, companies, and communities a full week to run sustainability campaigns, events, and activities rather than compressing everything into a single day. Earth Month is the full month of April.
What do companies do during Earth Week?
The most effective Earth Week corporate programmes plant trees for every employee through ForestNation (personalised Gift Stories, globally delivered, field-measured CO2 data for ESG reporting), run a green commute challenge, publish a specific environmental commitment, and announce sustainability initiatives timed to the global attention of Earth Week.
How is Earth Week different from Earth Day?
Earth Day is April 22, a specific date established in 1970. Earth Week is the seven days around it (typically April 20-26), used as the primary planning window for events and campaigns. Earth Month is the full month of April.
