2018 calendar: Key dates and festivals this year
WITH the new year just beginning, Britons are looking ahead to what promises to be a monumental year for culture, sport and politics. Here is a round up of the key dates in 2018.
GETTY
In a year that boasts the Winter Olympics, a royal wedding and the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, here is a list of dates to put in your diary.
January 8: MPs return to House of Commons
January 16-17: Brexit bill enters report and third reading stages
With Brexit negotiations finally starting to moved forward in Brussels, MPs will have another opportunity to debate Brexit in the House of Commons.
The EU Withdrawal Bill then heads to the Lords for a second reading before moving on to the committee stage in February.
Related articles
February 9-25: Winter Olympics
Taking place in Pyeongchang, South Korea, the 2018 Winter Olympics will treat sport fans to two weeks of breathless skiing, skating and snowboarding action.
February 16: Chinese New Year - Year of the Dog begins
March 4: Italian general election
March 5 (UK): Oscars ceremony
Dunkirk, Get Out and Call Me By Your Name are among the films likely to be vying for the coveted Best Picture prize at this year’s Academy Awards.
March 11: Mother’s Day in the UK
April 1: Easter Sunday
April 21: Queen Elizabeth II turns 92
The Queen will celebrate the date of her birth on April 21, though she will preside over the Trooping of the Colour parade on June 9.
GETTY
May 3: Local elections
Elections will take place across England, including all 32 London boroughs, 34 metropolitan boroughs, 74 district councils and 17 unitary authorities.
There will also be mayoral elections in Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Watford.
May 15: Ramadan begins
May 19: FA Cup final
New Year's Eve fireworks: London Eye erupts in colour as Britain welcomes 2018
Mon, January 1, 2018THE LONDON Eye erupted into a stunning display of colour as fireworks shot out from the iconic structure and brought in 2018 for Britons
Revellers along the banks of the River Thames were treated to a stunning sight
May 19: Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
The much anticipated wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be held in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on the same day as the FA Cup final.
June 14: World Cup 2018
England will be the only home nation in action as the biggest football event on the planet kicks off in Russia.
June 17: Father’s Day in the UK
GETTY
July 3: Wimbledon
Two-time winner Andy Murray will be desperate to be back at peak fitness by the time the prestigious Wimbledon tournament gets underway at the All England Club.
October 31: Halloween
November 6: US mid-term elections
Americans will head back to the ballot boxes in November to vote in the mid-term elections.
The vote comes halfway through Donald Trump’s presidency and it is expected that the Republicans will lose seats in Congress to the Democrats.
GETTY
November 7: Diwali
November 11: Armistice Day - Centenary year
2018 will mark the 100th year since the end of the First World War.
On the day, Britons will join together to remember the fallen heroes who died fighting for their country.
November 24: Black Friday
