International Women’s Day is a global celebration and a call-to-action.

We recognize the wonderful and incredible achievements of women, and we also strive for gender equality, for equal pay, for women everywhere to have access to premium health care. We continue to march towards a day where gender parity exists for every woman in the world. 

This year, the theme for International Women’s Day is #PressForProgress. Marches and rallies are happening in cities all over the globe, and we are especially proud of the Uprising: Forward to a Feminist Future—a march occurring in Los Angeles and led by transnational/women of color.

Outside of these gatherings though, women are also celebrating with unique and creative events, including comedy shows, bookstore pop-ups, and art exhibitions. Here are some of our favorite inspiring International Women’s Day Events happening this year!

Thinking Women’s Comedy Show

Where | San Francisco, California
When | March 8; 8 PM to 10 PM
Admission | $15; Tickets available online

For all our readers in the Bay Area, you don’t want to miss the annual Thinking Women’s Comedy show happening at PianoFight in San Francisco. With a fantastic lineup of the area’s best and most hilarious female comedians—Natasha Muse, Luna Malbroux, and Emily Van Dyke will all be performing—this show is a perfect and fun way to celebrate International Women’s Day.

All funds from the event will benefit Simply The Basics, a nonprofit organization in San Francisco helping people obtain basic needs with dignity. Founded by Meghan Freebeck in 2015 after she rallied the SF community to supply every woman experiencing homelessness with menstrual hygiene products, Simply The Basics will also be presenting during the show. Arrive early for dinner and drinks at the venue.

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Like A Woman Pop-Up Bookshop

Where | London, England
When | March 5-9; 10 AM to 6:30 PM
Admission | Free

International Women’s Day is especially monumental in the UK this year as 2018 market 100 years of women having the right to vote. To celebrate, Penguin Random House is inviting Londoners to a female author-only pop-up bookshop at 1-3 Rivington Street in Shoreditch during the first week of March. 

Readers can find the likes of Malala Yousafzai, Sophia Amoruso, Margaret Atwood, and Yrsa Daley-Ward at the shop, as well as many other renowned works of literature, specifically from women authors and poets who have fought for equality. Penguin Random House has also reprinted four lesser-known, yet classic female British authors to commemorate the historic year.

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Ladies Get Coffee

Where | Los Angeles, California
When | March 8; 11 AM to 2 PM
Admission | Free

In addition to the Uprising March, women in Southern California are invited to join Ladies Get Paid—a career development organization supporting women’s rights to equal pay and fair treatment in the workplace—as they celebrate International Women’s Day this year with coffee, treats, and conversation. Happening at the coworking and collab space Cross Campus Downtown L.A., the midday gathering is the perfect place to network with like-minded women and learn more about the gender pay gap. 

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An Evening With: Women In Media

Where | Melbourne, Australia
When | March 8; Beginning at 5 PM
Admission | $89+; Tickets available online

Australian women in media are engaging in uncensored real talk this International Women’s Day at An Evening With: Women In Media—a panel happening during the Melbourne Fashion Festival. Hosted by Glynis Traill-Nash, Fashion Editor at The Australian, the event will celebrate high profile women in media as they discuss challenges and opportunities for other females in the industry. Speakers include the likes of Kellie Hush, Editor-in-Chief at Harper’s Bazaar and Melissa Hoyer, the Editor-at-Large for vogue.com.au, GQ, and news.com.au.

The event will be held at the Immigration Museum on Flinders Street with drinks and mingling to happen after the presentation.

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Women In Gastronomy (WIG)

Where | Bangkok, Thailand
When | March 8; 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Admission | $185; Tickets available online

Calling all food lovers, Women In Gastronomy (WIG) is hosting its first ever culinary gathering in celebration of female chefs and women in the field of global gastronomy. A one-day event, WIG is being hosted at The Sukhothai Bangkok—a 5-star hotel in the heart of Thailand’s capital city. 

Attendees can anticipate an exciting day filled with presentations by award-winning women chefs from around the globe, as well as interactive panel discussions, networking opportunities, cocktail hours, and, of course, delicious food tastings. A unique and exciting celebration of women, WIG seeks to honor and empower women in food, beverage, and hospitality.

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Strong Women, Strong World Art Exhibition

Where | Victoria, British Columbia
When | March 2-11; 10 AM to 6 PM
Admission | Free

If you will be Canada this March, make sure to visit the Victoria Arts Council pop-up: Strong Women, Strong World Art Exhibition in Celebration of International Women’s Day. The exhibit, happening for nine consecutive days, is open to the public at The Bay Centre in Downtown Victoria. The event celebrates the creative and thought-provoking work of more than 95 local women artists. Together, they have created a powerful and collaborative exhibit to promote equality and the strength of women.

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#MeToo Poetry Anthology Reading

Where | London, England
When | March 8, Beginning at 7 PM
Admission | £3; Tickets available online

Also happening in London this International Women’s Day, Waterstones Bookstore on Tottenham Court Road will be hosting a reading for the #MeToo Poetry Anthology. Releasing on March 8, the anthology is a collection of poems inspired by women’s experiences and responses to the #MeToo campaign, and Londoners are invited to join Deborah Alma and Jess Phillips as they read from the collection. All profits from the book benefit Women’s Aid UK.

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The Beauty of Women Art Exhibit

Where | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
When | March 6-23; 10 AM to 10 PM
Admission | Free

This March, the Abu Dhabi Art Hub is hosting a wonderful exhibition in celebration of women and their diversity. A collaborative and fantastic show, the exhibit will showcase 20 international artists who have specifically created pieces to celebrate femininity.

The Art Hub is the first artist community in the UAE and is located on Khalifa Street. A place dedicated to cross-cultural artistic exchange and interaction, the center is focused on promoting emerging Emirati artists, as well as supporting artists from abroad through residency and workshops.

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Women’s Day On Broadway

Where | New York City, New York
When | March 12 & March 14; Beginning at 8 PM
Admission | Panel: Free; Frozen performance: $80+

This March, join the cast of Disney’s Frozen on Broadway as they celebrate International Women’s Day in New York City. Beginning on March 12, New Yorkers are invited to sit in on panel discussions with some of Broadway’s most talented and accomplished women at the St. James Theatre on 44th Street. The panels—Women’s Day On Broadway: Celebrating Stories By, For, And About Women—will focus specifically on gender equality and continued progress in the entertainment industry.

On March 14, the celebration of women will continue with a special Broadway performance of Disney’s Frozen, also at the St. James Theatre. All ticket proceeds with benefit The Actors Fund and the Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kayti Christian, a staff writer for The Good Trade, is a storyteller, creator, activist, and avid traveler hailing from Colorado, now living in London. With 30+ stamps in her passport, she is passionate about responsible tourism and is always looking for new ways to be a more conscious traveler. She is currently pursuing her MA in Creative Nonfiction Writing at City, University of London.