The University of Kent is celebrating International Women’s Day 2026 with an inspiring series of events for women and girls across the community. Uniting communities with the shared goal of forging gender equality through abundant giving, this year’s theme, Give to Gain, reminds us that when we invest in one another, we all rise together.
Networking: Start International Women’s Day at Westgate Hall’s popular breakfast in Canterbury city centre.
Kent Gospel Choir will be bringing their award-winning soul to Westgate Hall as people from across Canterbury gather for a special breakfast networking morning. Alongside the choir’s powerful live performance, a panel featuring Samantha Scott Marques, Fundraising & Alumni Engagement Lead at Kent, will offer insights into the Kent Sanctuary Scholars Programme, the University’s recent University of Sanctuary status and the path to Canterbury becoming a City of Sanctuary.
This event takes place from 8:30am – 11am on Friday 6 March and is open to everyone, with tickets available to book for £15.
Career Accelerator: Mia Collins, from the 2025 series of The Apprentice 2025 delivers motivational sessions.
Mia Collins, entrepreneur, athlete and former The Apprentice candidate, is delivering a series of careers-focused talks to students on campus this week. Mia started her career in sales before launching her first business, building a social media community of 80K+ and appearing on The Apprentice 2025. She now shares the tools, confidence, and strategies to help others create their own opportunities and turn ambition into achievement.
Mia will be on campus delivering a series of sessions ‘The Discipline of Bodybuilding in Business’, ‘Building a Career You Love’, and ‘From The Apprentice to Entrepreneur’ on Tuesday 3rd March.
Achieving Goals: Women and girls football extravaganza
On Saturday 7 March, Kent Sport is proudly hosting the International Women’s Day Extravaganza 2026. Organised in partnership with the Kent Football Assocation (FA), the event will offer women and girls the chance to take part in a free football session at the University Sports Pavilion. The day will celebrate female footballers of all ages, from first‑time players to seasoned pros to get off the sidelines and onto the pitch.
After the success of last year’s event, Kent FA determined to get even more females involved, and the Sports Pavilion allows for even more opportunities for new footballers to take part.
The morning will consist of sessions for ‘Wildcats’, (5 to 11 year olds), followed by a ‘Squad Girls’ session (12 to 15 years old) and Learn to Play (for 16 year olds and up), a beginners’ session, plus a session just for Mums, Aunties and sisters to join. The afternoon will host consist of two tournaments, the Women’s Recreational Cup and the Walking Football Cup. Plus, there will be a kit‑design challenge, the winning design will be manufactured into a real kit.
Those who know a future Mary Earps or Alessio Russo, or are a supporter or carer who would like to keepy-up with them, can sign up – places are limited and will be allocated on a first come first serve basis.
Step up to the mic: Fee Mak Nurturing the Next Generation of Young Women Broadcasters masterclass
Kent alumna and Radio 1Xtra DJ Fee Mak returns for her second masterclass for girls aged 14-18 to celebrate International Women’s Day. A hands-on experience in radio presenting, to boost confidence, and tips to develop skills for a future in broadcasting.
‘People like to assume that working in radio is easy. If that was the case, everyone would be doing it at a national level.’ Fee Mak
Fee Mak’s exclusive radio presenter masterclass will take place at the Kent Student Union’s CSRFM radio studios where she cut her teeth in broadcasting before taking the helm as the host of the BBC 1Xtra Sunday Breakfast Show. Those interested in taking part in the masterclass can enter here, the deadline for applications is March 15 and the workshop will take place March 24.
Full details of International Women’s Day events and more.