What to Expect During National Cadets Week 2026
From celebrating volunteers and making a difference in local communities to showcasing lifesaving skills and opening units to the public, National Cadets Week will be a week dedicated to celebrating everything the cadet movement has to offer.
Taking place from 5–11 October 2026, the first National Cadets Week will bring cadet forces across the country together to inspire, recruit and celebrate.
With around 137,000 cadets and 28,000 adult volunteers across five MOD-sponsored cadet forces, the week is an opportunity for units to open their doors, tell their stories and demonstrate the difference cadets make to young people, families and communities.
Each day of National Cadets Week will have a different theme, providing opportunities to celebrate the people, skills and experiences that make being part of the cadet movement so rewarding.
Monday 5 October: Launch Day
National Cadets Week begins with Launch Day, kicking off a week of activities across the country.
Units will be encouraged to get cadets, adult volunteers and their communities excited about the week and share information about National Cadets Week across their social media channels.
Tuesday 6 October: Cadets in the Community
Tuesday will shine a spotlight on the positive contribution cadets make to their local communities.
Under the theme Cadets in the Community, units that normally parade on a Tuesday will be encouraged to run a community project with their cadets or host a veterans’ group.
Where appropriate and agreed with their school, cadets may also have the opportunity to deliver short presentations to raise awareness of the cadet forces and share the benefits of being a cadet with other young people.
Wednesday 7 October: Volunteer Celebration
Behind every cadet experience are the dedicated adult volunteers who give their time to support and inspire young people.
Wednesday will be about saying thank you. Units that parade that evening are encouraged to hold a Cadet Force Adult Volunteer (CFAV) recognition evening, with cadets helping to plan the celebration.
It will be an opportunity to recognise CFAVs’ commitment and celebrate the important role they play in making cadet experiences possible.
Thursday 8 October: Cadets Save Lives
First aid and lifesaving skills take centre stage on Thursday.
The Cadets Save Lives theme will highlight the skills cadets develop that can help them respond when someone needs assistance and the important role cadets can play in keeping people safe.
Units that normally meet on Thursday are encouraged to deliver a first aid training evening and, where possible, invite members of their local community to get involved.
Friday 9 October: Skills for Life
Being a cadet is about much more than what happens on a parade night. The experiences young people gain can help them develop skills that prepare them for their future.
Friday’s Skills for Life theme will showcase these benefits and encourage greater recognition of the skills developed by both cadets and adult volunteers.
The day will also encourage employers to recognise the benefits of employing cadets and CFAVs, including encouraging organisations to pledge five days of paid volunteering leave for CFAVs.
Saturday 10 October: Open Day
Saturday will be one of the biggest opportunities of National Cadets Week, with units encouraged to open their doors to their local communities.
Community open days will allow young people, parents, potential volunteers and other visitors to discover what cadet life is really like and learn more about getting involved.
Look out for details from your local unit to find out what is happening near you.
Sunday 11 October: Digital Wrap Up
National Cadets Week will finish by looking back at everything achieved during the week.
Cadets and volunteers will be encouraged to share their highlights and successes on social media, helping people across the country see the breadth of activities taking place within the cadet movement.
Throughout the week, units will be sharing their activities using #NationalCadetsWeek, helping bring together stories from cadets and volunteers across the UK.
A Week to Inspire, Recruit and Celebrate
While National Cadets Week has a national structure, every unit will bring the week to life in its own way, with activities planned around their usual opening and parade nights.
Whether it’s giving something back to the community, celebrating volunteers, learning lifesaving skills or welcoming new people through the doors, National Cadets Week will showcase the opportunities, friendships, skills and experiences that being part of the cadet movement can provide.