Register for the Picture News Black History Month Live Assembly (with special guest, Swarzy!) here. Get the free Picture News Black History Month teaching resource here. October is Black History Month. This blog explores the meaning behind the month and this year’s theme, and offers meaningful ways you can embed Black history in school beyond the month of October. Keep reading to register for our free Live Assembly (open to all schools!) and receive the Picture News Black History Month teaching resource. What is Black History Month? Black History Month takes place throughout October in the UK. It’s a time that encourages simultaneous celebration and reflection, focused on Black people’s experiences and contributions to society. What is the 2026 Black History Month theme? The 2026 theme for Black History Month is 'Honouring Our Communities'. The theme looks beyond well-known figures to celebrate the everyday people who have shaped and supported Black lives and experiences, highlighting those who have volunteered, mentored and offered community leadership to make a difference. Cherron Inko-Tariah MBE shares on Blackhistorymonth.org: "Black History Month 2026 invites us to look more closely at something often taken for granted — the communities that shape, support and sustain us. Across Britain, there are individuals whose contributions are part of everyday life, yet too often go unseen. Volunteers who give their time without expectation. Teachers who shape futures beyond the classroom. Nurses and carers who offer dignity and compassion. Community leaders who bring people together, often without recognition. These are the people who help to hold our communities together. How can schools get involved in Black History Month 2026? Assemblies Include Black history within your assembly themes. You may wish to focus on particular individuals who inspire, someone local who has made a significant impact to your community, or initiatives happening to celebrate Black history. Encourage pupil participation within your assemblies. Can pupils collate their own ideas for the theme of your assembly? Can some present or plan? Turning your Black history assemblies into a collective effort is an effective way to stir excitement and enthusiasm, whilst also encouraging children to learn and think about Black history more deeply. You may also wish to invite guest speakers into school to share their experiences, backgrounds, ambitions and achievements, to inspire the children and help them learn from others’ stories. While it’s great to host Black history themed assemblies in October, remember to go beyond this month. Assemblies exploring Black history are important all year round! Pupil-led projects which 'Honour Our Community' Reflecting on the theme of ‘Honouring Our Communities’, children could complete tasks in groups or independently, focusing on Black people who have made a positive difference to their local area, and then share their work with peers. Newspaper reports Your pupils may wish to write newspaper articles, reporting the different ways their community is celebrating Black History Month in 2026. They may like to produce an opinion piece on the impact they believe a focus on ‘Honouring Our Communities’ could have, or an inspiring piece on how we can honour Black history further at school and home. Host a community celebration Involve all members of your school community to celebrate and raise awareness of Black History Month. Think about who you will invite and what style of celebration you’d like to host. E.g., party, fair etc. Encourage the children to help you with the planning and hosting of the event, to support them in becoming empowered with an increased understanding of the meaning behind what you are doing. Create school artwork Pupils might like to express their thoughts on and knowledge of Black History Month through art and creativity. A variety of mediums – poetry, paintings, drama, songs, collages – can be influenced by and celebrate our communities. Display their creations in a communal area of school, for all to see and proudly share with others! Make a communal display On the topic of displays, you may wish to collate the work created throughout school to celebrate Black history to feature on a display. Choose a communal area in school for teachers, pupils, parents and visitors to see. Can the children help you create the display, and have a say on what’s included? Will you feature information on Black History Month, descriptions of the theme this year, and showcase the children’s work? How about speech bubbles to reflect the children’s thoughts and ideas about Black History Month? Consider regularly updating your display with fresh content and display different pieces of work. Keep reading to learn how we’re celebrating Black History Month here at Picture News. We’d love for you to get involved! Black History Month Primary School Live Assembly It’s back by popular demand! This October, we’re hosting another Black History Month Live Assembly! Be part of another huge school audience – join Katie and special guest, radio presenter Swarzy Macaly, to explore this year’s theme, ‘Honouring Our Communities’. Thursday 8th October 2026 9:15 - 9:45am Online primary assembly There will be time for lots of interaction between schools and Swarzy, as we celebrate and reflect on the meaning of the 2026 theme together. The assembly is suitable for children in KS1 and KS2, their teachers, TAs and SLT. Open to all! Register for the Picture News Black History Month Live Assembly (with special guest, Swarzy!) here. Black History Month Teaching Resource To support your Black History Month celebrations, we’ve produced an additional free teaching resource, available to all schools. Perfect for assemblies or classroom discussions, the resource explores this year’s theme, the purpose of Black History Month, and inspires schools to get involved! Get the free Black History Month teaching resource here.
