This year, we’re celebrating National Cadets Week – the government’s first dedicated celebration of the country’s cadet forces, and a milestone moment for one of the UK’s most effective youth organisations.
Taking place for the first time in October 2026, National Cadets Week was announced by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) as a brand-new annual fixture, designed to shine a spotlight on the tens of thousands of young people and adult volunteers who make up the UK’s cadet community. It’s part of a wider push to strengthen the bond between the Armed Forces and the communities they serve, sitting alongside the government’s Strategic Defence Review and its ‘whole-of-society’ approach to defence.
Whether you’re a cadet, a cadet parent, a serving family, or simply curious about what the cadets do, this is a week built to welcome you in.
In this blog, we explore what the new National Cadets Week is, when it takes place, and how you can get involved.
When is National Cadets Week 2026?
National Cadets Week 2026 runs for seven days, from Monday 5th October to Sunday 11th October 2026. It was first announced by the MOD in May 2026, marking the very first time the UK has held a dedicated national week in honour of its cadet forces.
As a brand-new fixture, National Cadets Week is expected to become an annual date in the defence calendar, much like Armed Forces Week, or Remembrance events, giving the cadet community a permanent moment of national recognition each year going forward.
What is National Cadets Week?
National Cadets Week is a nationwide initiative led by the MOD to celebrate the UK’s cadet forces – widely regarded as one of the country’s most effective youth organisations. Throughout the week, cadet units across the UK will open their doors to schools, families and local communities, with cadets and volunteers delivering outreach presentations in schools and workplaces to raise awareness of what the cadets offer.
The week has a strong focus on first aid training, while also showcasing the breadth of opportunities cadets provide – from adventurous training and fieldcraft to flying, sailing, and Civil Aviation Authority-endorsed drone qualifications. Cadets can also work towards nationally recognised qualifications, including BTECs, first aid certificates, and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
The initiative sits within the government’s wider ‘whole-of-society’ approach to defence, part of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review. As Minister for Veterans and People, Louise Sandher-Jones MP, said that cadet forces bring together young people from all backgrounds and give them “the confidence, skills and sense of purpose that benefit their communities and our country as a whole.”
National Cadets Week also builds on the government’s ’30 by 30′ campaign, launched in August 2025, which aims to grow the cadet forces by 30% by 2030 – delivering more than 40,000 additional cadet places across the UK. A new Cadets Action Plan, published during the week, will set out the government’s long-term vision for expanding accessible cadet provision, modernising the cadet experience, and supporting the volunteers who keep local units running.
Which cadet forces are involved?
National Cadets Week 2026 showcases all four MOD-sponsored cadet forces:
- Royal Navy Cadets (Sea Cadet Corps and Volunteer Cadet Corps)
- Army Cadet Force
- Air Training Corps
- Combined Cadet Force
Between them, these organisations give young people across the UK hands-on experience of Armed Forces life, structure and values – without requiring any prior military connection from cadets or their families.
How can you get involved in National Cadets Week?
You don’t need to be a cadet, a cadet parent, or have a military background to take part in National Cadets Week. Here are some of the main ways to get involved:
- Visit a local open day. Cadet units across the UK will be opening their doors to families and the wider community throughout the week – a good opportunity to see cadet training first-hand and ask questions about joining.
- Attend a school or workplace presentation. Cadets and volunteers will be delivering outreach talks in schools and workplaces during the week, aimed at raising awareness of what the cadets do and who can join.
- Consider volunteering. The MOD has been clear that no military background is needed to become an adult volunteer, just a commitment to supporting young people. Given the cadet forces’ 30 by 30 growth target, new volunteers are actively encouraged to come forward.
- Follow the Cadets Action Plan launch. A new Cadets Action Plan will be published during the week, setting out the government’s long-term vision for the cadet forces.
- Encourage a young person to sign up. With more than 40,000 additional cadet places planned by 2030, National Cadets Week is designed as a springboard for new recruits as much as a celebration of existing ones.
As the details of local events are confirmed closer to October, your nearest cadet unit or regional Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association will be the best source of specific dates and activities in your area.
Why National Cadets Week matters
If you’re a serving family, cadet life will feel familiar. Uniforms, kit lists, weekend commitments, away trips – it’s a taste of Armed Forces routine, often years before a young person considers signing up themselves. That familiarity is part of what makes the cadets such a strong bridge between military communities and the wider public that National Cadets Week is designed to celebrate.
Many Armed Forces families already understand what it means to give up time, weekends and comfort, and cadets offer young people that same sense of purpose. For serving personnel and veterans, watching a child or grandchild take on the same values through the cadets can be a quietly proud moment, and a reminder of why that commitment matters in the first place.
It’s also a week that reflects well on the wider military community. National Cadets Week gives serving families, veterans and civilians alike a shared reason to get involved, whether that’s attending a local open day, encouraging a young person to sign up, or simply learning more about what today’s cadet forces do.
How Trinity supports military life
National Cadets Week 2026 (5–11 October) is a first-of-its-kind celebration of the UK’s cadet forces, their young people, and the volunteers who support them. Whether you’re a cadet, a cadet parent, or a serving Armed Forces family, it’s a moment to recognise the skills, confidence and community the cadets build, and a timely reminder to make sure your own family are as prepared as you are.
Here at Trinity, we understand what military life can bring, and we specialise in protecting the UK Armed Forces community. Explore our military life insurance and military kit insurance to find cover built around service life.