January 2026: holidays, special days and observances

Thursday, January 1, 2026

January 1, 2026 is New Year's Day.

• New Year's Day Worldwide

  New year, new page. Resting today is allowed, even recommended.

Around the world

• Independence Day — Haiti, Sudan
• Triumph of the Revolution — Cuba
• Founding of the Republic of China — Taiwan
• 1 more day around the world in the app →

Friday, January 2, 2026

January 2, 2026 is Science Fiction Day.

• Science Fiction Day Fun day

  Celebrated on Isaac Asimov's birthday. What's your favourite sci-fi story?

Around the world

• Berchtold's Day — Switzerland. In Switzerland the second day of the year is a holiday too.
• Victory of Armed Forces Day — Cuba
• Bedoba — Georgia
• 4 more days around the world in the app →

Saturday, January 3, 2026

January 3, 2026 is Festival of Sleep Day.

• Festival of Sleep Day Fun day

  Shake off the holiday tiredness: sleeping in is allowed today!

Around the world

• Anniversary of the 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état — Burkina Faso
• Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day — Sri Lanka

Sunday, January 4, 2026

January 4, 2026 is World Braille Day. And a fun one: Trivia Day.

• World Braille Day Worldwide

  The birthday of Louis Braille, inventor of raised writing.

• Trivia Day Fun day

  Quiz your friends with quirky questions and see who knows most!

Around the world

• Day of the Martyrs — DR Congo

Monday, January 5, 2026

January 5, 2026 is Bird Day.

• Bird Day Fun day

  Put some seeds by the window and treat your feathered friends.

Around the world

• Twelfth Night — United Kingdom. Tradition says: take the Christmas decorations down today!
• Epiphany — Dominican Republic

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

January 6, 2026 is Technology Day.

• Technology Day Fun day

  A day for the inventions that make life easier. Which one can't you live without?

Around the world

• Women's Christmas (Nollaig na mBan) — Ireland. Irish women take a well-earned rest and celebrate after Christmas.
• Epiphany (Three Kings' Day) — 5 countries: Germany, France, Spain and 2 more
• La Befana (Epiphany) — Italy. In Italy, the witch Befana brings sweets to good children and coal to naughty ones.
• 2 more days around the world in the app →

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

January 7, 2026 is Bubble Bath Day.

• Bubble Bath Day Fun day

  A warm bubble bath is just right for a cold winter day.

Around the world

• Tricolour Day (Italy) — Italy. Celebrating the birth of the green, white and red flag in 1797.
• Orthodox Christmas — Public holiday in 8 countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Eritrea, Georgia and 5 more
• Constitution Day — Ghana
• 2 more days around the world in the app →

Thursday, January 8, 2026

January 8, 2026 is Earth's Rotation Day.

• Earth's Rotation Day Fun day

  In 1851 Foucault proved with his pendulum that the Earth turns.

Around the world

• Boxing Day — Montenegro

Friday, January 9, 2026

January 9, 2026 is Static Electricity Day.

• Static Electricity Day Fun day

  Getting zapped by door handles? Today is its day!

Around the world

• Martyrs' Day — Panama
• Peace Agreement Day — South Sudan

Saturday, January 10, 2026

January 10, 2026 is Houseplant Appreciation Day.

• Houseplant Appreciation Day Fun day

  A little water and love for your leafy friends.

Around the world

• Fête du Vodoun — Benin
• Majority Rule Day — Bahamas

Sunday, January 11, 2026

January 11, 2026 is Thank You Day.

• Thank You Day Fun day

  Send a quick note to someone you forgot to thank.

Around the world

• Anniversary of the Independence Manifesto — Morocco

Monday, January 12, 2026

January 12, 2026 is Hot Tea Day.

• Hot Tea Day Fun day

  Winter's best friend: a steaming cup of tea!

Around the world

• Coming of Age Day — Japan
• Epiphany — Colombia
• Amazigh New Year — Algeria
• 1 more day around the world in the app →

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

January 13, 2026 is Rubber Ducky Day.

• Rubber Ducky Day Fun day

  Bath time's yellow hero takes the stage. Quack!

Around the world

• Democracy Day — Cape Verde
• Saint Knut's Day — Sweden
• Liberation Day — Togo

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

January 14, 2026 is Dress Up Your Pet Day.

• Dress Up Your Pet Day Fun day

  A tiny scarf, a cute hat: photo time!

Around the world

• Orthodox New Year — Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro

Thursday, January 15, 2026

January 15, 2026 is Wikipedia Day.

• Wikipedia Day Fun day

  The free encyclopedia launched on this day in 2001.

Around the world

• George Price Day — Belize
• Tamil Thai Pongal Day — Sri Lanka
• John Chilembwe Day — Malawi

Friday, January 16, 2026

January 16, 2026 is Appreciate a Dragon Day.

• Appreciate a Dragon Day Fun day

  From fairy tales to films, dragons light up our imagination.

Around the world

• Laylat al-Mi'raj — 6 countries: Brunei, Comoros, Djibouti and 3 more
• Anniversary of President Laurent Kabila — DR Congo
• Mabaas of Muhammad — Iran
• 1 more day around the world in the app →

Saturday, January 17, 2026

January 17, 2026 is Kid Inventors' Day.

• Kid Inventors' Day Fun day

  Children's inventions are celebrated on Benjamin Franklin's birthday.

Around the world

• St Anthony the Abbot (Blessing of Animals) — Italy. Animals are blessed at churches across Italy.
• Anniversary of Prime Minister Patrice Emery Lumumba — DR Congo

Sunday, January 18, 2026

January 18, 2026 is Thesaurus Day.

• Thesaurus Day Fun day

  Swap a word you know for a brand-new synonym today!

Around the world

• Birthday of Rubén Darío — Nicaragua

Monday, January 19, 2026

January 19, 2026 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States. And a fun one: Popcorn Day.

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day United States

  A day to honour the fight for civil rights and equality.

• Popcorn Day Fun day

  The perfect excuse for a film night: popcorn!

Around the world

• Blue Monday — United Kingdom. Said to be the gloomiest day of the year, so cheer someone up!
• Epiphany — Eritrea, Ethiopia
• Orthodox Epiphany — Georgia

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

January 20, 2026 is Penguin Awareness Day.

• Penguin Awareness Day Fun day

  Raising awareness for our tuxedoed friends and their icy home.

Around the world

• Day of National Mourning (20 January) — Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan remembers those who lost their lives in 1990.
• Heroes' Day — Cape Verde
• Heroes Day — Guinea-Bissau
• 1 more day around the world in the app →

Wednesday, January 21, 2026

January 21, 2026 is Hugging Day. And a fun one: Hugging Day.

• Hugging Day Fun day

  Give someone a hug today. With their permission, of course!

• Hugging Day Fun day

  Give someone you love a big warm hug today.

Around the world

• Errol Barrow Day — Barbados
• Our Lady of Altagracia — Dominican Republic
• Birthday of Princess Ingrid Alexandra — Norway
• 1 more day around the world in the app →

Thursday, January 22, 2026

January 22, 2026 is Answer Your Cat's Questions Day.

• Answer Your Cat's Questions Day Fun day

  What does that stare mean? Try to understand your cat today!

Around the world

• Franco-German Day — Germany. Celebrating the friendship sealed by the 1963 Élysée Treaty.
• Plurinational State Foundation Day — Bolivia
• Grandfather's Day — Poland

Friday, January 23, 2026

January 23, 2026 is Handwriting Day.

• Handwriting Day Fun day

  Leave someone a short handwritten note today.

Around the world

• Bóndadagur — Iceland
• First Philippine Republic Day — Philippines

Saturday, January 24, 2026

January 24, 2026 is International Day of Education. And a fun one: Peanut Butter Day.

• International Day of Education Worldwide

  Education is everyone's right.

• Peanut Butter Day Fun day

  A slice of toast and a spoonful of peanut butter: instant joy!

Around the world

• Day of the Unification of the Romanian Principalities — Romania

Sunday, January 25, 2026

January 25, 2026 is Opposite Day.

• Opposite Day Fun day

  Everything's the other way round today: "no" means "yes"!

Around the world

• Burns Night — United Kingdom. Celebrating poet Robert Burns with haggis, poems and bagpipes.
• St Dwynwen's Day (Welsh Valentine's) — United Kingdom. Wales celebrates love today.
• National Police Day — Egypt
• 1 more day around the world in the app →

Monday, January 26, 2026

January 26, 2026 is International Day of Clean Energy. And a fun one: Spouses Day.

• International Day of Clean Energy Worldwide

  A day for clean energy from sun, wind and water. Every light you switch off counts too.

• Spouses Day Fun day

  Surprise your partner with a little thank-you today.

Around the world

• Australia Day — Australia
• Republic Day — India
• Duarte's Birthday — Dominican Republic
• 1 more day around the world in the app →

Tuesday, January 27, 2026

January 27, 2026 is Holocaust Remembrance Day.

• Holocaust Remembrance Day Worldwide

  Remembering with respect the millions who lost their lives in the Holocaust.

Around the world

• Saint Devota's Day — Monaco
• Saint Sava Day — Serbia

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

January 28, 2026 is International Day of Peaceful Coexistence. And a fun one: Data Privacy Day.

• International Day of Peaceful Coexistence Worldwide

  A day for living side by side with our differences, in respect.

• Data Privacy Day Fun day

  Refresh a password and check who has your info today.

Around the world

• Army Day — Armenia

Thursday, January 29, 2026

January 29, 2026 is Puzzle Day.

• Puzzle Day Fun day

  A thousand-piece jigsaw or a crossword? Your pick.

Friday, January 30, 2026

January 30, 2026 is Croissant Day.

• Croissant Day Fun day

  Flaky and golden: a croissant for breakfast!

Saturday, January 31, 2026

January 31, 2026 is Inspire Your Heart with Art Day.

• Inspire Your Heart with Art Day Fun day

  Spend a little time with a painting, a song or a poem today.

Around the world

• Independence Day — Nauru