# May 2026: holidays, special days and observances > Every day of May 2026 with its special days: national and public holidays, world and awareness days, and fun days, each with one line about what it marks. Highlights: National Teacher Appreciation Day (May 5), Cinco de Mayo (May 5), Mother's Day (May 10), Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15), Armed Forces Day (May 16) and Memorial Day (May 25). Source: https://whatdayisitapp.com/calendar/2026/may/ · Updated: 2026-11-04 · What Day Is It? ### Friday, May 1, 2026 May 1, 2026 is International Workers' Day. - **International Workers' Day** (fun day): Honouring workers and their labour all around the world. - Around the world: **Labour and Solidarity Day** — 6 countries: Germany, France, Spain and 3 more - Around the world: **Labour Day** — 117 countries: Mexico, Brazil, Albania and 114 more - Around the world: **Workers' Day** — Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa - 10 more days around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713 ### Saturday, May 2, 2026 May 2, 2026 is World Tuna Day. And a fun one: Truffle Day. - **World Tuna Day** (Worldwide): Protecting the tuna, the ocean's speed swimmer, from overfishing. - **Truffle Day** (fun day): Chocolate or mushroom, today belongs to the truffle! - Around the world: **Community of Madrid Day** — Spain - Around the world: **Labour Day** — Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia ### Sunday, May 3, 2026 May 3, 2026 is World Press Freedom Day. - **World Press Freedom Day** (Worldwide): A free press safeguards access to information. - Around the world: **Mother's Day** — 6 countries: Spain, Angola, Hungary and 3 more - Around the world: **Constitution Day** — Japan, Poland ### Monday, May 4, 2026 May 4, 2026 is International Firefighters' Day. - **International Firefighters' Day** (fun day): Thanks to the firefighters who run towards danger to keep us safe. - Around the world: **Early May Bank Holiday** — United Kingdom - Around the world: **May Bank Holiday (Ireland)** — Ireland - Around the world: **Remembrance of the Dead** — Netherlands - 7 more days around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713 ### Tuesday, May 5, 2026 May 5, 2026 is National Teacher Appreciation Day in the United States. It is also World Asthma Day, World Hand Hygiene Day and World Portuguese Language Day. And a fun one: Cinco de Mayo. - **National Teacher Appreciation Day** (United States): The perfect time to write a thank-you note to a teacher. - **World Asthma Day** (Worldwide): Asthma can be controlled. Take your medicine regularly and avoid triggers. - **World Hand Hygiene Day** (Worldwide): Proper handwashing takes 20 seconds. Sing 'Happy Birthday' twice and you're done. - **World Portuguese Language Day** (Worldwide): Olá! A day for Portuguese, spoken on four continents. - **International Day of the Midwife** (Worldwide): Thank you to the midwives who help us say hello to the world. - **Cinco de Mayo** (United States): Mexican culture celebrated across the U.S. with tacos, music and colour. - Around the world: **Liberation Day (Netherlands)** — Netherlands - Around the world: **Children's Day** — Japan, South Korea - Around the world: **Arrival Day** — Guyana ### Wednesday, May 6, 2026 May 6, 2026 is Nurses Day. - **Nurses Day** (fun day): A week of thanking nurses for their care begins. - Around the world: **St. George's Day** — Bulgaria ### Thursday, May 7, 2026 May 7, 2026 is World Athletics Day. - **World Athletics Day** (fun day): Run, jump or throw: enjoy the fun of athletics today! - Around the world: **Radio and Television Day** — Bulgaria - Around the world: **Defender of the Fatherland Day** — Kazakhstan - Around the world: **Soldier's Day** — El Salvador - 1 more day around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713 ### Friday, May 8, 2026 May 8, 2026 is WWII Remembrance and Reconciliation (May 8–9). - **WWII Remembrance and Reconciliation (May 8–9)** (Worldwide): We remember the millions lost in the Second World War and recall the value of peace. - Around the world: **Victory in Europe Day (8 May 1945)** — United Kingdom, France - Around the world: **Liberation Day** — Czechia, Norway - Around the world: **Parents' Day (Korea)** — South Korea - 4 more days around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713 ### Saturday, May 9, 2026 May 9, 2026 is World Migratory Bird Day. And a fun one: Lost Sock Memorial Day. - **World Migratory Bird Day** (Worldwide): The storks are back! Look up at the sky. - **Lost Sock Memorial Day** (fun day): A playful tribute to every sock the washing machine ate! - Around the world: **Europe Day** — 8 countries: Germany, France, Spain and 5 more - Around the world: **Victory Day** — 7 countries: Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan and 4 more - Around the world: **Victory over Fascism Day** — Azerbaijan - 3 more days around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713 ### Sunday, May 10, 2026 May 10, 2026 is Mother's Day in the United States. It is also World Lupus Day and International Day of Argania. - **Mother's Day** (United States): It's Mom's day! Just calling to hear her voice is the best gift. - **World Lupus Day** (Worldwide): A day of support for lupus, the disease of a thousand faces, and those living with it. - **International Day of Argania** (Worldwide): A day for Morocco's argan tree and the women's cooperatives that keep it alive. - Around the world: **Remembrance of Slavery and its Abolition (France)** — France ### Monday, May 11, 2026 May 11, 2026 is Eat What You Want Day. - **Eat What You Want Day** (fun day): Enjoy that dish you've been craving today. - Around the world: **Mother's Day** — Honduras ### Tuesday, May 12, 2026 May 12, 2026 is International Day of Plant Health. And a fun one: International Nurses Day. - **International Day of Plant Health** (Worldwide): Healthy plants, healthy tables. A day for protecting plants from pests and disease. - **International Nurses Day** (fun day): Florence Nightingale's birthday. A huge thank you to nurses! - Around the world: **Saint Andrew the First-Called Day** — Georgia ### Wednesday, May 13, 2026 May 13, 2026 is Frog Jumping Day. - **Frog Jumping Day** (fun day): A hopping day inspired by Mark Twain's famous story! - Around the world: **Our Lady of Fátima pilgrimage** — Portugal ### Thursday, May 14, 2026 May 14, 2026 is Dance Like a Chicken Day. - **Dance Like a Chicken Day** (fun day): Flap your arms and dance like nobody's watching! - Around the world: **Ascension Day** — 32 countries: Germany, France, Netherlands and 29 more - Around the world: **Father's Day** — Germany - Around the world: **Independence Day** — Paraguay - 2 more days around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713 ### Friday, May 15, 2026 May 15, 2026 is Peace Officers Memorial Day in the United States. It is also International Day of Families. - **Peace Officers Memorial Day** (United States): Remembering U.S. police officers who died in the line of duty. - **International Day of Families** (Worldwide): Spend a little more time with your family today. - Around the world: **San Isidro (Madrid)** — Spain - Around the world: **Teachers' Day (Mexico)** — Mexico - Around the world: **Teachers' Day (Korea)** — South Korea - 1 more day around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713 ### Saturday, May 16, 2026 May 16, 2026 is Armed Forces Day in the United States. It is also Living Together in Peace Day and International Day of Light. - **Armed Forces Day** (United States): Thanking those currently serving in the U.S. military. - **Living Together in Peace Day** (Worldwide): Different as we are, we can live peacefully in the same street and the same world. - **International Day of Light** (Worldwide): A day for the science of light, on the anniversary of the laser's invention. - Around the world: **SPLA Day** — South Sudan ### Sunday, May 17, 2026 May 17, 2026 is World Telecommunication Day. And a fun one: Cherry Cobbler Day. - **World Telecommunication Day** (Worldwide): The notification you're reading right now is part of this day. - **Cherry Cobbler Day** (fun day): A warm, fruity and crumbly dessert to celebrate spring. - Around the world: **Galician Literature Day** — Spain - Around the world: **Constitution Day** — Norway - Around the world: **Liberation Day** — DR Congo ### Monday, May 18, 2026 May 18, 2026 is International Museum Day. - **International Museum Day** (fun day): Many museums open for free or with special events today. Go visit one! - Around the world: **Victoria Day** — Canada - Around the world: **Ascension Day** — Colombia - Around the world: **Flag and Universities' Day** — Haiti - 1 more day around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713 ### Tuesday, May 19, 2026 May 19, 2026 is World Fair Play Day. And a fun one: Pizza Party Day. - **World Fair Play Day** (Worldwide): Winning is nice, playing fair is nicer. - **Pizza Party Day** (fun day): Gather your friends, order a few pizzas and have fun! - Around the world: **Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day** — TRNC (Northern Cyprus), Türkiye - Around the world: **Buddha's Birthday** — Bangladesh - Around the world: **President Ho Chi Minh's Birthday** — Vietnam ### Wednesday, May 20, 2026 May 20, 2026 is World Bee Day. - **World Bee Day** (Worldwide): Much of what we eat depends on bees for pollination. Thank you, bees! - Around the world: **Independence Day** — Timor-Leste - Around the world: **National Day** — Cameroon ### Thursday, May 21, 2026 May 21, 2026 is World Day for Cultural Diversity. It is also International Tea Day. And a fun one: Talk Like Yoda Day. - **World Day for Cultural Diversity** (Worldwide): The world's colours: different cuisines, music and traditions enrich us all. - **International Tea Day** (Worldwide): Strong or light? Today belongs to the tulip-shaped tea glass. - **Talk Like Yoda Day** (fun day): Flip your sentences around: "Fun, this day will be, hmm!" - Around the world: **Independence Day** — Montenegro - Around the world: **Navy Day** — Chile - Around the world: **National Defense Day** — Hungary - 1 more day around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713 ### Friday, May 22, 2026 May 22, 2026 is International Day for Biological Diversity. And a fun one: Sherlock Holmes Day. - **International Day for Biological Diversity** (Worldwide): Every living thing has a role in nature. - **Sherlock Holmes Day** (fun day): Read a detective story on author Arthur Conan Doyle's birthday. - Around the world: **Unity Day** — Yemen - Around the world: **Independence Day** — Montenegro ### Saturday, May 23, 2026 May 23, 2026 is End Obstetric Fistula Day. And a fun one: World Turtle Day. - **End Obstetric Fistula Day** (Worldwide): An awareness day for a preventable childbirth injury. - **World Turtle Day** (fun day): A day for slow, steady turtles and the care they deserve. - Around the world: **Whitsun Eve** — Sweden ### Sunday, May 24, 2026 May 24, 2026 is International Day of the Markhor. And a fun one: Brother's Day. - **International Day of the Markhor** (Worldwide): A day to protect the markhor, the spiral-horned mountain goat. - **Brother's Day** (fun day): Message your brother and share a laugh together. - Around the world: **Pentecost (Whit Sunday)** — Germany, France - Around the world: **Pentecost** — 25 countries: Netherlands, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda and 22 more - Around the world: **Buddha's Birthday** — South Korea, Taiwan - 4 more days around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713 ### Monday, May 25, 2026 May 25, 2026 is Memorial Day in the United States. It is also World Football Day. And a fun one: Towel Day. - **Memorial Day** (United States): Americans remember those who died in military service; the unofficial start of summer. - **World Football Day** (Worldwide): A day for everyone who kicks a ball. Keep the rivalry friendly today! - **Towel Day** (fun day): For galaxy-hopping hitchhikers a towel is essential. Don't forget yours! - Around the world: **Spring Bank Holiday** — United Kingdom - Around the world: **Whit Monday** — 31 countries: Germany, France, Netherlands and 28 more - Around the world: **Africa Day** — Public holiday in 6 countries: Gambia, Guinea, Madagascar and 3 more - 7 more days around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713 ### Tuesday, May 26, 2026 May 26, 2026 is Paper Airplane Day. - **Paper Airplane Day** (fun day): Who can fold the plane that flies the furthest? - Around the world: **National Sorry Day** — Australia - Around the world: **Arafat Day** — Bahrain, Djibouti, Libya - Around the world: **Independence Day** — Georgia, Guyana - 1 more day around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713 ### Wednesday, May 27, 2026 May 27, 2026 is Eid al-Adha (Kurban Bayramı) (May 27–30). And a fun one: Sunscreen Day. - **Eid al-Adha (Kurban Bayramı) (May 27–30)** (Worldwide): Eid al-Adha Mubarak! Wishing you a festive time shared with loved ones. - **Sunscreen Day** (fun day): Summer's coming: don't forget your sunscreen! - Around the world: **National Resistance Day (France)** — France - Around the world: **Mother's Day** — Bolivia - Around the world: **Children's Day** — Nigeria - 1 more day around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713 ### Thursday, May 28, 2026 May 28, 2026 is World Hamburger Day. And a fun one: Hamburger Day. - **World Hamburger Day** (fun day): Extra cheese, extra pickles… today belongs to the burger. - **Hamburger Day** (fun day): A juicy patty, fresh bun and all the toppings: burger time! - Around the world: **Independence Day** — Azerbaijan - Around the world: **Derg Downfall Day** — Ethiopia - Around the world: **Republic Day** — Armenia - 1 more day around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713 ### Friday, May 29, 2026 May 29, 2026 is International Day of UN Peacekeepers. And a fun one: Paper Clip Day. - **International Day of UN Peacekeepers** (Worldwide): Honouring those who serve to keep the peace around the world. - **Paper Clip Day** (fun day): Say thanks to the tiny, handy paper clip. ### Saturday, May 30, 2026 May 30, 2026 is World MS Day. It is also International Day of Potato. - **World MS Day** (Worldwide): A day of support and awareness for people living with multiple sclerosis. - **International Day of Potato** (Worldwide): Fried, mashed, baked… has a potato ever let you down? - Around the world: **Canary Islands Day** — Spain - Around the world: **Armed Forces Day (Spain)** — Spain - Around the world: **Statehood Day** — Croatia - 4 more days around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713 ### Sunday, May 31, 2026 May 31, 2026 is World No-Tobacco Day. And a fun one: Macaroon Day. - **World No-Tobacco Day** (Worldwide): No better day to quit. The smoke-free counter in Countdown is waiting for you. - **Macaroon Day** (fun day): Take a sweet little break with a coconut or almond treat. - Around the world: **Mother's Day** — France, Sweden - Around the world: **Vesak Day** — Public holiday in 4 countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and 1 more - Around the world: **Pentecost** — Greece, Romania, Ukraine - 2 more days around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713 ## FAQ ### What are the holidays in May 2026? Key dates in May 2026: National Teacher Appreciation Day (May 5), Cinco de Mayo (May 5), Mother's Day (May 10), Peace Officers Memorial Day (May 15), Armed Forces Day (May 16) and Memorial Day (May 25). Every day of the month, with world days and fun days, is listed on this page. ### When is National Teacher Appreciation Day 2026? National Teacher Appreciation Day 2026 is on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. The perfect time to write a thank-you note to a teacher. ### When is Cinco de Mayo 2026? Cinco de Mayo 2026 is on Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Mexican culture celebrated across the U.S. with tacos, music and colour. ### When is Mother's Day 2026? Mother's Day 2026 is on Sunday, May 10, 2026. It's Mom's day! Just calling to hear her voice is the best gift. ### When is Peace Officers Memorial Day 2026? Peace Officers Memorial Day 2026 is on Friday, May 15, 2026. Remembering U.S. police officers who died in the line of duty.