# October 2026: holidays, special days and observances

> Every day of October 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 Taco Day (October 4), German-American Day (October 6), Leif Erikson Day (October 9), Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day (October 12), Boss's Day (October 16) and Halloween (October 31).

Source: https://whatdayisitapp.com/calendar/2026/october/ · Updated: 2026-11-04 · What Day Is It?

### Thursday, October 1, 2026

October 1, 2026 is International Coffee Day. It is also International Day of Older Persons. And a fun one: World Vegetarian Day.

- **International Coffee Day** (Worldwide): A cup of coffee is remembered for forty years, as the Turkish saying goes. Who are you treating today?
- **International Day of Older Persons** (Worldwide): A day for our elders. The perfect time to give them a call.
- **World Vegetarian Day** (fun day): How about a meat-free meal today?
- Around the world: **Independence Day** — Nigeria, Palau, Tuvalu
- Around the world: **National Day** — China, Hong Kong
- Around the world: **Cerimonia di investitura dei Capitani Reggenti** — San Marino
- 2 more days around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713

### Friday, October 2, 2026

October 2, 2026 is International Day of Non-Violence. And a fun one: World Smile Day.

- **International Day of Non-Violence** (Worldwide): Gandhi's birthday. Honouring the power of non-violence.
- **World Smile Day** (fun day): Smiles are contagious. Pass one on today 🙂
- Around the world: **Grandparents' Day (Italy)** — Italy
- Around the world: **Gandhi Jayanti** — India
- Around the world: **Independence Day** — Guinea
- 1 more day around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713

### Saturday, October 3, 2026

October 3, 2026 is Boyfriend Day.

- **Boyfriend Day** (fun day): How about a little surprise for your boyfriend today?
- Around the world: **German Unity Day** — Germany
- Around the world: **National Foundation Day (Gaecheonjeol)** — South Korea
- Around the world: **Independence Day** — Iraq
- 3 more days around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713

### Sunday, October 4, 2026

October 4, 2026 is National Taco Day in the United States. It is also World Space Week (Oct 4–10). And a fun one: Taco Day.

- **National Taco Day** (United States): Tacos are on the menu today!
- **World Space Week (Oct 4–10)** (Worldwide): A week to look up. Count the stars tonight!
- **Taco Day** (fun day): Crunchy or soft, enjoy a taco piled high with fillings.
- Around the world: **Grandparents Day** — United Kingdom
- Around the world: **Clocks go forward (summer time)** — Australia
- Around the world: **Harvest Festival (Erntedankfest)** — Germany
- 6 more days around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713

### Monday, October 5, 2026

October 5, 2026 is World Habitat Day. It is also World Architecture Day and World Teachers' Day. And a fun one: Do Something Nice Day.

- **World Habitat Day** (Worldwide): Everyone should have a safe home.
- **World Architecture Day** (Worldwide): A day for the architects who design our homes and streets.
- **World Teachers' Day** (Worldwide): Teachers' day around the world. In Türkiye it's celebrated on 24 November.
- **Do Something Nice Day** (fun day): Do a small kindness for a friend or a stranger.
- Around the world: **Thanksgiving** — Saint Lucia
- Around the world: **Implantação da República** — Portugal
- Around the world: **Constitution Day** — Vanuatu

### Tuesday, October 6, 2026

October 6, 2026 is German-American Day in the United States. And a fun one: Noodle Day.

- **German-American Day** (United States): Celebrating the contributions of German Americans.
- **Noodle Day** (fun day): Slurp a warm bowl of noodles today.
- Around the world: **Armed Forces Day** — Egypt
- Around the world: **Memorial Day for the Martyrs of Arad** — Hungary

### Wednesday, October 7, 2026

October 7, 2026 is World Cotton Day. And a fun one: Frappé Day.

- **World Cotton Day** (Worldwide): From your T-shirt to your towel, a day for cotton and the farmers who grow it.
- **Frappé Day** (fun day): Cool down with an icy, frothy frappé.

### Thursday, October 8, 2026

October 8, 2026 is World Sight Day. And a fun one: Fluffernutter Day.

- **World Sight Day** (Worldwide): Love your eyes: an eye test once a year and regular screen breaks.
- **Fluffernutter Day** (fun day): Peanut butter and marshmallow creme: a sweet sandwich!
- Around the world: **Durga Puja** — Bangladesh
- Around the world: **Battle of Angamos** — Peru

### Friday, October 9, 2026

October 9, 2026 is Leif Erikson Day in the United States. It is also World Post Day. And a fun one: World Egg Day.

- **Leif Erikson Day** (United States): Remembering the Viking explorer among the first Europeans in America.
- **World Post Day** (Worldwide): When did you last write someone a letter or a postcard?
- **World Egg Day** (fun day): Scrambled, boiled or fried? Today the debate is open.
- Around the world: **Valencian Community Day** — Spain
- Around the world: **Independence Day** — Uganda
- Around the world: **Columbus Day** — Costa Rica
- 1 more day around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713

### Saturday, October 10, 2026

October 10, 2026 is World Migratory Bird Day. It is also World Mental Health Day. And a fun one: Cake Decorating Day.

- **World Migratory Bird Day** (Worldwide): The birds are heading south. Safe travels!
- **World Mental Health Day** (Worldwide): Mental health matters as much as physical health. Be kind to yourself today.
- **Cake Decorating Day** (fun day): Grab icing, sprinkles and imagination and decorate a cake.
- Around the world: **Fiji Day** — Fiji
- Around the world: **Independence Day** — Cuba
- Around the world: **National Day** — Taiwan
- 4 more days around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713

### Sunday, October 11, 2026

October 11, 2026 is International Day of the Girl Child. And a fun one: Southern Food Heritage Day.

- **International Day of the Girl Child** (Worldwide): Every girl has the right to go to school, to dream and to choose.
- **Southern Food Heritage Day** (fun day): Celebrating the warm, hearty food traditions of the American South.
- Around the world: **Bolivian Woman's Day** — Bolivia
- Around the world: **Revolution Day** — North Macedonia

### Monday, October 12, 2026

October 12, 2026 is Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day in the United States. It is also World Arthritis Day. And a fun one: Gumbo Day.

- **Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day** (United States): Americans mark Columbus and the heritage of Indigenous peoples.
- **World Arthritis Day** (Worldwide): If joint pain and morning stiffness don't go away, see a rheumatologist. Arthritis can strike at any age.
- **Gumbo Day** (fun day): A day to taste Louisiana's spicy, hearty stew.
- Around the world: **Thanksgiving (Canada)** — Canada
- Around the world: **National Day** — Spain
- Around the world: **Children's Day (Brazil)** — Brazil
- 9 more days around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713

### Tuesday, October 13, 2026

October 13, 2026 is International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.

- **International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction** (Worldwide): Pack an emergency kit and know your assembly point. Preparation saves lives.
- Around the world: **Rwagasore Day** — Burundi
- Around the world: **King Bhumibol Adulyadej Memorial Day** — Thailand

### Wednesday, October 14, 2026

October 14, 2026 is World Standards Day. And a fun one: Dessert Day.

- **World Standards Day** (Worldwide): From plugs to screws, a day for the shared standards that make life easier.
- **Dessert Day** (fun day): There's always room for dessert!
- Around the world: **Svetitskhovloba** — Georgia
- Around the world: **Nyerere Day** — Tanzania

### Thursday, October 15, 2026

October 15, 2026 is Global Handwashing Day. It is also International Day of Rural Women. And a fun one: Mushroom Day.

- **Global Handwashing Day** (Worldwide): Soap and water, the cheapest medicine. Wash your hands for 20 seconds.
- **International Day of Rural Women** (Worldwide): In fields, gardens and barns: a day for the rural women who feed our tables.
- **Mushroom Day** (fun day): Sauté, soup or pizza: cook something with mushrooms.
- Around the world: **Teachers' Day (Brazil)** — Brazil
- Around the world: **Aunty Tek Spice Word Festival** — Grenada
- Around the world: **Mother's Day** — Malawi

### Friday, October 16, 2026

October 16, 2026 is Boss's Day in the United States. It is also World Bread Day and World Food Day. And a fun one: Dictionary Day.

- **Boss's Day** (United States): If you have a great boss, today's the day to say thanks.
- **World Bread Day** (Worldwide): Nothing beats the smell of fresh bread. Don't waste it; stale bread has its uses too.
- **World Food Day** (Worldwide): Finish your plate, reduce waste. Millions still go to bed hungry.
- **Dictionary Day** (fun day): Open a page at random and learn a new word.

### Saturday, October 17, 2026

October 17, 2026 is International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. And a fun one: Pasta Day.

- **International Day for the Eradication of Poverty** (Worldwide): A day of solidarity for a world without poverty.
- **Pasta Day** (fun day): Spaghetti, penne or fusilli: pick your plate!
- Around the world: **Anniversary of the death of Dessalines** — Haiti

### Sunday, October 18, 2026

October 18, 2026 is Chocolate Cupcake Day.

- **Chocolate Cupcake Day** (fun day): A little frosted chocolate cupcake hits the spot.
- Around the world: **Independence Restoration Day (Azerbaijan)** — Azerbaijan
- Around the world: **Double Ninth Festival** — Taiwan
- Around the world: **National Day of Prayers** — Zambia

### Monday, October 19, 2026

October 19, 2026 is Evaluate Your Life Day.

- **Evaluate Your Life Day** (fun day): Where have you come from, where are you heading? Take a moment for yourself.
- Around the world: **Mother Teresa Day** — Albania
- Around the world: **National Heroes Day** — Jamaica
- Around the world: **National Day of Remembrance for Steadfast Clergy** — Poland

### Tuesday, October 20, 2026

October 20, 2026 is World Osteoporosis Day.

- **World Osteoporosis Day** (Worldwide): Calcium, vitamin D and exercise for strong bones. Osteoporosis progresses silently.
- Around the world: **Revolution Day** — Guatemala
- Around the world: **Mashujaa Day** — Kenya
- Around the world: **Vietnamese Women's Day** — Vietnam

### Wednesday, October 21, 2026

October 21, 2026 is Apple Day.

- **Apple Day** (fun day): Harvest time: celebrate the many varieties of apple!
- Around the world: **Trafalgar Day** — United Kingdom
- Around the world: **Ndadaye Day** — Burundi
- Around the world: **Armed forces Day** — Honduras
- 2 more days around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713

### Thursday, October 22, 2026

October 22, 2026 is Nut Day.

- **Nut Day** (fun day): Hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts: grab a handful for energy.

### Friday, October 23, 2026

October 23, 2026 is International Day of the Snow Leopard. And a fun one: Boston Cream Pie Day.

- **International Day of the Snow Leopard** (Worldwide): A day to protect the snow leopard, the ghost of the mountains.
- **Boston Cream Pie Day** (fun day): Try this classic cream-filled, chocolate-glazed dessert.
- Around the world: **1956 Revolution Memorial Day** — Hungary
- Around the world: **Liberation Day** — Libya
- Around the world: **Day of the Macedonian Revolutionary Struggle** — North Macedonia
- 1 more day around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713

### Saturday, October 24, 2026

October 24, 2026 is United Nations Day. It is also World Development Information Day, Global Media and Information Literacy Week (Oct 24–31) and Disarmament Week (Oct 24–30).

- **United Nations Day** (Worldwide): The UN Charter came into force on this day in 1945.
- **World Development Information Day** (Worldwide): Highlighting the power of information in solving development problems.
- **Global Media and Information Literacy Week (Oct 24–31)** (Worldwide): Before you share, ask: is this true, and where does it come from?
- **Disarmament Week (Oct 24–30)** (Worldwide): An awareness week for fewer weapons and more peace.
- Around the world: **Independence Day** — Zambia
- Around the world: **First Day of Winter** — Iceland

### Sunday, October 25, 2026

October 25, 2026 is World Pasta Day. And a fun one: Greasy Foods Day.

- **World Pasta Day** (fun day): Pasta is the star of the kitchen today. Tomato or cream?
- **Greasy Foods Day** (fun day): Treat yourself: fries and burgers are in order today!
- Around the world: **Clocks go back (winter time)** — 14 countries: United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany and 11 more
- Around the world: **Basque Country Day** — Spain
- Around the world: **Election Day** — Brazil
- 5 more days around the world in the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6822815713

### Monday, October 26, 2026

October 26, 2026 is Pumpkin Day.

- **Pumpkin Day** (fun day): Carve it, cook it or just use it as decoration.
- Around the world: **October Bank Holiday (Ireland)** — Ireland
- Around the world: **Labour Day** — New Zealand
- Around the world: **National Day** — Austria

### Tuesday, October 27, 2026

October 27, 2026 is World Day for Audiovisual Heritage.

- **World Day for Audiovisual Heritage** (Worldwide): Old films, records, tapes: a day for protecting our audiovisual heritage.
- Around the world: **Independence Day** — Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

### Wednesday, October 28, 2026

October 28, 2026 is Chocolate Day.

- **Chocolate Day** (fun day): A square of chocolate brightens any day.
- Around the world: **Ohi Day** — Greece
- Around the world: **Independent Czechoslovak State Day** — Czechia

### Thursday, October 29, 2026

October 29, 2026 is World Psoriasis Day. It is also World Stroke Day and International Day of Care and Support. And a fun one: Cat Day.

- **World Psoriasis Day** (Worldwide): Psoriasis isn't contagious. A day of understanding and support for those living with it.
- **World Stroke Day** (Worldwide): Face drooping, arm weakness, speech trouble: call emergency services at once. Every minute counts.
- **International Day of Care and Support** (Worldwide): Thanks for the unseen work of everyone caring for children, elders and the sick.
- **Cat Day** (fun day): Cuddle your feline friends and give them a special treat.
- Around the world: **Republic Day** — TRNC (Northern Cyprus), Türkiye
- Around the world: **Jour de l'Unité** — Vanuatu

### Friday, October 30, 2026

October 30, 2026 is Candy Corn Day.

- **Candy Corn Day** (fun day): Halloween's tricolour candy takes the stage.
- Around the world: **World Savings Day (Germany)** — Germany

### Saturday, October 31, 2026

October 31, 2026 is Halloween in the United States. It is also World Cities Day.

- **Halloween** (United States): Get your costume ready and put sweets by the door. Pumpkins take the stage!
- **World Cities Day** (Worldwide): What's your favourite corner of your city?
- Around the world: **Reformation Day** — Germany, Chile, Slovenia
- Around the world: **All Saints' Day** — Finland, Sweden
- Around the world: **Flag Day** — Ecuador

## FAQ

### What are the holidays in October 2026?

Key dates in October 2026: National Taco Day (October 4), German-American Day (October 6), Leif Erikson Day (October 9), Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day (October 12), Boss's Day (October 16) and Halloween (October 31). Every day of the month, with world days and fun days, is listed on this page.

### When is National Taco Day 2026?

National Taco Day 2026 is on Sunday, October 4, 2026. Tacos are on the menu today!

### When is German-American Day 2026?

German-American Day 2026 is on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Celebrating the contributions of German Americans.

### When is Leif Erikson Day 2026?

Leif Erikson Day 2026 is on Friday, October 9, 2026. Remembering the Viking explorer among the first Europeans in America.

### When is Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day 2026?

Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day 2026 is on Monday, October 12, 2026. Americans mark Columbus and the heritage of Indigenous peoples.