# When is National Hugging Day 2027?

> National Hugging Day is on January 21 every year. The next one is January 21, 2027, a Thursday. It is an unofficial day, and all it asks is that you hug someone who would like one.

Source: https://whatdayisitapp.com/days/national-hugging-day/ · Updated: 2026-11-05 · What Day Is It?

## Who started Hugging Day?

The day is credited to Kevin Zaborney, a pastor from Clio, Michigan, who launched it on January 21, 1986. He felt that people were embarrassed to show their feelings in public and hoped a day like this would help.

## Why January 21?

The date was no accident. It sits in the quiet stretch between the winter holidays and [Valentine’s Day](https://whatdayisitapp.com/days/valentines-day/), a time when many people feel low. The holidays are over, it is cold in much of the northern hemisphere, and spring is still far off.

## Ways to mark the day

- Hug someone you have not hugged in a while.
- Ask first. Not everyone likes hugs, and that is fine.
- Far away from your favourite people? A call or a [card](https://whatdayisitapp.com/greeting-cards/) can do the same job.

Hugging Day is a fun tradition, not an official holiday, so nobody gets the day off.

## Dates

- January 21, 2026 (Wednesday)
- January 21, 2027 (Thursday)
- January 21, 2028 (Friday)

## FAQ

### Is National Hugging Day an official holiday?

No. It is an unofficial day that spread through word of mouth and the media.

### Is it the same as Valentine’s Day?

No. Hugging Day is for anyone you care about, including friends and family, and it comes about three weeks earlier.