April 26 National Days

April 26 is the 116th day of the year (117th in leap years), with 249 days remaining in the 2025 calendar. Today, we recognize over 32 national and international days that range from scientific achievements and pet care to environmental activism, creative arts, and personal empowerment.

Quite many of today’s observances fall on the last Saturday of April this year, including World Healing Day, Celebrate Trails Day, and National Rebuilding Day. You’ll also find holidays related to puppetry, sculpture, and science—all marked on this spring Saturday.

Here are the national and international days celebrated on April 26, listed in alphabetical order.

National and International Days on April 26

Alien Day: Pays tribute to the iconic Alien film series and its extraterrestrial legacy. The choice of April 26 comes from LV-426, the fictional moon featured in the 1979 movie directed by Ridley Scott. The first fan celebration took place in 2015, and in 2016, 20th Century Fox embraced the idea with special events and a 24-hour trivia challenge.

👽 Alien Day is now an annual observance among sci-fi fans and collectors, joining similar film-inspired days like Star Wars Day (May 4) and Doctor Who Day (November 23).

Celebrate Trails Day* (Fourth Saturday in April): Invites people across the U.S. to enjoy the nation’s network of trails. It was created by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in 2013 to highlight the importance of accessible outdoor spaces for recreation, wellness, and community connection. The event encourages individuals and families to walk, run, or bike through local trail systems. It’s part of a broader movement that includes National Get Outdoors Day in June.

Eeyore’s Birthday: Started in 1963 as a whimsical student celebration at the University of Texas, honoring the gloomy donkey character from Winnie the Pooh. Now held on the last Saturday of April in Austin’s Pease Park, the event has grown into a full-day festival with costumes, drum circles, food, and live entertainment. It’s a playful expression of community and counter-culture, with proceeds supporting local charities.

🐻 A similar day, National Winnie the Pooh Day, is celebrated on January 18th.

Get Organized Day: emphasizes the benefits of tidying up and decluttering physical and digital spaces. Organizing your workspace or home can improve mental clarity, reduce stress, and increase productivity. While the origins of the day are unclear, it aligns with the goals of other observances like National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day and National Simplify Your Life Week.

Healthy Kids Day* (Last Saturday in April): This day was started more than 30 years ago by the YMCA of the USA. The goal is to promote physical activity, good nutrition, and healthy habits for children and families. Events hosted by local YMCAs often include games, educational booths, and fitness challenges to keep kids engaged and inspired throughout the year.

Hug an Australian Day: Created by Thomas and Ruth Roy of Wellcat Holidays, known for inventing fun and eccentric observances. While this day may be lighthearted, its intent is to express appreciation for Australian culture and the country’s global friendships.

Independent Bookstore Day* (Last Saturday of April): Founded in 2014 by Samantha Schoech, the day supports independent booksellers and highlights their cultural and economic contributions. Events may include author readings, book signings, and community gatherings. It pairs well with National Book Lovers Day in August.

International Marconi Day* (Saturday closest to his birthday on April 25): Marks the birthday of Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi, born April 25, 1874. Celebrated on the Saturday closest to his birthday, the day features a 24-hour amateur radio event honoring Marconi’s groundbreaking work in wireless communication. Without his contributions, radio, satellites, and many modern technologies would not exist.

International Sculpture Day / IS Day* (Last Saturday of April): An annual event organized by the International Sculpture Center. Launched in 2015, the day promotes appreciation of sculpture as an art form and encourages public engagement with three-dimensional artwork. It joins other creative celebrations like World Art Day (April 15).

International World Healing Day* (Last Saturday in April): This celebration grew out of World Tai Chi and Qigong Day and now embraces a broader focus on healing—mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual. Held each year on the last Saturday in April, this grassroots event includes yoga, Reiki, art therapy, meditation, and global peace movements. Participants gather at 10 a.m. local time to promote the motto “One World… One Breath.”

National ‘Ai’ Day: Invites reflection on the meaning and use of the word “Ai,” which translates to “love” or “affection” in both Chinese and Japanese. Celebrated on April 26, it recognizes the cultural significance of this word across languages and its frequent use as a name, especially in Japan.

National Audubon Day* (Last Saturday in April): Honors the birth of John James Audubon (1785–1851), a French-American ornithologist and painter best known for The Birds of America. Sponsored by the National Audubon Society, the day raises awareness about bird conservation and encourages people to appreciate and protect avian species. It’s closely related to National Go Birding Day, which also takes place on the last Saturday in April.

National Day of Puppetry* (Fourth Saturday in April): Observed on the fourth Saturday in April since 1999. Founded by the Puppeteers of America, the day was inspired by Carol Fijan’s idea of puppets filling the streets to spark joy and wonder. It aligns with World Puppetry Day (March 21), which recognizes puppeteers and their craft globally.

National Dissertation Day: Created in 2018 by Dr. Russell Strickland of Dissertation Done, LLC. It encourages doctoral students to treat their dissertations with professional urgency. As dissertation delays can be costly, this day promotes strategies for staying focused and completing advanced degrees.

National Dueling Dinosaurs Day* (Last Saturday in April): Debuts in 2025 and celebrates one of the most remarkable fossil finds ever discovered—two exceptionally preserved dinosaurs, a Tyrannosaur and a Triceratops, appearing locked in combat. Discovered in 2006 by Clayton Phipps and team in Montana’s Hell Creek Formation, the fossils were acquired by the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

🦖 Related holidays are: Dinosaur Day on June 1st, National Fossil Day in October, National Velociraptor Awareness Day on April 18th.

National Garage Day: Founded in 2020 by Garage Condos, LLC to celebrate the garage as a creative and practical space. From DIY projects and hobbies to storage and transformation, this day encourages homeowners to reflect on how garages can be optimized. It’s conceptually close to National Garage Sale Day in August.

National Help A Horse Day: Created by the ASPCA to promote the protection and rehabilitation of abused and neglected horses. Observed annually on April 26, the day highlights the importance of equine rescues, sanctuaries, and adoption programs that give horses a second chance.

National Kids and Pets Day: Established in 2005 by Colleen Paige to encourage safe and meaningful connections between children and their pets. The day underscores the lifelong impact that animals can have on children’s development, from responsibility to empathy, while also advocating for safety and supervision.

National Kiss of Hope Day* (Last Saturday in April): Created by Bill Gobin on behalf of the Kiss of Hope Foundation in 2015. It promotes acts of kindness, family connection, and fundraising for people in need. It’s a day rooted in compassion and service, much like Giving Tuesday in November.

National No Makeup Day: Emerged as a grassroots campaign and gained popularity in 2011. It encourages people—especially women—to embrace their natural appearance and challenge conventional beauty standards. The day promotes self-confidence and inner beauty, and it aligns with International Day of Self-Love in February.

National Pool Opening Day* (Last Saturday in April): Established in 2016 by Leslie’s Pool Supplies, marks the start of pool season on the last Saturday in April. It’s a reminder to prepare pools for the warm months ahead while emphasizing safety, cleanliness, and the physical benefits of water-based exercise.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day* (Last Saturday of the months of April and October): Organized by the U.S. DEA, addresses the opioid crisis by offering safe disposal of unused medications. Held in April and October, this day helps prevent misuse and environmental contamination, aligning with other drug awareness initiatives such as Red Ribbon Week.

National Pretzel Day: Officially declared in 2003 by Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell to honor the snack’s cultural and economic significance to the state. Originating with European monks, pretzels have a long Christian heritage and were introduced to North America by Pennsylvania Dutch immigrants. Today, both soft and crunchy varieties remain popular across the U.S.

National Rebuilding Day* (Last Saturday in April): An initiative of Rebuilding Together, a nonprofit that provides free home repairs for low-income families. Held on the last Saturday in April since 1989, the day brings volunteers together to make critical home improvements that impact safety and quality of life.

National Richter Scale Day: Honors Charles F. Richter, born on April 26, 1900, who developed the earthquake magnitude scale still referenced today. His 1935 invention with Beno Gutenberg revolutionized seismology. The day helps raise awareness about earthquake science and preparedness.

National Sense of Smell Day* (Last Saturday in April): Sponsored by the Sense of Smell Institute. It celebrates the power and role of our olfactory system in memory, safety, and sensory experience. The ability to detect scents is closely tied to emotion and cognition, making this day a fun yet meaningful reminder of how we perceive the world through smell.

National South Dakota Day: Commemorates the 40th state to join the union. Known for Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, and Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota is a state full of natural beauty and American history. The day highlights cultural heritage and encourages travel and exploration of this often-overlooked state.

National Static Cling Day: Brings attention to the everyday nuisance of static electricity, particularly in clothing. It’s an opportunity to learn the science behind why items cling, how to prevent it, and how materials carry electric charges. Similar science-focused days include National STEM Day in November and Static Electricity Day on January 9.

Remember Your First Kiss Day: Encourages a nostalgic pause to reflect on a personal milestone. This light-hearted observance taps into shared human experience, emotion, and memory, much like National Proposal Day or National Love Note Day.

World Burlesque Day: Founded in 2020 by performer and mental health advocate Sapphira. It honors the empowering and artistic side of burlesque, a form of performance art that blends humor, dance, and theatricality. The day also celebrates Gypsy Rose Lee, one of burlesque’s most iconic figures.

World Intellectual Property Day: Established in 2000 by WIPO, highlights the importance of patents, copyrights, and trademarks. Celebrated on April 26—the date the WIPO Convention came into effect in 1970—the day promotes global understanding of how intellectual property encourages creativity and supports economic development.

World Veterinary Day* (Last Saturday in April): Founded by the World Veterinary Association in 2000, recognizes veterinarians for their contributions to animal welfare, public health, and scientific advancement. The day also raises awareness about veterinary services and the role they play in society.