July 31, 2026, is the 212th day of the year, with 153 days remaining, and it falls on a Friday — the last Friday of July — in the thirty-first week of the year.
With 18 national and international days on the calendar, July 31 closes the month with a remarkable number of celebrations. Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling share a birthday. Both were born July 31, a detail Rowling deliberately wrote into the books. Black Tot Day marks the 56th anniversary of the Royal Navy ending its daily rum ration. Sysadmin Day falls on its usual last Friday of the month, National Mutt Day returns for its July observance, and Mary Prince Day honours the 1831 publication of the first autobiography by a Black British woman. The day also brings recognition for avocados, big surf, unusual instruments, SPAM, and even elevator conversations.
National Days on July 31
All national & international days celebrated today
18 celebrations on this dayNational Avocado Day
National Avocado Day on July 31 celebrates the creamy green drupe — technically a fruit — whose American consumption has grown from 436 million pounds in 1985 to over 2.8 billion pounds in recent years, driven by guacamole, avocado toast, and the 2010s health-fat rebranding. Native to Mesoamerica and cultivated for over 5,000 years, the avocado is now one of the most economically significant fruits in the world, with Mexico the dominant producer.
Harry Potter’s Birthday
July 31 is the canonical birthday of Harry Potter — born July 31, 1980, in J.K. Rowling’s wizarding world — and also the real birthday of his creator, J.K. Rowling, born July 31, 1965. The Harry Potter series has sold over 600 million copies worldwide in 85 languages, making it the best-selling book series in history. The Wizarding World franchise encompassing books, films, theme parks, and merchandise generates billions annually and shows no sign of fading.
National Mutt Day
Founded in 2005 by animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige and observed on both July 31 and December 2, National Mutt Day celebrates mixed-breed dogs and drives awareness that mutts account for over 75% of shelter dog populations. Their genetic diversity — the result of diverse ancestry rather than selective inbreeding — confers genuine health advantages, including lower rates of inherited conditions common in purebred dogs. The perfect dog is almost certainly a mutt.
National System Administrator Appreciation Day
Observed on the last Friday of July and created by sysadmin Ted Kekatos in 2000, Sysadmin Day honours the IT professionals who keep servers running, networks secure, and computers functional — often invisibly and thanklessly, until something breaks. System administrators are the reason the rest of us can work, communicate, and stream without interruption, and today is the one day a year they are explicitly asked to be acknowledged.
Here’s every observance celebrated on July 31, 2026.
National & International Days on July 31
Whether you’re celebrating Harry Potter’s birthday, eating avocado and raspberry cake, appreciating mutts, thanking your sysadmin, toasting Black Tot Day, getting gnarly, talking to a stranger in an elevator, learning about Mary Prince, honoring lifeguards and rangers, eating SPAM, celebrating Diana, playing an uncommon instrument, or simply jumping for jelly beans, here’s the story behind each of these July 31 celebrations.
Black Tot Day
Black Tot Day marks the end of a 300-year-old Royal Navy tradition—the daily rum ration, known as the “tot.” On July 31, 1970, the British Royal Navy officially discontinued this practice, deeming it incompatible with the needs of a modern navy. The tot once served as a morale booster and was believed to help with health concerns like scurvy.
Harry Potter’s Birthday
Harry Potter’s Birthday is celebrated on July 31—the same day as author J.K. Rowling’s birthday. Fans of the wizarding world use this day to revisit the books and movies, dress up in robes, or enjoy themed activities. Harry James Potter, born in 1980 in the fictional village of Godric’s Hollow, would be in his mid-40s today. The day also highlights Rowling’s debut novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, which introduced readers to a world that continues to inspire millions.
🧙 See our full list of national days dedicated to Harry Potter.
International Lifeguard Appreciation Day
International Lifeguard Appreciation Day was launched in 2020 by aquatic safety firm Ellis & Associates to recognize the lifeguards worldwide. Often seen as just sunbathers in swimsuits, lifeguards are in fact highly trained safety professionals. They monitor water activities, prevent accidents, respond to emergencies, and ensure sanitary pool conditions. This day reminds us of the vital role lifeguards play in public safety at beaches, pools, and waterparks.
National Avocado Day
National Avocado Day was created in 2017 by Model Meals, a California-based meal delivery company focused on organic, sustainable food. The day celebrates the avocado—a fruit prized for its creamy texture, nutritional value, and culinary versatility. Avocados are rich in healthy fats, fiber, and vitamins, and are used in everything from guacamole to smoothies. National Avocado Day encourages people to explore creative ways to enjoy this popular superfood during its peak growing season.
National Get Gnarly Day
National Get Gnarly Day* (Last Friday of July) encourages people to shake things up with creativity and enthusiasm. Created in 2016 by Whirlpool Corporation, the campaign embraced the surfer slang “gnarly“—originally used to describe thrilling waves—to motivate bold thinking and spirited problem-solving. The “NAR” in “gNARliness” also reflects Whirlpool’s North American Region. Today, the day invites everyone to take bold action, try new approaches, and have fun doing it.
National Jump for Jelly Beans Day
National Jump for Jelly Beans Day is a playful celebration of the small, chewy candy that’s been enjoyed in the U.S. for over a century. While its origins are unclear, the day encourages people to not only eat jelly beans but also “jump for joy” in their honor. These colorful treats come in a wide range of flavors and are especially popular during holidays like Easter.
🍬 Related observance: National Jelly Bean Day on April 22.
National Mutt Day
National Mutt Day, observed twice a year on July 31 and December 2, encourages the adoption of mixed-breed dogs and celebrates their loyalty and unique features. It was founded in 2005 by animal welfare advocate Colleen Paige to raise awareness about the millions of mixed-breed dogs in shelters waiting for loving homes. Mutts may not come with pedigrees, but they offer just as much love and companionship as purebreds.
National Orgasm Day
National Orgasm Day is observed in several countries, including the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and South Africa, that celebrates sexual climax and raises awareness around issues related to it. It is an offshoot of International Female Orgasm Day, which is observed on August 8 and was originally established in 2007 by a Brazilian councilman in Esperantina to reduce stigma around female sexuality. Together, these observances aim to encourage open, healthy conversations about sexual wellbeing and pleasure.
National Raspberry Cake Day
National Raspberry Cake Day gives this refreshing, fruity dessert its moment in the spotlight. Raspberries are in peak season during the summer, making July 31 the perfect time to enjoy a cool slice of raspberry cake. Whether layered with cream, folded into batter, or served chilled, raspberry cake is a seasonal favorite in many American households.
National System Administrator Appreciation Day
National System Administrator Appreciation Day* (Last Friday in July) was launched in 2000 by Ted Kekatos, inspired by a Hewlett-Packard ad where coworkers gave flowers and fruit baskets to their sysadmin. The day, also called Sysadmin Day or SAD, recognizes the IT professionals who keep networks, servers, and systems running smoothly. Often working behind the scenes, sysadmins are essential to data security, software maintenance, and tech troubleshooting—yet rarely acknowledged unless something goes wrong.
National Talk In An Elevator Day
National Talk In An Elevator Day* (Last Friday in July) encourages brief but meaningful social interactions in a place known for silence: the elevator. Instead of retreating into devices, the day suggests saying hello, starting a conversation, or learning something new about a fellow rider. It’s a simple way to break routine and bring a little humanity into shared spaces.
Shredded Wheat Day
Shredded Wheat Day honors one of the earliest ready-to-eat cereals in the United States. Invented by Henry Perky in the early 1890s as a digestive aid, shredded wheat was introduced at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition and quickly gained popularity. Perky’s unique method of shaping cooked wheat into pillow-like biscuits led to mass production and long-lasting commercial success.
Uncommon Instrument Awareness Day
Uncommon Instrument Awareness Day encourages curiosity about rare, experimental, or culturally unique musical instruments. Celebrated annually on July 31, the day invites people to learn about sounds they may never have heard—from the nyckelharpa of Sweden to the theremin or waterphone. Musicians and educators often use this day to showcase the variety of global musical traditions and inspire creative expression beyond the mainstream.
World Ranger Day
World Ranger Day pays tribute to the critical work park rangers perform across the globe. Established in 2007 by the International Ranger Federation and The Thin Green Line Foundation, this observance recognizes rangers who protect wildlife, enforce conservation laws, and educate the public. July 31 also honors rangers who have been injured or lost their lives in the line of duty. The day raises awareness about the risks and challenges rangers face in safeguarding the world’s natural and cultural heritage.
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About the Author
Katia @DigitalHygge
Hi! My name is Katia, the passionate creator behind DigitalHygge. I run this project as a one-person team, pouring a lot of love (and coffee!) into researching and putting everything together. My goal is to make it easy for you to find the national days that matter the most. Let's make every day a celebration!
