June 22, 2026, is the 173rd day of the year, with 192 days remaining, and it falls on a Monday — in the twenty-fifth week of the year.
With 11 national and international days on the calendar, June 22 opens Pet Sitters International’s Take Your Pet to Work Week with National Take Your Cat to Work Day, while World Rainforest Day calls attention to ecosystems that hold over half of the planet’s terrestrial species. B Kinder Day, founded in memory of a child named Billie Kinder, asks schools and communities to choose kindness — fittingly paired with International Being You Day’s call to authenticity. A chocolate éclair, a limoncello, and an onion ring round out a Monday with more heart than most.
National Days on June 22
All national & international days celebrated today
11 celebrations on this dayWorld Rainforest Day
World Rainforest Day on June 22 raises awareness of the urgent need to protect the world’s rainforests — home to over half of all terrestrial plant and animal species despite covering just 6% of Earth’s land surface. Rainforests are also vital carbon sinks, with deforestation responsible for roughly 10% of global carbon emissions. The day calls for donations, volunteering, and advocacy to keep these irreplaceable ecosystems intact.
B Kinder Day
Founded in memory of Billie Kinder, B Kinder Day on June 22 inspires empathy, prevents bullying, and promotes mental wellbeing in children worldwide. Schools and communities take part by writing kind, anonymous notes to one another — a simple gesture with a documented impact on classroom culture and individual wellbeing.
National Take Your Cat to Work Day
Opening Pet Sitters International’s official Take Your Pet to Work Week, National Take Your Cat to Work Day on June 22 invites employers to embrace the human-animal bond by welcoming feline coworkers into the office for a day. The week leads up to the 28th annual Take Your Dog to Work Day later in the week, celebrating workplace pet inclusion more broadly.
National Chocolate Éclair Day
The éclair — a long, thin pastry filled with cream and topped with chocolate icing — emerged from 19th-century French pâtisserie tradition and remains one of choux pastry’s most elegant achievements. National Chocolate Éclair Day on June 22 celebrates a treat whose French name translates to “flash of lightning,” supposedly because of how quickly it tends to disappear once served.
Here’s every observance celebrated on June 22, 2026.
National & International Days on June 22
Whether you’re bringing your cat to work, eating a chocolate éclair, sipping limoncello, writing a kind note for B Kinder Day, advocating for rainforests, kissing someone you love, or simply embracing being exactly who you are, here’s the story behind each of these June 22 celebrations.
B Kinder Day
B Kinder Day was launched in 2018 to honor Billie Kinder, a 12-year-old from New South Wales, Australia, who died in a horse-riding accident in 2016 and was known for her warmth and creativity. Her mother created the day, using cards made from Billie’s own drawings, to encourage people to write and share kindness messages with someone they care about or even a stranger. The observance aims to spread kindness, empower individuals, and inspire positive change, with the foundation’s broader mission focused on reducing mental health issues, bullying, and suicide among children and young people.
International Being You Day
International Being You Day was founded in 2021 by Dr. Dain Heer (co-creator of Access Consciousness and author of Being You, Changing the World), and encourages people worldwide to drop self-judgment and societal comparison in favor of authentic self-expression. It is rooted in the idea that individuality is a strength to be celebrated rather than a flaw to be corrected. Originally observed on May 22 in 2021, the holiday shifted to June 22 in 2023.
National Chocolate Eclair Day
National Chocolate Eclair Day recognizes a classic French pastry, this food holiday celebrates the chocolate éclair—an oblong dessert filled with cream and topped with chocolate glaze. The éclair likely originated in the 19th century, with early recipes appearing in English-language cookbooks by the 1880s. Often confused with the Long John donut, the éclair uses pâte à choux dough, setting it apart as a more refined pastry.
National HVAC Tech Day
National HVAC Tech Day was founded in 2016 by ARS/Rescue Rooter to honor heating, ventilation, and air conditioning technicians who keep homes and businesses comfortable year-round. Observed on June 22, it acknowledges their technical expertise and hard work, especially during extreme seasonal temperatures.
National Kissing Day
National Kissing Day encourages people to share affection through a kiss. Although International Kissing Day is celebrated on July 6, this observance offers an extra opportunity to express love and connection—whether between partners, friends, family, or pets.
National Limoncello Day
National Limoncello Day was founded by Marie Barber in 2018. It traces back to a meaningful family conversation that took place on June 22, 2017. The holiday celebrates the iconic Italian lemon liqueur, known for its bright, zesty flavor. Traditionally made with lemon zest, alcohol, and simple syrup, limoncello is often enjoyed chilled as a digestif and represents the Italian spirit of hospitality.
🍸 See our complete list of national days related to alcoholic drinks.
National Onion Rings Day
National Onion Rings Day gets its own spotlight on June 22. Recipes for fried onion rings date back to the early 1800s, but the dish was popularized in the U.S. by restaurants like A&W during the mid-20th century. While several origins are debated—from a 1933 Crisco ad to Pig Stand restaurants in Texas—the day celebrates this golden, deep-fried snack.
National Pet Choking Prevention Day
National Pet Choking Prevention Day was launched in 2023 by pet-safety company Bow Wow Labs (maker of the Bow Wow Buddy) in partnership with veterinarian Dr. Judy Morgan, under the campaign banner Target: Zero. The day exists because over 200,000 pet choking incidents occur in the U.S. each year, and it aims to educate pet owners about everyday hazards — from chew toys and bully sticks to household items like window blind cords — that can block an animal’s airway.
National Take Your Cat to Work Day
National Take Your Cat to Work Day* (First day of Take Your Pet to Work Week) kicks off Pet Sitters International’s Take Your Pet to Work Week* (June 22-26, 2026), which later leads into Take Your Dog to Work Day on June 26. The day celebrates the bond between cats and their owners, supports shelter adoption, and brings the calming presence of office cats into the workplace—though success requires some advance planning to make the day go smoothly for both human and feline.
Positive Media Day
Positive Media Day, founded by engineer Greg Neff and first observed in 2018. It aims to push back against the fear-driven negativity common in mainstream media. The observance encourages people to seek out and share uplifting, constructive news stories instead. The goal is to shift collective sentiment toward more compassion, hope, and inspiration by changing what kind of content gets attention and amplification.
World Rainforest Day
World Rainforest Day was founded by the Rainforest Partnership in 2017 to spotlight the urgent need to protect and restore rainforests worldwide. These ecosystems regulate the climate, store vast amounts of carbon, shelter most of the planet’s terrestrial biodiversity, and sustain local communities. Individuals, businesses, and organizations can get involved through digital toolkits, community events, and conservation pledges available on the official World Rainforest Day platform.
It complements other environmental observances like Earth Day on April 22 and Arbor Day celebrated last Friday in April in the U.S.
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