Every year, on the third Friday of December, people across the globe with a good sense of humor pull out their most outrageous, festive sweaters for National Ugly Sweater Day. This celebration invites everyone to don one of those tacky sweaters with bold, eye-catching designs—ranging from reindeer motifs to tinsel accents, and occasionally even twinkling lights. It’s a playful way to embrace the season’s festivities, add a touch of humor to the holidays, and showcase a bit of fun, festive style. The more over-the-top, the better!
A Brief History of National Ugly Sweater Day
While less than appealing sweaters have been around for decades, National Ugly Sweater Day as an official event began in 2011, thanks to the efforts of the creators behind the National Ugly Sweater Day website. The day was designed to bring people together through humor and holiday cheer, embracing the “ugly” in a playful and lighthearted way. The website encourages people to break out their wildest, most over-the-top holiday sweaters and spread joy by wearing them proudly. The purpose is simple: have fun, make others smile, and enjoy a festive moment of silliness in the midst of the holiday rush.
The trend itself dates back to the 1980s when TV personalities and celebrities started wearing holiday sweaters with a touch of irony. As years passed, themed parties and competitions began popping up, making the ugly sweater a cherished symbol of the holiday season. The website and the organizers have made it their mission to keep that spirit alive, encouraging everyone to join in on the fun.
When Is National Ugly Sweater Day?
If you’re ready to celebrate National Ugly Sweater Day, it’s good to know that this fun-filled occasion happens every year on the third Friday of December. This timing allows it to fall right in the middle of the holiday season, giving everyone a chance to show off their most outrageous sweaters during office parties, family gatherings, or even casual outings. Here’s a look at when National Ugly Sweater Day will be celebrated in the coming years:
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2024 | December 20, Friday |
| 2025 | December 19, Friday |
| 2026 | December 18, Friday |
| 2027 | December 17, Friday |
| 2028 | December 15, Friday |
| 2029 | December 21, Friday |
| 2030 | December 20, Friday |
Fun Ways to Celebrate National Ugly Sweater Day
To celebrate National Ugly Sweater Day, all it takes is a bold, festive sweater that screams holiday spirit. You can wear it to work, school, or even while running errands to bring a smile to people’s faces.
For some added fun, snap a photo of your standout sweater and share it online using #NationalUglySweaterDay or #UglySweaterDay. It’s a great way to connect with others showing off their tackiest designs—just like the thousands of participants who set the world record for the largest gathering of ugly sweater enthusiasts in Kansas City back in 2017!
Before You Go:
We have many more national days lists for you to explore.
- Food-related national days: complete list of national food days, pasta & noodles days, vegan & vegetarian days, mushroom days, ice-cream days, pizza days, coffee days, chocolate days, wine days, alcohol & drinking days.
- Non-food national days: National Days Calendar 2025 (check out the printable calendars in my Etsy shop), National Days for Teachers, and a wide array of special lists such as cat days, dog days, animal days, cleaning & organizing days, book days, music days, family & relationships days, national days for women, stationery days and even Harry Potter days.
- Country-specific national days: Australian national days, more coming soon.
