September 20, 2026, is the 263rd day of the year, with 102 days remaining, and it falls on a Sunday, closing out the thirty-eighth week of the year.
With 15 national and international days on the calendar, September 20 is a day for caring about kids and neighbors, and for eating fried rice, paella, and string cheese along the way. International NFT Day marks the 2017 publication of the ERC-721 standard by Dieter Shirley, the technical milestone that introduced the term non-fungible token.
National Fried Rice Day, founded in 2018 by Benihana, launched with a Guinness World Record attempt of chefs cooking fried rice for over 42 hours. National Pepperoni Pizza Day celebrates America’s favorite pizza topping, a hallmark of American-style pizza since the early 20th century. And National Neighborhood Day was founded by Lorne Adrain of Providence, Rhode Island, after a single backyard barbecue showed him what a connected block could look like.
National Days on September 20
All national & international days celebrated today
15 celebrations on this day Day 263 of 365 · 102 days left · week 38 · Virgo season · 🌓 first quarterInternational NFT Day
Marks the 2017 publication of the ERC-721 standard by Dieter Shirley, CTO of Dapper Labs, the technical milestone that introduced the term non-fungible token.
National Fried Rice Day
Founded in 2018 by restaurant chain Benihana, launched with a Guinness World Record attempt of chefs cooking fried rice for over 42 hours.
National Pepperoni Pizza Day
Celebrates America’s favorite pizza topping, which became a hallmark of American-style pizza in the early 20th century through Italian-American communities.
National Neighborhood Day
Founded by Lorne Adrain of Providence, Rhode Island, who saw the power of community firsthand after a barbecue helped his own block build trust.
Here’s every observance celebrated on September 20, 2026.
National & International Days on September 20
Here’s a closer look at the 15 national and international days celebrated on September 20.
International Day of University Sport
International Day of University Sport (IDUS) was founded by UNESCO in 2015 to honor the role of sports in higher education. The date connects to the first Student World Championships in Warsaw in 1924 and the academic year’s beginning in many countries. Coordinated by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), the day promotes physical activity, social inclusion, and healthy lifestyles among students, while strengthening the ties between universities and their local communities through sporting events.
National Back to Church Sunday
National Back to Church Sunday* (Third Sunday in September) started in 2009, launched by Outreach Inc. to help churches invite lapsed members, friends, and neighbors to return. The idea grew out of research showing that most people would attend church if someone personally invited them, yet very few churchgoers were actually extending that invitation. Since the beginning the campaign has grown into one of the largest community based outreach efforts in the country, with tens of thousands of congregations taking part each year.
National Care for Kids Day
National Care for Kids Day was launched in 2021 by the Designetics Cares Foundation to draw attention to children’s needs, especially those in underserved communities. Observed annually on September 20, the day calls on individuals and organizations to support initiatives that address childhood poverty, education, health care, and safety. It emphasizes the idea that even small actions—volunteering, donating, mentoring—can contribute to lasting improvements in children’s lives. The observance also encourages collective responsibility, reminding us that a community’s future is shaped by how it nurtures its youngest members.
National Crime and Intelligence Analyst Appreciation Day
National Crime and Intelligence Analyst Appreciation Day was established in 2021 by the Florida Crime & Intelligence Analyst Association (FCIAA) to honor professionals who work behind the scenes to support law enforcement. Crime and intelligence analysts sift through data, identify patterns, and provide crucial insights that help prevent crime, solve cases, and keep communities safe. Their work often goes unnoticed, but it is foundational to public safety. By dedicating a day to them, the observance ensures recognition of their expertise and dedication.
National Fried Rice Day
National Fried Rice Day was founded in 2018 by the restaurant chain Benihana, to honor the global popularity of this versatile dish. The inaugural event featured a Guinness World Record attempt, with chefs cooking fried rice for over 42 hours and donating the food to charities like Feeding America. Fried rice originated in China over 1,000 years ago as a way to use leftover rice and ingredients, but today it has countless regional and cultural variations worldwide. The observance highlights fried rice as both comfort food and a culinary tradition that crosses cultures.
National Gibberish Day
National Gibberish Day is an informal, unofficial holiday that encourages people to speak or write nonsense words and sounds just for fun. Its exact origin is unclear. The word gibberish was used in the early 16th century, likely as an onomatopoeia for unclear sounds or named after the 8th-century Persian chemist Jabir ibn Hayyan, who wrote in complex technical language.
National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day
National LGBTQ+ Servicemembers and Veterans Day is a congressional observance created through Senate resolutions from Senator Jeff Merkley, first as “LGBTQ+ Veterans Day” in 2024 and expanded in 2025 to also include current servicemembers. It’s observed on the date marking the 2011 repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” honoring LGBTQ+ military members who served under policies that once barred them from doing so openly. Since it’s a resolution rather than a permanent law, its specific text gets reintroduced and can be updated each new congressional session.
National Neighborhood Day
National Neighborhood Day* (Third Sunday in September) was started by Providence resident Lorne Adrain after he saw how a block barbecue built trust among his neighbors. He and fellow Harvard Business School alumni turned that idea into a nationwide initiative, and it’s since become an annual event encouraging communities across the country to hold their own gatherings.
National Pepperoni Pizza Day
National Pepperoni Pizza Day celebrates the United States’ favorite pizza topping. Pepperoni became a hallmark of American-style pizza in the early 20th century, particularly with Italian-American communities in cities like New York. Today, pepperoni pizza is the most popular variety nationwide, enjoyed in countless homes, restaurants, and pizzerias. The day often includes promotions and specials, but it also offers a chance to reflect on the blending of immigrant culinary traditions that shaped iconic American foods.
National Punch Day
National Punch Day pays tribute to the centuries-old beverage originally developed in British India. The word “punch” comes from the Hindi panch, meaning “five,” a reference to the drink’s five traditional ingredients: spirits, sugar, citrus, water, and spices. Sailors and traders introduced punch to Europe in the 1600s, and it soon became a fixture at social gatherings in both Europe and the American colonies. Although it declined in popularity during the Victorian era, punch has experienced a modern revival in craft cocktail culture, celebrated today as both nostalgic and innovative.
National String Cheese Day
National String Cheese Day was established in 2017 by Galbani Cheese to celebrate string cheese, a snack beloved by children and adults alike. The invention of string cheese is credited to Frank Baker of Baker Cheese in Wisconsin, who began selling mozzarella twisted into ropes in 1976 as a fun, convenient snack. Its popularity grew further with individual packaging, making it a staple in school lunches and family picnics. National String Cheese Day recognizes not only its playful, peelable texture but also its nutritional value as a portable, protein-rich food. It’s a day to enjoy a snack that has become part of American food culture.
National Queso Day
National Queso Day celebrates queso, the melted cheese dip beloved in Tex-Mex cuisine. Its origins trace back to Mexican queso fundido, but the version popular in the United States took shape in the early 20th century, with recipes like “chiles verdes con queso” appearing in 1896. By the mid-1900s, restaurants in Texas, such as El Fenix, were serving queso as a signature dish. Its mainstream popularity exploded in the 1960s and 70s thanks to processed cheese brands like Velveeta and Ro-Tel. Today, queso is a cultural staple, enjoyed at parties, restaurants, and sporting events.
NFT Day
NFT Day marks the publication of the ERC-721 standard in 2017 by Dieter Shirley, CTO of Dapper Labs. This technical milestone introduced the term “non-fungible token” and set the foundation for today’s NFT ecosystem. The first official NFT Day was celebrated in 2022, bringing together Web3 companies, creators, and collectors to recognize the growth of blockchain-based digital assets. The day not only honors NFTs as an innovation in art, gaming, and digital ownership but also promotes education about their technology, economic impact, and potential for shaping the future of digital culture.
Wife Appreciation Day
Wife Appreciation Day* (Third Sunday in September) offers an opportunity to recognize the love, support, and contributions that wives provide in family life. The day encourages thoughtful gestures, from handwritten notes and acts of service to special outings or gifts, reminding couples to pause and celebrate the often-unnoticed efforts that sustain relationships. While informal, it has become a meaningful tradition for many families to express gratitude.
World Paella Day
World Paella Day honors one of Spain’s most iconic dishes, originating from Valencia. The date aligns with the rice harvest season, reinforcing the dish’s agricultural roots. Established by the Valencia tourism board, the celebration invites people worldwide to cook, share, and enjoy paella in its many varieties—from traditional Valencian recipes with rabbit and snails to seafood-rich coastal versions. Beyond its culinary appeal, paella represents community and togetherness, as it is traditionally cooked in large pans and shared among family and friends.
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National Days in September
