When is First Contact Day?
First Contact Day 2027 is on Monday
Monday, April 5, 2027
April 5 every year. That's in 170 days.
until First Contact Day begins, in your time zone
First Contact Day is a Star Trek fan celebration of April 5, the date in the year 2063 when, in the films and series, humans first meet an alien species, the Vulcans. Fans mark it each year as a hopeful look ahead.
About First Contact Day
First Contact Day comes from the 1996 film Star Trek: First Contact. In its story, scientist Zefram Cochrane makes humanity's first faster-than-light flight in his ship, the Phoenix, from a former missile silo near Bozeman, Montana, on April 5, 2063. A passing Vulcan survey ship detects the warp signature and lands that evening, and a Vulcan greets Cochrane with the split-fingered salute. In Star Trek's history, that meeting leads, over time, to the United Federation of Planets.
The date itself has a homely origin. Ronald D. Moore, who co-wrote the film, told the official Star Trek website that April 5 is the birthday of his oldest son, Jonathan, and that this was the only reason it was chosen. The franchise later treated the date as an in-universe holiday: in the Voyager episode "Homestead," the crew throws a party for its 315th anniversary.
Because the event hasn't happened yet, fans celebrate an anniversary of the future. A 2015 piece in The Atlantic described the day as a chance to reflect on the social progress the story imagines, in which learning that humans are not alone helps unite the planet. In recent years the franchise owner has also used April 5 for streaming marathons, panels and announcements. It is a fan observance with no official status, separate from Star Trek Day on September 8, which marks the original series' 1966 premiere.
Sources: StarTrek.com: Origin Of First Contact Day Explained! (archived), The Atlantic: Next Up: First Contact Day (2015), TrekMovie: Celebrate First Contact Day 2021 With Paramount+ Star Trek Celebrity Panels, Marathon, And More. How we check dates.
How to mark First Contact Day
- Watch Star Trek: First Contact, or the original series episode "Metamorphosis," which first introduced Zefram Cochrane.
- Practice the Vulcan salute and greet friends with "Live long and prosper."
- Count how many years remain until April 5, 2063, and talk about what you hope the world will look like by then.
- Read about real efforts to search for life beyond Earth, such as SETI radio searches and NASA's astrobiology work.
- Serve cheese pierogies, the dish the Voyager crew serves as Cochrane's favorite food at their First Contact Day party.
First Contact Day dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Saturday, April 5, 2025 |
| 2026 | Sunday, April 5, 2026 |
| 2027 | Monday, April 5, 2027 |
| 2028 | Wednesday, April 5, 2028 |
| 2029 | Thursday, April 5, 2029 |
| 2030 | Friday, April 5, 2030 |
| 2031 | Saturday, April 5, 2031 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is First Contact Day 2027?
First Contact Day 2027 is on Monday, April 5, 2027. It falls on April 5 every year. In 2028, it is on Wednesday, April 5, 2028.
What happens on First Contact Day in Star Trek?
On April 5, 2063, Zefram Cochrane makes Earth's first warp-speed flight, and a Vulcan ship that detects it lands in Bozeman, Montana, to make peaceful first contact with humanity.
Why was April 5 chosen for First Contact Day?
Co-writer Ronald D. Moore said he picked April 5 because it is his oldest son's birthday.
Is First Contact Day the same as Star Trek Day?
No. First Contact Day, April 5, celebrates a fictional future event. Star Trek Day, September 8, marks the real 1966 premiere of the original TV series.
Is First Contact Day a public holiday?
No. First Contact Day is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.