When is International Kissing Day?
International Kissing Day 2027 is on Tuesday
Tuesday, July 6, 2027
July 6 every year. That's in 262 days.
until International Kissing Day begins, in your time zone
International Kissing Day, also called World Kiss Day, is an informal celebration of the kiss in all its forms, from a romantic kiss to a parent's goodnight peck. It is a lighthearted reminder to show affection to the people you love.
About International Kissing Day
International Kissing Day invites people to slow down and enjoy a kiss for its own sake, rather than as a quick hello or a habit. The idea covers every kind of kiss: between partners, from a parent to a child, or the cheek kisses that serve as a greeting in many countries. It is a fun day with no official status, and it works best as a nudge to show warmth to people who welcome it.
The day appears to have started in the United Kingdom. A Guardian column published on July 6, 2000, mentioned a coming National Kissing Day there, along with an academic conference in London on the kiss in history organized by Royal Holloway's Bedford Centre for the History of Women. No founder or founding organization is documented. By the late 2000s the July 6 date was being marked well beyond Britain under names such as International Kissing Day and World Kiss Day.
The kiss itself has a long and well-studied history. Science writer Sheril Kirshenbaum, author of The Science of Kissing, marked the day in a 2011 Wired article by noting that the earliest literary evidence of kissing comes from Vedic Sanskrit texts from India, roughly 3,500 years old. Scholars have also looked at the kiss in art, religion and politics, from the kiss of peace in religious worship to staged kisses in famous photographs.
International Kissing Day is separate from Kiss Day on February 13, part of the Valentine's Week celebrated by young people in India, and from Valentine's Day itself.
Sources: The Guardian: Of mouths and men, by Joan Smith (July 6, 2000), Wired: International Kissing Day!, by Sheril Kirshenbaum (2011). How we check dates.
How to mark International Kissing Day
- Greet your partner or family with a deliberate, unhurried kiss instead of a rushed one on the way out the door.
- Look up famous kisses in art, such as Rodin's The Kiss or Klimt's painting of the same name, and read about how they were made.
- Learn how cheek-kiss greetings differ around the world, from one kiss to three or four depending on the country.
- Watch a classic film known for a memorable on-screen kiss with someone you love.
- Remember that consent comes first: a kiss is only welcome when both people want it.
International Kissing Day dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Sunday, July 6, 2025 |
| 2026 | Monday, July 6, 2026 |
| 2027 | Tuesday, July 6, 2027 |
| 2028 | Thursday, July 6, 2028 |
| 2029 | Friday, July 6, 2029 |
| 2030 | Saturday, July 6, 2030 |
| 2031 | Sunday, July 6, 2031 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is International Kissing Day 2027?
International Kissing Day 2027 is on Tuesday, July 6, 2027. It falls on July 6 every year. In 2028, it is on Thursday, July 6, 2028.
Is International Kissing Day the same as Kiss Day in Valentine's Week?
No. International Kissing Day falls on July 6, while Kiss Day is February 13, the day before Valentine's Day in the Valentine's Week popular in India.
Who started International Kissing Day?
No founder is documented. Press coverage shows a National Kissing Day being marked in the UK by 2000, and the observance spread internationally during the 2000s.
Is International Kissing Day a public holiday?
No. International Kissing Day is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.