When is International Polar Bear Day?
International Polar Bear Day 2027 is on Saturday
Saturday, February 27, 2027
February 27 every year. That's in 133 days.
until International Polar Bear Day begins, in your time zone
International Polar Bear Day raises awareness of the threats polar bears face as Arctic sea ice shrinks, with a special focus on mothers and newborn cubs sheltering in snow dens. The conservation group Polar Bears International created it.
About International Polar Bear Day
Polar bears hunt seals from the surface of the sea ice, so the loss of that ice as the Arctic warms is the main long-term threat to the species. Polar Bears International lists other pressures as well, including pollution, growing industrial and commercial activity in the Arctic, overharvest, disease and weak protection of denning areas. Internationally, the IUCN classes the polar bear as a vulnerable species, and in the US it is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group's 2021 status report put the global population at about 26,000 bears.
Polar Bears International, a nonprofit formed in 1992 by people inspired by the bears they had photographed near Churchill, Manitoba, founded International Polar Bear Day. The group chose late February because it falls during denning season, when mothers and their cubs are still hidden in snow dens. Cubs are born in midwinter, blind and weighing little more than a pound, and stay in the den until spring. The organization does not publish the year of the first observance.
The day has no official government status, but it is widely used by zoos, aquariums, schools and conservation groups. Zoos with polar bears, such as Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park Zoo, hold talks and keeper events about the bears and climate change, and Polar Bears International hosts live online chats with its scientists about denning research and climate change. A 2021 study of 16 species awareness days found that the polar bear day was one of only four linked to clear rises in both Google searches and Wikipedia page views.
Sources: Polar Bears International: International Polar Bear Day, Polar Bears International: Our mission and history, Polar Bears International: Polar bear FAQ, CBC News: International Polar Bear Day at Assiniboine Park Zoo (2024), Chua, Tan and Carrasco: Species awareness days (Biological Conservation, 2021). How we check dates.
How to mark International Polar Bear Day
- Watch a live talk or recorded video from polar bear researchers and learn how scientists study dens without disturbing them.
- Visit a zoo or aquarium with polar bears and ask the keepers how they connect the animals' care to conservation in the wild.
- Pick one change that cuts your household energy use, such as adjusting the thermostat a couple of degrees or line-drying laundry.
- Read a children's book or a short article about Arctic animals with kids and talk about why sea ice matters.
- Support a polar bear or Arctic conservation group with a donation or by sharing its research updates.
International Polar Bear Day dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Thursday, February 27, 2025 |
| 2026 | Friday, February 27, 2026 |
| 2027 | Saturday, February 27, 2027 |
| 2028 | Sunday, February 27, 2028 |
| 2029 | Tuesday, February 27, 2029 |
| 2030 | Wednesday, February 27, 2030 |
| 2031 | Thursday, February 27, 2031 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is International Polar Bear Day 2027?
International Polar Bear Day 2027 is on Saturday, February 27, 2027. It falls on February 27 every year. In 2028, it is on Sunday, February 27, 2028.
Why is International Polar Bear Day in February?
Polar Bears International placed the day on February 27 because it falls during denning season, when polar bear mothers and their newborn cubs are still sheltering in snow dens. The organizers use the date to stress the need to protect denning families.
Are polar bears endangered?
The IUCN lists polar bears as vulnerable, one step below endangered, and the US lists them as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Shrinking sea ice is considered the main long-term threat.
Is International Polar Bear Day a public holiday?
No. International Polar Bear Day is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.