When is Mother-in-Law Day?
Mother-in-Law Day 2026 is on Sunday
Sunday, October 25, 2026
The fourth Sunday in October. That's in 8 days.
until Mother-in-Law Day begins, in your time zone
Mother-in-Law Day honors the mothers of spouses and partners, a family role better known as the butt of jokes than a subject of thanks. It began in Amarillo, Texas, in 1934, the idea of local newspaper publisher Gene Howe.
About Mother-in-Law Day
The day is a chance to recognize the woman who raised your spouse and who often becomes a grandparent, babysitter, adviser and extra pair of hands to a new household. From the start it was framed as a reply to the stereotype: popular culture had long cast the mother-in-law as a meddling villain, and the celebration set out to give her the kind of public thanks that Mother's Day gives mothers.
Gene Howe, the Amarillo publisher and columnist, promoted the first Mother-in-Law Day in his city on March 5, 1934. The Fort Worth Press reported the next day that honorees received sweet pea corsages and were driven to ceremonies in special cars, and that three newsreel companies had sent camera crews. According to a history published by the newspaper archive GenealogyBank, Texas Governor James V. Allred signed a proclamation in 1936 making it a statewide observance, and the date later moved to the fourth Sunday in October.
The October date spread beyond Texas. In 1981, Minnesota Governor Albert Quie proclaimed October 25 as Mother-in-Law's Day, and his proclamation stated that the US Congress had passed a resolution setting the fourth Sunday in October for the purpose. Even so, the day is not a federal holiday and does not appear among the observances listed in the US Code, so it remains a custom that families keep or skip as they choose.
Sources: The Fort Worth Press, March 6, 1934, page 6 (Portal to Texas History, University of North Texas), GenealogyBank: Mother-in-Law Day history (2014), Minnesota Legislative Reference Library: Governor's proclamation, Mother-in-Law's Day, 1981. How we check dates.
How to mark Mother-in-Law Day
- Call or visit your mother-in-law and thank her for something specific she has done for your family.
- Invite her to a Sunday meal, or bring one to her if travel is hard.
- Ask her to tell you stories about your spouse's childhood, and write down the ones you want to keep.
- Help the grandchildren make a card or record a short video message for her.
- If she has died, share a photo or a recipe of hers with the family.
Mother-in-Law Day dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Sunday, October 26, 2025 |
| 2026 | Sunday, October 25, 2026 |
| 2027 | Sunday, October 24, 2027 |
| 2028 | Sunday, October 22, 2028 |
| 2029 | Sunday, October 28, 2029 |
| 2030 | Sunday, October 27, 2030 |
| 2031 | Sunday, October 26, 2031 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is Mother-in-Law Day 2026?
Mother-in-Law Day 2026 is on Sunday, October 25, 2026. It falls on the fourth Sunday in October. In 2027, it is on Sunday, October 24, 2027.
Who started Mother-in-Law Day?
Gene Howe, a newspaper publisher and columnist in Amarillo, Texas, promoted the first one on March 5, 1934.
Why was Mother-in-Law Day created?
It was meant to give mothers-in-law public appreciation instead of jokes. A 1981 Minnesota proclamation made the same point, noting that mothers-in-law had long borne the indignity of countless jokes.
Is Mother-in-Law Day a public holiday?
No. Mother-in-Law Day is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.