When is Movember?
Movember 2026
Sun, Nov 1, 2026 – Mon, Nov 30, 2026
The whole of November. That's in 28 days.
until Movember begins, in your time zone
Movember is a yearly fundraising campaign in which people grow mustaches, take on fitness challenges or host events to raise money and start conversations about men's health, with a focus on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.
About Movember
The name blends "mo," Australian slang for a mustache, with November. Participants sign up to grow a mustache for the 30 days of the month, set a Move goal such as walking or running a chosen distance, or host their own fundraising event. The money goes to the Movember charity, which funds prevention-focused work on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention. A big part of the idea is social: a new mustache gets people asking questions, which opens the door to talking about health topics many men avoid.
According to Movember's own history, the campaign began in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia, when two friends, Travis Garone and Luke Slattery, were having a beer at a bar in the suburb of Fitzroy and joked about bringing the mustache back into fashion. They found 30 men willing to grow one that November. In 2004 the idea became more organized: Adam Garone registered a company and built a website, Justin Coghlan helped run the campaign in other Australian states, and about 450 participants raised money that went to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
Movember has since grown into an international movement with campaigns in many countries. The organization also set up the Movember Institute of Men's Health to connect researchers, clinicians and community programs, and its stated motivation is simple: too many men are dying too young.
Sources: Movember: About us, Movember: The Movember story. How we check dates.
How to mark Movember
- Grow a mustache for the month and use the questions it draws as a chance to talk about men's health with friends or coworkers.
- Set a personal walking, running or cycling goal for November and ask friends to sponsor your progress.
- Ask your doctor whether prostate cancer screening makes sense for you, based on your age and family history.
- Learn which changes in the testicles are worth getting checked, and see a doctor promptly about any new lump, swelling or pain.
- Check in with a male friend or relative who has seemed withdrawn lately, and give him time to talk without rushing to fix things.
Movember dates
| Year | Dates |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Sat, Nov 1 – Sun, Nov 30 |
| 2026 | Sun, Nov 1 – Mon, Nov 30 |
| 2027 | Mon, Nov 1 – Tue, Nov 30 |
| 2028 | Wed, Nov 1 – Thu, Nov 30 |
| 2029 | Thu, Nov 1 – Fri, Nov 30 |
| 2030 | Fri, Nov 1 – Sat, Nov 30 |
| 2031 | Sat, Nov 1 – Sun, Nov 30 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is Movember 2026?
Movember 2026 is Sun, Nov 1, 2026 – Mon, Nov 30, 2026. It falls on the whole of November. In 2027, it is on Monday, November 1, 2027.
What does the word Movember mean?
It combines "mo," Australian slang for mustache, with November, the month of the campaign. The name comes from the founders' 2003 mustache challenge in Melbourne.
Do you have to grow a mustache to take part in Movember?
No. Anyone can join by setting a Move challenge, hosting a fundraiser or donating; growing a mustache is only one of the options.
Is Movember a public holiday?
No. Movember is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.