When is National Coming Out Day?
National Coming Out Day 2026 is on Sunday
Sunday, October 11, 2026
October 11 every year. That's in 7 days.
until National Coming Out Day begins, in your time zone
National Coming Out Day supports lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people who choose to share who they are with others, and celebrates people who live openly. It began in the United States in 1988.
About National Coming Out Day
The day rests on the founders' belief that coming out, one conversation at a time, is among the most powerful tools LGBTQ+ people have for building understanding. It also recognizes that coming out is personal. There is no single right time or way to do it, and for many people it is a lifelong process of telling different people at different moments, or deciding not to.
The first National Coming Out Day was organized by psychologist Robert Eichberg and activist Jean O'Leary and held on October 11, 1988. The date marked the first anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights on October 11, 1987. According to The Advocate, the two founders talked after that march about what should come next and settled on a coordinated day for people to come out to the people around them.
In 1993 the National Coming Out Day organization merged with the Human Rights Campaign, then called the Human Rights Campaign Fund, which still promotes the day. HRC started its National Coming Out Project in 1996 to offer guides and resources year-round. The day's best-known image, a figure stepping out of a closet doorway, was created by artist Keith Haring in 1988. In the US, the day falls during October's LGBTQ+ History Month.
Sources: Human Rights Campaign: 37th annual National Coming Out Day, Human Rights Campaign: Honoring National Coming Out Day through art, The Advocate: The history of National Coming Out Day. How we check dates.
How to mark National Coming Out Day
- If someone comes out to you, thank them for trusting you, listen, and ask how much they want shared with others.
- Read or watch first-person coming out stories to understand how different people's experiences can be.
- Learn about the 1987 March on Washington and the activists who founded the day.
- Find out what support your school, workplace or faith community offers LGBTQ+ people, and share it with anyone who might need it.
- If you're thinking about coming out, start with someone you trust or an LGBTQ+ support organization, and go at your own pace.
National Coming Out Day dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Saturday, October 11, 2025 |
| 2026 | Sunday, October 11, 2026 |
| 2027 | Monday, October 11, 2027 |
| 2028 | Wednesday, October 11, 2028 |
| 2029 | Thursday, October 11, 2029 |
| 2030 | Friday, October 11, 2030 |
| 2031 | Saturday, October 11, 2031 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is National Coming Out Day 2026?
National Coming Out Day 2026 is on Sunday, October 11, 2026. It falls on October 11 every year. In 2027, it is on Monday, October 11, 2027.
Who started National Coming Out Day?
Robert Eichberg and Jean O'Leary founded it in 1988. The Human Rights Campaign has promoted it since the founding organization merged with HRC in 1993.
Why is National Coming Out Day on October 11?
It marks the anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, held on October 11, 1987. The first observance took place on the march's first anniversary.
Is National Coming Out Day a public holiday?
No. National Coming Out Day is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.