When is Random Acts of Kindness Day?
Random Acts of Kindness Day 2027 is on Wednesday
Wednesday, February 17, 2027
February 17 every year. That's in 136 days.
until Random Acts of Kindness Day begins, in your time zone
Random Acts of Kindness Day encourages people to do something kind for someone else, whether a friend, coworker or stranger, without expecting anything in return. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation promotes it in the United States.
About Random Acts of Kindness Day
The day celebrates small, unplanned gestures: a sincere compliment, help with a neighbor's errand, a thank-you note or covering a stranger's coffee. Schools, workplaces and community groups often use it for kindness challenges, and the idea is that one good turn can prompt others.
According to the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation, the movement started in the San Francisco Bay Area. Berkeley writer Anne Herbert published the first known version of the "random acts of kindness" idea in CoEvolution Quarterly in 1982, and Conari Press's 1993 book Random Acts of Kindness helped spread it. The first national Random Acts of Kindness Day took place in February 1995, with participants across the country. The foundation was set up in the Bay Area that year to organize future observances, and it was later bought by a private foundation and moved to Denver, Colorado, where it is based today.
The foundation now holds Random Acts of Kindness Day on February 17, with a week of kindness activities in mid-February around it. Other places have their own versions; New Zealand, for example, marks a Random Acts of Kindness Day on September 1. World Kindness Day on November 13 is a separate observance.
Sources: Random Acts of Kindness Foundation: The history of Random Acts of Kindness Day, Scoop (New Zealand): A little kindness is contagious. How we check dates.
How to mark Random Acts of Kindness Day
- Leave a thank-you note for a mail carrier, custodian or other worker you see often.
- Pay for the next person's coffee or bus fare.
- Text an old friend or relative to tell them what they mean to you.
- Donate unused clothes, books or canned food to a local charity.
- Spend an hour helping a neighbor with shopping, shoveling or yard work.
- Write a specific, honest compliment for a coworker or a positive review for a small local business.
Random Acts of Kindness Day dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Monday, February 17, 2025 |
| 2026 | Tuesday, February 17, 2026 |
| 2027 | Wednesday, February 17, 2027 |
| 2028 | Thursday, February 17, 2028 |
| 2029 | Saturday, February 17, 2029 |
| 2030 | Sunday, February 17, 2030 |
| 2031 | Monday, February 17, 2031 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is Random Acts of Kindness Day 2027?
Random Acts of Kindness Day 2027 is on Wednesday, February 17, 2027. It falls on February 17 every year. In 2028, it is on Thursday, February 17, 2028.
Is Random Acts of Kindness Day the same as World Kindness Day?
No. Random Acts of Kindness Day, on February 17, is promoted by the US-based Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. World Kindness Day, on November 13, was started by the World Kindness Movement.
Is there a Random Acts of Kindness Week?
Yes. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation promotes a week of kindness activities in mid-February that includes February 17.
Is Random Acts of Kindness Day a public holiday?
No. Random Acts of Kindness Day is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.