Fun Holidays and Appreciation Days to Celebrate This Year
From Teacher Appreciation Week 2027 and School Custodian Appreciation Day to fun holidays like National Rubber Ducky Day (yep, it's a thing), our free planning calendar includes all the special days to celebrate during the 2026-2027 school year.
Planning for the upcoming school year? We've got you covered with our free 2026-2027 school year calendar that includes national holidays, school staff appreciation days and fun national holidays to celebrate, like National Pretzel Day, National High Five Day, National Rubber Ducky Day, and Pi Day.
This 2026-2027 school year planning calendar is a great resource to share with anyone who helps plan fun things for the school community, from the PTO to the principal. Download your free printable calendar below!
(Looking for the 2025-2026 school year calendar? Download it here.)
School Staff Appreciation Days
Sept. 26, 2026 National PTO Appreciation Day
October: National Principals Month
Oct. 2, 2026 School Custodian Appreciation Day (get free “Thanks for making our school sparkle. We’d be a mess without you!” treat tags)
Oct. 5, 2026 World Teachers Day
Nov. 1-7, 2026 National School Psychology Week
Nov. 18, 2026 Education Support Professionals Day
Nov. 20, 2026 Substitute Educators Day
January: School Board Recognition Month
Jan. 9, 2027 Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
Feb. 1-5, 2027 School Counselor Appreciation Week
Feb. 15, 2027 School Resource Officer Appreciation Day (note: some schools will celebrate their resource officers on Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, which is held annually on January 9.)
March 7-13, 2027 National School Social Work Week
April 4, 2027 School Librarian Appreciation Day 🎉 Get School Librarian Appreciation Day gift tags in our FREE school staff appreciation bundle
April 4-10, 2027 National Assistant Principals Week
April 7, 2027 Paraprofessional Appreciation Day 🎉 Get Paraprofessional Appreciation Day gift tags in our FREE school staff appreciation bundle
April 18-24, 2027 National Public School Volunteer Week
April 21, 2027 Administrative Professionals Day
April 27, 2027 School Bus Driver Appreciation Day (get free "We “wheelie” appreciate you!" gift tags)
May 1, 2027 School Principal’s Day
May 3-7, 2027 Teacher Appreciation Week
May 7, 2027 School Lunch Hero Day
May 12, 2026 School Nurse Appreciation Day 🎉 Get School Nurse Appreciation Day gift tags in our FREE school staff appreciation bundle
May 18, 2027 Speech Pathologist Day
Fun National Holidays
Celebrating quirky national holidays, like National Pretzel Day and National Oreo Day, is a great way to boost morale at school by doing something fun (and unexpected) for teachers and students.
Aug. 4, 2026 National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day
Aug. 6, 2026 National Root Beer Float Day
Aug. 10, 2026 National S’mores Day
Aug. 20, 2026 National Lemonade Day
Aug. 24, 2026 National Waffle Day
Aug. 31, 2026 National Trail Mix Day (get free teacher appreciation trail mix bar sign)
Sept. 14, 2026 National Coloring Day
Sept. 16, 2026 National Play-Doh Day
Sept. 18, 2026 National Rice Krispie Treat Day
Sept. 20, 2026 National Queso Day
Sept. 29, 2026 National Coffee Day
Oct. 7, 2026 National Chocolate Covered Pretzel Day
Oct. 21, 2026 National Apple Day
Nov. 8, 2026 STEM Day
Nov. 13, 2026 World Kindness Day
Dec. 4, 2026 National Cookie Day
Dec. 16, 2028 National Chocolate Covered Anything Day
Dec. 18, 2026 National Ugly Sweater Day
Jan. 13, 2027 National Rubber Ducky Day
Fun idea: You've been "ducked"! Stock up on mini ducks (Amazon) for a fun "duck hunt" for students and staff.
Jan. 15, 2027 National Bagel Day
Jan. 19, 2027 National Popcorn Day (get free teacher appreciation popcorn bar sign and more)
Jan. 21, 2027 National Granola Bar Day
Jan. 23, 2027 National Handwriting Day
Jan. 23, 2027 National Pie Day
Jan. 25, 2027 National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day (teacher appreciation idea: gift strips of "stress reliever" bubble wrap to teachers)
Jan. 29, 2027 National Puzzle Day
Jan. 31, 2027 National Hot Chocolate Day
Feb. 6, 2027 Lunar New Year
Feb. 9, 2027 National Pizza Day (set up a pizza-themed teacher treat trolley)
Feb. 9, 2027 Mardi Gras
Feb. 14, 2027 Valentine's Day ("Stressed spelled backwards is desserts!")
Feb. 14-20, 2027 Random Acts of Kindness Week
Feb. 17, 2027 Random Acts of Kindness Day
Feb. 20, 2027 National Muffin Day
Feb. 25, 2027 National Bookmark Day
March 2, 2027 Read Across America Day (Dr. Seuss' birthday)
March 2-6, 2027 Read Across America Week
March 4, 2027 National Snack Day
March 6, 2027 National Oreo Day
March 7, 2027 National Cereal Day
March 14, 2027 National Potato Chip Day
March 17, 2027 St. Patrick’s Day
March 19, 2027 National Let's Laugh Day
March 20, 2027 First Day of Spring
March 23, 2027 National Chip and Dip Day
March 30, 2027 National Pencil Day
April 1, 2027 April Fool's Day
April 12, 2027 National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
April 12, 2027 National Licorice Day
April 15, 2027 National High Five Day
April 20, 2027 National Banana Day
April 21, 2027 National Tea Day
April 22, 2027 National Jelly Bean Day
April 22, 2027 Earth Day
April 26, 2027 National Pretzel Day
April 27, 2027 National Gummy Bear Day
April 30, 2027 National Oatmeal Cookie Day
May 4, 2027 Star Wars Day (get free "May the fourth be with you" Teacher Appreciation Week bundle)
May 5, 2027 Cinco de May
May 13, 2027 National Apple Pie Day
June 1, 2027 Say Something Nice Day
June 4, 2027 National Cheese Day
June 4, 2027 National Donut Day
June 23, 2027 National Hydration Day Day (get free hydration station teacher appreciation recipes and printables)
The Ultimate PTO and PTA Planning Calendar for 2026-2027
Download our free 2026-2027 school year planning calendar (.pdf) - it includes all the national holidays and school appreciation days during the 2026-2027 school year, along with all the fun national holidays and treat days that are just plain fun to celebrate at school!
August 2026
Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
Immunization Awareness Month
August 3, 2026 Friendship Day
August 4, 2026 National Chocolate Chip Day
August 6, 2026 National Root Beer Float Day
August 10, 2026 National S'mores Day
August 12, 2026 International Youth Day
August 19, 2026 Aviation Day
August 24, 2026 National Waffle Day
August 26, 2026 Women’s Equality Day
August 31, 2026 National Trail Mix Day (get free teacher appreciation trail mix bar sign and more)
September 2026
Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
Hunger Action Month
Library Card Sign-up Month
Hispanic Heritage Month (9/15-10/15)
Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Month
September 7, 2026 Labor Day
September 8, 2026 International Literacy Day
September 11, 2026 9/11 Remembrance Day
September 11, 2026 First night of Rosh Hashanah (through Sept. 13)
September 13, 2026 Grandparents Day
September 13-19, 2026 Arts in Education Week
September 14, 2026 National Coloring Day
September 17, 2026 Constitution Day
September 17, 2026 School Backpack Awareness Day
September 18, 2026 National Rice Krispie Treat Day
September 20, 2026 National Queso Day
September 20, 2026 First Night of Yom Kippur (through Sept. 21)
September 21, 2026 International Day of Peace
September 22, 2026 First Day of Autumn
September 26, 2026 National PTO Appreciation Day
September 26, 2026 Johnny Appleseed Day
September 29, 2026 National Coffee Day
October 2026
National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month
Cybersecurity Awareness Month
National Principals Month
ADHD Awareness Month
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
Dyslexia Awareness Month
Halloween Safety Month
LGBTQ+ History Month
National Book Month
Physical Therapy Month
World Blindness Awareness Month
TeenTober
October 2, 2026 School Custodian Appreciation Day (get free “Thanks for making our school sparkle. We’d be a mess without you!” treat tags)
October 4-10, 2026 Banned Books Week
October 5, 2026 World Teachers Day
October 6, 2026 Child Health Day
October 7, 2026 Walk & Roll to School Day
October 7, 2026 National Chocolate Covered Pretzel Day
October 12, 2026 Indigenous Peoples Day (Columbus Day)
October 15, 2026 Global Handwashing Day
October 18-24, 2026 Digital Citizenship Week
October 18-24, 2026 America’s Safe Schools Week
October 18-24, 2026 School Bus Safety Week
October 21, 2026 National Apple Day
October 23-31, 2026 Red Ribbon Week
October 31, 2026 Halloween
November 2026
Aviation History Month
Family Literacy Month
Native American Heritage Month (American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month)
International Games Month
Military Family Appreciation Month
November 1, 2026 All Saints’ Day
November 1-7, 2026 National School Psychology Week
November 2, 2026 Día de los Muertos
November 3, 2026 Election Day
November 8, 2026 National STEM/STEAM Day
November 9-15, 2026 Children’s Book Week
November 11, 2026 Veterans Day
November 13, 2026 World Kindness Day
November 15, 2026 America Recycles Day
November 15, 2026 I Love To Write Day
November 15-21, 2026 Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
November 16-20, 2026 American Education Week
November 18, 2026 Education Support Professionals Day
November 19, 2026 Parent Involvement Day
November 20, 2026 Substitute Educators Day
November 26, 2026 Thanksgiving Day
December 2026
Learn a Foreign Language Month
Safe Toys and Gifts Month
December 1, 2026 World AIDS Day
December 1-7, 2026 Handwashing Awareness Week
December 2, 2026 Special Education Day
December 4, 2026 National Cookie Day
December 5, 2026 First Night of Hanukkah (through December 12, 2026)
December 7, 2026 Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
December 10, 2026 Human Rights Day
December 15, 2025 Bill of Rights Day
December 16, 2026 National Chocolate Covered Everything Day
December 17, 2026 Wright Brothers Day
December 18, 2026 National Ugly Sweater Day
December 21, 2026 First Day of Winter
December 25, 2026 Christmas Day
December 26, 2026 First Day of Kwanzaa (through January 1, 2027)
December 31, 2026 New Year’s Eve
January 2027
100th Day of School (varies by district)
Get Organized Month
National Mentoring Month
Poverty In America Awareness Month
School Board Recognition Month
January 1, 2027 New Year’s Day
January 9, 2027 Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
January 13, 2027 National Rubber Ducky Day
January 15, 2027 National Bagel Day
January 17, 2027 Benjamin Franklin’s Birthday
January 18, 2027 Martin Luther King Jr. Day
January 19, 2027 National Popcorn Day
January 20, 2027 National Cheese Lovers Day
January 21, 2027 National Granola Bar Day
January 21, 2027 National Hugging Day
January 23, 2027 National Handwriting Day
January 23, 2027 National Pie Day
January 25, 2027 National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
January 28, 2027 Christa McAuliffe Day
January 31, 2027 National Hot Chocolate Day
January 31-February 2, 2027 Catholic Schools Week
February 2027
100th Day of School (varies by district)
Love the Bus Month
Black History Month
American Heart Month
Children’s Dental Health Month
February 1, 2027 Freedom Day
February 1-5, 2027 School Counselor Appreciation Week
February 2, 2027 Groundhog Day
February 5, 2027 World Nutella Day
February 6, 2027 Lunar New Year
February 8, 2027 First night of Ramadan (ends March 8, 2027)
February 9, 2027 National Pizza Day (set up a pizza-themed teacher treat trolley)
February 9, 2027 Safer Internet Day
February 9, 2027 Mardi Gras
February 12, 2027 Lincoln’s Birthday
February 14, 2027 Super Bowl Sunday
February 14, 2026 Valentine’s Day
February 14-20, 2027 Random Acts of Kindness Week
February 15, 2027 School Resource Officer Appreciation Day
February 15, 2027 Susan B. Anthony Day
February 15, 2027 Presidents’ Day
February 17, 2027 Random Acts of Kindness Day
February 20, 2027 National Muffin Day
February 20, 2027 Love Your Pet Day
February 25, 2027 National Bookmark Day
March 2027
March is full of days that are fun to celebrate at school! Check out what PTO and PTA groups are planning in March
National Reading Month
American Red Cross Month
Music in Our Schools Month
Nutrition Month
Women’s History Month
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
March 2, 2027 Read Across America Day (Dr. Seuss' birthday)
March 2-6, 2027 Read Across America Week
March 4, 2027 National Snack Day
March 6, 2027 National Oreo Day
March 7, 2027 National Cereal Day
March 7-13, 2027 National School Social Work Week
March 11, 2027 Johnny Appleseed Day
March 14, 2027 National Potato Chip Day
March 14, 2027 Daylight Saving Time Begins
March 17, 2027 St. Patrick’s Day
March 19, 2027 National Let's Laugh Day
March 20, 2027 First Day of Spring
March 21, 2027 World Down Syndrome Day
March 23, 2027 World Water Day
March 23, 2027 National Chip and Dip Day
March 30, 2027 National Pencil Day
April 2027
Autism Acceptance Month
Financial Literacy Month
Occupational Therapy Month
Month of the Military Child
Poetry Month
School Library Month
Youth Sports Safety Month
Arab American Heritage Month
Deaf History Month
National Grilled Cheese Month
National Soft Pretzel Month
Garden Month
Kite Month
April 1, 2027 April Fool’s Day
April 2, 2027 World Autism Awareness Day
April 4, 2027 School Librarian Appreciation Day
April 4-10, 2027 National Assistant Principals Week
April 7, 2027 Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
April 7, 2027 World Health Day
April 11-17, 2027 National Library Week
April 12, 2027 Drop Everything and Read Day
April 12, 2027 National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day
April 12, 2027 National Licorice Day
April 15, 2027 National High Five Day
April 18-24, 2027 National Public School Volunteer Week
April 20, 2027 National Banana Day
April 21, 2027 National Tea Day
April 21, 2027 Administrative Professionals Day
April 22, 2027 National Jelly Bean Day
April 22, 2027 Earth Day
April 22, 2027 First Night of Passover (through April 29, 2027)
April 22, 2027 Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day
April 26, 2027 National Pretzel Day
April 27, 2027 National Gummy Bear Day
April 27, 2027 School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
April 28, 2027 Easter
April 28, 2027 Pay It Forward Day
April 30, 2027 Arbor Day
April 30, 2027 Día de los ninos (Children’s Day/Book Day)
April 30, 2027 National Oatmeal Cookie Day
May 2027
Speech Language & Hearing Month
Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month
National Military Appreciation Month
Healthy Vision Month
Inventors Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
Physical Fitness and Sports Month
May 1, 2027 May Day
May 1, 2027 School Principal’s Day
May 3-7, 2027 Teacher Appreciation Week
May 4, 2027 Teacher Appreciation Day
May 4, 2027 Horace Mann’s Birthday
May 4, 2027 Star Wars Day ("May the fourth be with you")
May 5, 2027Cinco de Mayo (Anniversary of the Battle of Puebla)
May 5, 2027 Bike & Roll to School Day
May 7, 2027 School Lunch Hero Day
May 9, 2027 Mother’s Day
May 12, 2027 School Nurse Appreciation Day
May 13, 2027 National Apple Pie Day
May 15, 2027 Armed Forces Day
May 18, 2027 Speech Pathologist Day
May 31, 2027 Memorial Day
June 2027
Great Outdoors Month
Internet Safety Month
Pride Month
June 1, 2027 Say Something Nice Day
June 4, 2027 National Donut Day
June 4, 2027 National Cheese Day
June 5, 2027 World Environment Day
June 8, 2027 World Ocean Day
June 14, 2027 Flag Day
June 19, 2027 Juneteenth
June 20, 2027 Father’s Day
June 21, 2027 First Day of Summer (get our “We know you’re pooped. Only a few more weeks of school!” sign; just add poop emoji cupcakes!)
June 23, 2027 National Hydration Day
The entire 2026-2027 school year planning calendar is available to download as a handy printable (.pdf). Download yours below!
Get even more ideas for the coming school year
