GIS Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
The official GIS Day site lists 18 November 2026, and Esri’s GIS history identifies the first formal GIS Day in 1999 and the recurring third-Wednesday-in-November rule. Public guidance keeps mapping examples privacy- and security-conscious.
About GIS Day
GIS Day is a global celebration of geographic information systems, observed on the third Wednesday in November. In 2026, GIS Day is November 18.
The day focuses on sharing, teaching and learning how GIS can help people understand places, patterns and problems.
Why GIS Day matters
GIS combines location-based data with analysis and mapping. GIS Day gives schools, organizations and communities a reason to explain how that work is used.
Useful mapping also requires judgment about privacy and security. A public map should not expose sensitive precise locations, personal tracking information, vulnerable people or critical infrastructure details without a legitimate reason and appropriate safeguards.
History of GIS Day
Esri’s GIS history identifies 1999 as the first formal GIS Day, celebrated by Jack Dangermond, Dr. Roger Tomlinson and students at Murch Elementary School in Washington, D.C.
The same history says Jack Dangermond credits Ralph Nader with inspiring GIS Day and identifies the continuing recurrence as the third Wednesday in November during Geography Awareness Week.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Ralph Nader (credited by Jack Dangermond as the inspiration for GIS Day)
Esri’s GIS history states that Jack Dangermond credits Ralph Nader as the person who inspired GIS Day.
First documented observance
Esri’s history labels 1999 as the first GIS Day and describes the Murch Elementary School celebration.
Esri / GIS Day
The current GIS Day site is maintained as an Esri-supported global GIS Day resource and publishes the 2026 date and participation resources.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
5 fields not established in reviewed sources
Also known as
Geographic Information Systems Day
How to Observe GIS Day
Attend or host an educational GIS Day event using the current official resources.
Create a simple map or spatial story using non-sensitive data and explain the source and limitations of the information.
Before publishing a map, remove or generalize personal locations, vulnerable-site details and information that could create a security risk.
Use authoritative emergency, navigation, cadastral or legal-boundary sources when decisions depend on them; a classroom or community map is not automatically an official operational product.
GIS Day Facts
GIS Day is observed on the third Wednesday in November.
The official GIS Day site lists November 18 for 2026.
Esri identifies 1999 as the first formal GIS Day.
Esri says Jack Dangermond credits Ralph Nader as the person who inspired GIS Day.
GIS Day Messages
Happy GIS Day to everyone using geography and data to understand the world more clearly.
Celebrating GIS Day with useful maps, careful data choices and respect for location privacy.
GIS Day is a chance to share how spatial thinking can support learning and problem-solving.
Here’s to maps and analysis that are clear, useful and mindful of privacy and security.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Confirm the date again before carrying it into a new year.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Esri — History of GIS (opens in a new tab)
First Party Professional History
GIS Day — official overview (opens in a new tab)
First Party Event
Esri Community — GIS Day 2026 (opens in a new tab)
First Party Professional
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is GIS Day?
18 November 2026 The documented recurrence rule is: Refresh the authoritative target-year edition/schedule; verified recurrence context: third Wednesday in November; current stored date: 18 November 2026.
Does GIS Day fall on the same date every year?
Not automatically. This date is specific to a particular edition and should be confirmed for another year.
Is GIS Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Global GIS community / Esri-supported GIS Day. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes GIS Day?
The documented basis is: The official GIS Day site lists 18 November 2026, and Esri’s GIS history identifies the first formal GIS Day in 1999 and the recurring third-Wednesday-in-November rule. Public guidance keeps mapping examples privacy- and security-conscious.. Supporting evidence includes GIS Day — official overview. The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.
Is GIS Day international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: Global GIS community / Esri-supported GIS Day. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-04.
When is GIS Day?
It is observed on the third Wednesday in November. In 2026, that date is November 18.
What does GIS stand for?
GIS commonly stands for geographic information systems.
When was the first formal GIS Day?
Esri’s GIS history identifies 1999 as the first formal GIS Day.
Who inspired GIS Day?
Esri says Jack Dangermond credits Ralph Nader with inspiring the observance; the first formal 1999 event involved Dangermond, Dr. Roger Tomlinson and students.
Is every GIS Day map safe to publish?
No. Maps can reveal sensitive locations or personal information, so privacy, security, data quality and the purpose of publication should be considered before sharing.
Other observances on November 18
These observances are also listed on November 18, 2026.
BOTOX® Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA) Day
AbbVie states that BOTOX® Cosmetic Day is held annually on the third Wednesday of November and identifies it as an Allergan Aesthetics/AbbVie brand observance.
International Day of Islamic Art
Proclaimed at UNESCO’s 40th General Conference (2019)
Mickey Mouse Birthday
Disney first-party sources treat November 18, 1928—the release/premiere date associated with Steamboat Willie—as Mickey Mouse’s birthday convention and continue to mark November 18.
Minnie Mouse Birthday
Disney first-party sources state that Minnie Mouse debuted alongside Mickey in Steamboat Willie on November 18, 1928 and treat November 18 as both characters’ birthday convention.
Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia (National Day)
Latvia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists 18 November as the Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia (National Day), and Latvia’s in-force law on holidays recognizes 18 November as Proclama…
World COPD Day
Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD)