Great American Smokeout®2026 · Date · History · Messages
The American Cancer Society hosts the Great American Smokeout on the third Thursday in November. ACS history identifies 18 November 1976 as the first official Smokeout in California and says the Society took the event nationwide in 1977, following earlier local anti-smoking events in 1970 and 1974.
About Great American Smokeout®
The Great American Smokeout® is an American Cancer Society tobacco-cessation awareness event held on the third Thursday in November.
It is intended as an opportunity for people who smoke to consider or begin a quit plan and for communities and health organizations to support smoke-free goals.
Why Great American Smokeout® matters
The event is an awareness and support occasion, not a diagnosis or individualized treatment programme. Quitting tobacco can involve different needs, histories and forms of support.
Information about nicotine-replacement products, prescription medicines or treatment should come from current trusted health resources and qualified health professionals who can account for individual circumstances.
History of Great American Smokeout®
ACS says the idea grew from a 1970 event led by Arthur P. Mullaney in Randolph, Massachusetts, and a 1974 Don’t Smoke Day led by newspaper editor Lynn R. Smith in Minnesota.
On November 18, 1976, the California Division of the American Cancer Society held the first official Smokeout; ACS then took the event nationwide in 1977.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Randolph, Massachusetts one-day cigarette-abstinence fundraiser
ACS says the idea for the Great American Smokeout grew from Arthur P. Mullaney’s 1970 event asking people to give up cigarettes for a day and donate the saved money to a scholarship fund.
D-Day / Don’t Smoke Day in Minnesota
ACS says Lynn R. Smith spearheaded Minnesota’s first D-Day/Don’t Smoke Day in 1974 before the 1976 first official Smokeout.
California Division of the American Cancer Society
ACS identifies the California Division event on 18 November 1976 as the first official Smokeout.
First documented observance
ACS calls the California event on November 18, 1976 the first official Smokeout.
Expanded the Smokeout from the 1976 California event to a nationwide American Cancer Society event.
American Cancer Society · Nationwide rollout of the Great American Smokeout
American Cancer Society
ACS states that it hosts the Great American Smokeout and maintains current resources for the event.
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
Predecessor and precursor observances
Earlier or merged observances are kept separate from former names and later institutional actions.
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
How to Observe Great American Smokeout®
Read current American Cancer Society quitting resources and consider what kind of support would be useful to you.
If you want to quit, discuss treatment or medication questions with an appropriate health professional rather than relying on generic observance advice.
Support someone who is trying to quit without shaming, pressuring or disclosing their health information.
Share evidence-based tobacco information from current public-health sources rather than miracle-cure or guaranteed-success claims.
Great American Smokeout® Facts
The Great American Smokeout® is hosted by the American Cancer Society.
It is held on the third Thursday in November.
ACS identifies November 18, 1976 as the first official Smokeout in California.
ACS says it took the programme nationwide in 1977.
Earlier local anti-smoking events in 1970 and 1974 helped shape the idea.
Great American Smokeout® Messages
Great American Smokeout® is a reminder that support can matter when someone chooses to work toward a smoke-free life.
If today is part of your quit journey, use current evidence-based support and take it one step at a time.
Support people who are quitting tobacco with respect, patience and privacy.
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.
- Health Information Not Medical Advice.
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.
American Cancer Society — Great American Smokeout (opens in a new tab)
Official Health Organization Current
American Cancer Society — History of the Great American Smokeout (opens in a new tab)
Official Health Organization History
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 Great American Smokeout®?
Third Thursday in November each year The documented recurrence rule is: Third Thursday in November each year.
Does Great American Smokeout® fall on the same date every year?
It follows a recurring calendar rule, so the Gregorian date can change from year to year.
Is Great American Smokeout® an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: American Cancer Society / United States tobacco-cessation awareness. 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 Great American Smokeout®?
The reviewed sources identify California Division of the American Cancer Society as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as American Cancer Society.
Is Great American Smokeout® international or country-specific?
No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: American Cancer Society / United States tobacco-cessation awareness. Use that scope rather than assuming worldwide or country-specific status.
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 the Great American Smokeout?
It is held on the third Thursday in November each year.
Who runs the Great American Smokeout?
The American Cancer Society hosts the event.
When did it begin?
ACS identifies November 18, 1976 as the first official Smokeout in California and says the event went nationwide in 1977.
Is the Great American Smokeout medical treatment?
No. It is an awareness and support event. Individual treatment and medication decisions should be discussed with qualified health professionals using current guidance.
Should someone’s smoking or quitting status be shared publicly?
Not without their permission. Health and cessation information is personal, so respect privacy and let individuals decide what they want to disclose.
Other observances on November 19
These observances are also listed on November 19, 2026.
Día de la Puertorriqueñidad
Puerto Rico Law No. 91 of 1938, as amended, declares November 19 a holiday known as Día de la Puertorriqueñidad; current government calendar material also retains older discovery terminolog…
Garifuna Settlement Day
Belize Living Heritage/NICH documents Thomas Vincent Ramos’s 1941 founding role, 1943 regional recognition, 1977 nationwide extension/renaming and November 19 historical rationale.
International Men’s Day
The International Men’s Day organization states that the observance is marked each year on November 19 and confirms the 2026 edition and theme.
National Day
The Journal de Monaco explains that Prince Rainier III fixed 19 November as the Sovereign’s Feast from 1952 by Sovereign Ordinance no. 465 of 27 October 1951, choosing his enthronement day…
National Integration Day
Government of India Ministry of Home Affairs / Press Information Bureau
National Rural Health Day
NOSORH states that National Rural Health Day has been observed on the third Thursday of November since 2011.