International Virtual Assistants Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
The original 2006 announcement and later OIVAC materials describe International Virtual Assistants Day as the third Friday of May each year.
About International Virtual Assistants Day
International Virtual Assistants Day recognizes virtual assistants and other remote support professionals on the third Friday in May.
The observance is tied to the virtual-assistant professional community and the Online International Virtual Assistants Convention rather than to a government holiday calendar.
Why International Virtual Assistants Day matters
The day is intended to recognize the work, professionalism and contribution of virtual assistants who support clients and organizations remotely.
It also gives the profession a shared date for peer recognition, education and awareness of virtual-assistant services.
History of International Virtual Assistants Day
A contemporaneous announcement states that the Alliance for Virtual Businesses proposed International Virtual Assistants Day and that the first celebration was held on 19 May 2006.
That 2006 announcement says the observance was registered for inclusion in Chase’s Calendar of Events and would recur on the third Friday in May.
Current OIVAC material continues to identify the third Friday in May, credits the Alliance for Virtual Businesses as the originator/sponsor and connects celebrations with the Online International Virtual Assistants Convention.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Alliance for Virtual Businesses (A4VB)
The contemporaneous 2006 announcement states that International Virtual Assistants Day was proposed by the Alliance for Virtual Businesses.
Alliance for Virtual Businesses (A4VB)
The same launch announcement identifies A4VB as the proposing professional organization, and current OIVAC material credits the Alliance as originator/sponsor.
First documented observance
A contemporaneous May 2006 announcement explicitly calls May 19, 2006 the inaugural International Virtual Assistants Day.
Online International Virtual Assistants Convention (OIVAC)
Current OIVAC material describes OIVAC as a sponsor of International Virtual Assistants Day and states that celebrations are held during the convention.
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
International Virtual Assistant Day
How to Observe International Virtual Assistants Day
Thank a virtual assistant for specific work that made a project, team or business run better.
If you work as a virtual assistant, use the day to review your portfolio, professional systems or continuing-education goals.
Share practical information about what virtual assistants do without overstating the observance as an official public holiday.
Professional groups can use the date for peer networking, skills sessions or recognition.
International Virtual Assistants Day Facts
The first documented IVAD celebration in the reviewed sources was 19 May 2006.
The Alliance for Virtual Businesses was identified as the proposer of the observance.
The recurring rule is the third Friday in May.
OIVAC continues to publish International Virtual Assistants Day material.
International Virtual Assistants Day Messages
Thank you to the virtual assistants whose behind-the-scenes work keeps projects moving.
Celebrate the third Friday in May by acknowledging the people who make remote collaboration work.
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.
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.
OIVAC — 2024 conference/about materials (opens in a new tab)
Organizer
PR.com — inaugural International Virtual Assistants Day announcement (opens in a new tab)
Original Announcement
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 International Virtual Assistants Day?
Third Friday of May (15 May in 2026) The documented recurrence rule is: Third Friday in May.
Does International Virtual Assistants Day fall on the same date every year?
It follows a recurring calendar rule, so the Gregorian date can change from year to year.
Is International Virtual Assistants Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: International / virtual-assistant professional recognition associated with OIVAC. 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 International Virtual Assistants Day?
The reviewed sources identify Alliance for Virtual Businesses (A4VB) as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as Online International Virtual Assistants Convention (OIVAC).
Is International Virtual Assistants Day international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: International / virtual-assistant professional recognition associated with OIVAC. 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 2026-09-09.
When is International Virtual Assistants Day?
It is observed on the third Friday in May each year.
When was the first International Virtual Assistants Day?
The contemporaneous launch announcement identifies 19 May 2006 as the inaugural celebration.
Who proposed the day?
The reviewed 2006 announcement says the Alliance for Virtual Businesses proposed International Virtual Assistants Day.
Is there a verified reason the third Friday was chosen?
The annual rule is documented, but the reviewed sources do not establish a specific reason for choosing that weekday pattern.
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