Macintosh launch anniversary2026 · Date · History
The Computer History Museum records that Apple released the Macintosh on 24 January 1984.
About Macintosh launch anniversary
January 24 marks the anniversary of the original Apple Macintosh launch in 1984.
“Macintosh Computer Day” is treated here as a calendar label for that historical anniversary rather than as a formally established public observance.
Why Macintosh launch anniversary matters
The date remembers a major personal-computing product launch and the Macintosh’s place in graphical-user-interface history.
Historical significance does not by itself create an official annual holiday or observance.
History of Macintosh launch anniversary
Computer History Museum records January 24, 1984 as the date Apple unveiled/released the Macintosh.
The launch followed Apple’s “1984” television commercial during Super Bowl XVIII two days earlier.
Computer History Museum describes the Macintosh as bringing graphical computing to a wider consumer audience.
The reviewed institutional sources support the launch anniversary but do not establish a formal “Macintosh Computer Day” creation instrument, founder or first annual observance.
Accordingly, the guide keeps January 24 as a historical anniversary rather than inventing official observance status.
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.
8 fields not established in reviewed sources
Also known as
Macintosh Computer Day, Macintosh launch anniversary
How to Observe Macintosh launch anniversary
Use January 24 for the original Macintosh launch anniversary.
Describe January 24, 1984 as the historical product-release anchor.
Do not attribute an observance founder, proclamation or first annual edition without evidence.
Avoid calling “Macintosh Computer Day” an official public holiday.
Macintosh launch anniversary Facts
The original Macintosh was released on January 24, 1984.
Computer History Museum documents the launch date.
The “1984” commercial aired during the Super Bowl shortly before launch.
No formal recurring “Macintosh Computer Day” establishing instrument is identified in the reviewed institutional sources.
The page is therefore framed as a launch anniversary.
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.
Computer History Museum — 1984 Timeline (opens in a new tab)
Computer History Museum — Apple Timeline (opens in a new tab)
Museum History
Computer History Museum — January 24: Apple Macintosh is released (opens in a new tab)
Museum 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 Macintosh launch anniversary?
24 January The documented recurrence rule is: 24 January.
Does Macintosh launch anniversary fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is Macintosh launch anniversary an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Technology-history anniversary / original Macintosh release. 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 Macintosh launch anniversary?
The documented basis is: The Computer History Museum records that Apple released the Macintosh on 24 January 1984.. Supporting evidence includes Computer History Museum — January 24: Apple Macintosh is released. The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.
Is Macintosh launch anniversary international or country-specific?
No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: Technology-history anniversary / original Macintosh release. 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 2026-09-09.
What happened on January 24, 1984?
Apple released the original Macintosh computer.
Is Macintosh Computer Day an official holiday?
No official public-holiday or formal observance status is established in the reviewed institutional sources; the date is presented as the Macintosh launch anniversary.
Why January 24?
Computer History Museum records January 24, 1984 as the original Macintosh release date.
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International Day of Education
A/RES/73/25