Random Acts of Kindness Day®2026 · Date · History · Messages
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation identifies Random Acts of Kindness Day® as 17 February and describes it as an internationally observed campaign.
About Random Acts of Kindness Day®
Random Acts of Kindness Day® is observed on February 17 and encourages people to perform thoughtful acts for others without requiring a large gesture or expense.
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation (RAK) maintains the current international campaign and publishes participation resources for schools, workplaces, homes and communities.
Why Random Acts of Kindness Day® matters
The day emphasizes intentional kindness through practical actions such as helping, thanking, including, sharing or encouraging someone.
Kindness can support positive social connection, but observance-day messaging should not promise medical, psychological or wellbeing outcomes for any individual.
History of Random Acts of Kindness Day®
The foundation traces the broader phrase and movement to the San Francisco Bay Area, including Anne Herbert’s early-1980s writing and later community spread.
Its historical account says local Random Acts of Kindness Days began appearing in mid-1993 and that the first national Random Acts of Kindness Day took place in February 1995, with Conari Press funding and facilitating the kickoff year.
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation was created in 1995 to facilitate future celebrations and says it has marked Random Acts of Kindness Day and Week every year since then. Its current campaign date is February 17.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Local Random Acts of Kindness Days
Local kindness-day activities preceded the first national Random Acts of Kindness Day in February 1995.
First documented observance
The foundation’s history states that the first national Random Acts of Kindness Day took place in February 1995; it does not give the exact day of that first edition.
The foundation was created in 1995 to facilitate future Random Acts of Kindness celebrations and has continued annual Day and Week campaigns.
Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
The foundation currently maintains Random Acts of Kindness Day resources and identifies February 17 as the annual campaign date.
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.
7 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.
Also known as
National Random Acts of Kindness Day
How to Observe Random Acts of Kindness Day®
Do one useful, considerate thing for someone without expecting recognition in return.
Write a sincere thank-you note or message to someone whose effort you appreciate.
Choose an act of kindness that respects boundaries, privacy, accessibility and the recipient’s actual needs.
Use free foundation resources for a classroom, workplace or community kindness activity.
Random Acts of Kindness Day® Facts
Random Acts of Kindness Day® is currently observed on February 17.
The foundation’s history places the first national Random Acts of Kindness Day in February 1995.
Conari Press funded and facilitated the 1995 kickoff year according to the foundation’s historical account.
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation was created in 1995 to facilitate future celebrations.
The exact reason February 17 became the current date is not established in the foundation history used here.
Random Acts of Kindness Day® Messages
Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day® with generosity that respects people’s boundaries and actual needs.
Kindness can be practical: thank someone, include someone, help with a task or share encouragement.
May Random Acts of Kindness Day® inspire small actions that make communities more considerate and connected.
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.
Random Acts of Kindness Foundation — FAQ (opens in a new tab)
Random Acts of Kindness Foundation — Media Kit (opens in a new tab)
First Party Campaign
Random Acts of Kindness Foundation — The History of Random Acts of Kindness Day (opens in a new tab)
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 Random Acts of Kindness Day®?
17 February The documented recurrence rule is: 17 February.
Does Random Acts of Kindness Day® fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is Random Acts of Kindness Day® an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Random Acts of Kindness Foundation / international campaign. 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 Random Acts of Kindness Day®?
The documented basis is: The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation identifies Random Acts of Kindness Day® as 17 February and describes it as an internationally observed campaign.. Supporting evidence includes Random Acts of Kindness Foundation — Media Kit. The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.
Is Random Acts of Kindness Day® international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: Random Acts of Kindness Foundation / international campaign. 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 Random Acts of Kindness Day®?
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation currently observes it on February 17.
When did the national observance begin?
The foundation’s history says the first national Random Acts of Kindness Day took place in February 1995.
Who created Random Acts of Kindness Day?
The history is broader than a single founder: grassroots kindness activity developed over time, Conari Press facilitated the 1995 national kickoff, and the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation was created that year to support future celebrations.
How can I take part?
Choose a considerate action that is useful to another person or community and respects their needs, boundaries and privacy.
Other observances on February 17
These observances are also listed on February 17, 2027.
17 February Revolution anniversary
Libyan News Agency reporting of Government of National Unity 2026 official commemoration programme
February 17 Revolution anniversary
Libyan government sources identify February 17 as the anniversary of the February 17 Revolution and list it as an official holiday/commemoration.
Global Tourism Resilience Day
A/RES/77/269
Independence Day
Kosovo’s 2008 Law No. 03/L-064 expressly designates February 17 as Independence Day and a paid official holiday under its legal framework; the 17 February 2008 declaration supplies the hist…
National Public Science Day
A 2000 NCAR/UCAR release says National Public Science Day was sponsored by AAAS and celebrated on February 17; current observance references continue to use February 17 annually.
National Tennis Pro Day
National Day Archives gives February 17 and identifies Maria Oddy as the creator in 2020, with the inaugural observance described for 2021.