National Take the Stairs Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
The American Lung Association describes National Take the Stairs Day as an annual observance on the second Wednesday of January.
About National Take the Stairs Day
National Take the Stairs Day is an annual U.S. activity-awareness observance held on the second Wednesday of January.
The American Lung Association uses the day to encourage stair climbing for people who can do so safely and to connect the activity with its Fight For Air Climb program and lung-health mission.
Why National Take the Stairs Day matters
The observance is a prompt to consider everyday movement, not a requirement to use stairs or a substitute for individualized health advice.
Elevators, ramps and other accessible routes remain appropriate choices whenever stairs are unsafe, inaccessible, uncomfortable or inconsistent with a person’s needs.
History of National Take the Stairs Day
American Lung Association materials document National Take the Stairs Day at least as early as January 2018 and describe it as an annual observance.
Current Lung Association material identifies the second Wednesday of January as the recurring date.
The organization commonly links the day with its Fight For Air Climb fundraising and awareness events, but the original creator and first observance are not established here.
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
How to Observe National Take the Stairs Day
Take the stairs for part of your routine if you can do so safely and comfortably.
Use handrails, suitable footwear and a pace appropriate to the setting; do not turn ordinary stairways into a race or obstruct other users.
Choose an elevator, ramp, level walk or another accessible activity when stairs are not suitable for you.
If you have been advised to limit exertion or have symptoms with activity, follow appropriate professional medical guidance rather than an observance-day challenge.
National Take the Stairs Day Facts
National Take the Stairs Day is observed on the second Wednesday of January.
The American Lung Association actively marks the day and connects it with lung-health awareness.
The Lung Association’s Fight For Air Climb program is a separate organized stair-climbing fundraiser associated with its mission.
The original creator and first National Take the Stairs Day are not established in the sources used for this guide.
National Take the Stairs Day Messages
Happy National Take the Stairs Day—choose a safe, accessible way to add a little movement to your day.
Here’s to steady steps, sensible pacing and an activity choice that works for you.
Wishing everyone marking National Take the Stairs Day a safe and comfortable climb—or an accessible alternative that fits just as well.
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.
American Lung Association — National Take the Stairs Day 2018 (opens in a new tab)
Health Organization
American Lung Association — National Take the Stairs Day 2020 (opens in a new tab)
American Lung Association — National Take the Stairs Day 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Health Organization
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 National Take the Stairs Day?
Second Wednesday in January The documented recurrence rule is: Second Wednesday in January.
Does National Take the Stairs 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 National Take the Stairs Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United States / lung-health and activity 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 National Take the Stairs Day?
The documented basis is: The American Lung Association describes National Take the Stairs Day as an annual observance on the second Wednesday of January.. Supporting evidence includes American Lung Association — National Take the Stairs Day 2025. The site does not infer a separate creator or founder unless reviewed evidence establishes one.
Is National Take the Stairs Day international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to United States. Its fuller verified scope is: United States / lung-health and activity awareness.
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 2026-09-19.
When is National Take the Stairs Day?
It is observed on the second Wednesday of January.
Who currently marks National Take the Stairs Day?
The American Lung Association actively promotes the observance and uses it in connection with lung-health awareness and Fight For Air Climb events.
Who created National Take the Stairs Day?
The original creator is not established in the authoritative material used for this guide.
Do I have to take the stairs to participate?
No. Accessibility and safety come first; another suitable form of movement or simply learning about lung-health programs is a valid alternative.
Other observances on January 13
These observances are also listed on January 13, 2027.
Korean American Day
Current congressional materials support January 13 as Korean American Day and connect it with the first Korean immigrants’ arrival in 1903 and Korean American contributions
National Sticker Day
StickerGiant identifies National Sticker Day on 13 January and states that it created the day in 2016.
Stephen Foster Memorial Day
36 U.S.C. §140 authorizes annual presidential designation of January 13 as Stephen Foster Memorial Day. President Truman’s Proclamation 2957, issued December 13, 1951, designated January 13…