World Vegan Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
The Vegan Society states that World Vegan Day takes place annually on 1 November and was created in 1994 for the Society’s 50th anniversary.
About World Vegan Day
World Vegan Day is observed on 1 November and was created in 1994 to mark the 50th anniversary of The Vegan Society.
The day begins World Vegan Month and is used by vegan communities to discuss veganism, animal use, food choices and the history of the movement.
Why World Vegan Day matters
The observance is rooted in The Vegan Society’s history, but individual reasons for following or not following a vegan diet can differ.
Food and nutrition guidance should remain practical and evidence-based; the observance itself does not prove that one diet is medically appropriate for every person.
History of World Vegan Day
The Vegan Society was founded in November 1944 and its founders coined the word “vegan.”
Louise Wallis, then President and Chair of The Vegan Society, created World Vegan Day in 1994 for the Society’s 50th anniversary.
The first World Vegan Day was held on 1 November 1994. The date was chosen because the Society was founded in November and the exact date of its founding meeting was not known.
The celebration later expanded into World Vegan Week and then World Vegan Month.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Louise Wallis
The Vegan Society identifies former President and Chair Louise Wallis as the creator of World Vegan Day in 1994.
The Vegan Society
The day was created within The Vegan Society for its 50th anniversary rather than by a government or intergovernmental body.
First documented observance
The Vegan Society states that the first World Vegan Day was held on 1 November 1994.
The Vegan Society
The Vegan Society continues to maintain World Vegan Day and World Vegan Month materials.
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.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe World Vegan Day
Learn about the history of The Vegan Society and the origin of the word “vegan.”
Try a balanced vegan meal using ordinary foods you enjoy rather than treating the day as a medical challenge.
If making a major dietary change, use reputable nutrition guidance and seek qualified advice where individual health needs make that appropriate.
Discuss animal ethics, food systems or plant-based cooking respectfully without pressuring others.
World Vegan Day Facts
World Vegan Day is observed on November 1.
Louise Wallis created the day in 1994.
The first World Vegan Day marked The Vegan Society’s 50th anniversary.
November was chosen because The Vegan Society was founded in November 1944; the exact date of the founding meeting was not known.
World Vegan Day later expanded into World Vegan Month.
World Vegan Day Messages
Celebrate World Vegan Day with curiosity about the history, ethics and practical realities of vegan living.
May World Vegan Day encourage informed choices and constructive discussion throughout World Vegan Month.
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.
The Vegan Society — Ripened by Human Determination (opens in a new tab)
The Vegan Society — World Vegan Day: 1 November (opens in a new tab)
The Vegan Society — World Vegan Month (opens in a new tab)
The Vegan Society — World Vegan Day (opens in a new tab)
Founding 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 World Vegan Day?
1 November annually The documented recurrence rule is: 1 November.
Does World Vegan Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is World Vegan Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: The Vegan Society / global movement observance. 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 World Vegan Day?
The reviewed sources identify The Vegan Society as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Louise Wallis. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as The Vegan Society.
Is World Vegan Day international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: The Vegan Society / global movement observance. 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 2026-09-08.
When is World Vegan Day?
It is observed on November 1 each year.
Who created World Vegan Day?
Louise Wallis, then President and Chair of The Vegan Society, created it in 1994.
Why is it on November 1?
It was created for The Vegan Society’s 50th anniversary. November was chosen because the Society was founded in November 1944 and the exact date of the founding meeting was not known.
Is World Vegan Day medical advice to change diets?
No. It is an observance. Anyone considering a major dietary change should use reliable nutrition information and consider individual health needs.
Other observances on November 1
These observances are also listed on November 1, 2026.
Antigua and Barbuda Independence Day
The Organization of American States’ current country page lists Antigua and Barbuda National Independence Day as 1 November.
David Hamilton Jackson (Liberty) Day
The U.S. Virgin Islands Governor has proclaimed 1 November as David Hamilton Jackson (Liberty) Day; current government proclamations continue to identify the observance on 1 November.
Haryana Day
Haryana government sources identify 1 November with Haryana’s formation as a separate state in 1966 and commemorate Haryana Day.
International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day
National Day Archives records November 1 and credits Krista Olson with founding the observance in 2019; current pet-industry editorial references retain November 1 annually.
Kannada Rajyotsava Day / Karnataka Rajyotsava
Government of Karnataka sources identify November 1 as Kannada/Karnataka Rajyotsava and a government holiday; official tourism material distinguishes the 1956 Mysore-state reorganization fr…
Liberation Revolution Day / Revolution Day (Algeria)
Algerian government diplomatic sources list November 1 as Liberation Revolution Day, a national public holiday, and tie the date to the outbreak of the Revolution on 1 November 1954.