When is Father’s Day 2026 – and how did the tradition start?

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleFather's Day originated in the United States in the early 20th century (Getty)Father's Day, which takes place on Sunday 21 June this year, originated in the United States in the early 20th century, inspired by Mother's Day, with its first observance in West Virginia in 1908. It gained formal recognition in the US when President Lyndon B Johnson designated the third Sunday in June in 1966, and was made a permanent national holiday by President Richard Nixon in 1972. In the UK, Father's Day is not a public holiday but is celebrated on the third Sunday of June, having entered British popular culture “sometime after the Second World War”, according to Steve Roud, author of The English Year. The annual event serves to celebrate fatherhood and father figures, often marked by cards, presents, or family outings. While the majority of countries celebrate Father's Day on the third Sunday of June, many nations observe it on different dates throughout the year. In fullFather’s Day 2026: When did the tradition start and why?Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

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