When is April Fools' Day?

Upcoming dates

• 2027Thu, April 1
• 2028Sat, April 1
• 2029Sun, April 1
• 2030Mon, April 1

When is April Fools' Day?

April Fools' Day always falls on April 1, a fixed calendar date, so the weekday changes from year to year. In some places the tradition is said to end at noon, after which any further pranks are considered bad luck.

It is not a public holiday, so offices, schools, and businesses stay open. It is a light custom of jokes and pranks rather than an official day off.

The uncertain origins

The exact origins of April Fools' Day are uncertain, and historians have proposed several theories without firm agreement. One idea links it to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, when those who kept celebrating the new year around late March were mocked as fools.

Other explanations point to older springtime festivals of merriment and mischief. Because clear early records are lacking, the true beginning of the custom remains unknown.

How April Fools' Day is celebrated

People play harmless pranks on one another, from simple tricks at home to elaborate setups among friends and coworkers. The person fooled is traditionally called an 'April fool.'

Newspapers, brands, and media outlets often join in with fake stories and spoof announcements. One famous example is the BBC's 1957 broadcast about a Swiss 'spaghetti harvest,' which fooled many viewers who did not realize pasta does not grow on trees.

Frequently asked questions

When is April Fools' Day?

April Fools' Day is on April 1, 2027.

What day of the week is April Fools' Day?

This year, April Fools' Day falls on a Thursday.

How many days until April Fools' Day?

210 days.