Observances & special days · in 305 days
When is April Fools' Day?
April Fools' Day 2027 is on Thursday, April 1, 2027.
April Fools' Day 2027 falls on Thursday, April 1, 2027.
A day for harmless pranks and hoaxes. Brands and media often join in with playful fake announcements.
In 2026, it falls in ISO week 14. Need the full year's calendar? See all 2026 weeks, or browse every other date.
At a glance
The history of April Fools' Day
The origin is unclear. One theory points to the 1582 French shift from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar, which moved New Year's from late March to January 1; those who clung to the old date were mocked as "April fools". Pranks on April 1 are documented in European literature from the late Middle Ages onwards. The BBC's 1957 spaghetti-tree hoax and Google's many April Fools' jokes are some of the best-known modern examples.
How April Fools' Day is celebrated
Friends prank each other with mock announcements, fake news, harmless tricks at school or work. Major brands publish fake products. The Scottish tradition uses "Hunt the Gowk" pranks; in France, kids stick paper fish on each other's backs ("poisson d'avril").
Did you know?
In France the tradition is "poisson d'avril" (April fish), and the prank is a paper fish on someone's back.
The BBC's 1957 spaghetti-harvest hoax convinced thousands of viewers spaghetti grew on trees.
Some media outlets formally pledge not to publish fake stories on April 1.
April Fools' Day in upcoming years
How the date is set
Always April 1.
Sources & further reading
For more detail on April Fools' Day, see these references.
Related dates
April Fools' Day: questions and answers
When is April Fools' Day 2027?
April Fools' Day 2027 falls on Thursday, April 1, 2027.
What day of the week is April Fools' Day this year?
In 2026, April Fools' Day is a Wednesday, April 1.
How is the date of April Fools' Day determined?
Always April 1.