International Friendship Day, officially the International Day of Friendship, is celebrated on July 30, and the next one is on Friday, July 30, 2027. The United Nations set it aside to recognize friendship between people, countries and cultures as a source of peace, and as a simple everyday way to bridge differences.
A day with two dates
If you have seen Friendship Day on more than one date, you are not imagining it. The UN date is fixed at July 30. In the United States, India and several other countries, many people celebrate Friendship Day on the first Sunday of August instead, a custom that took root through greeting cards and social media. Both are fine; this countdown tracks the international date, July 30.
The difference matters if you are posting a greeting or planning a get-together with friends abroad: friends in Latin America, for example, may celebrate on yet another date, since Argentina and several neighbors mark Friend’s Day on July 20. When in doubt, a message on either date is always welcome.
How the day began
The idea of a World Friendship Day was promoted by the World Friendship Crusade, a civic movement founded in Paraguay in 1958 by Dr. Ramón Artemio Bracho, which marked July 30 as a day of friendship. Decades later, in 2011, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming July 30 as the International Day of Friendship.
The UN resolution links the day to its wider work on a culture of peace and encourages governments, schools and community groups to hold events that promote dialogue and understanding between people of different backgrounds.
Ideas to celebrate with friends
- Reconnect with one old friend: a long voice note or handwritten letter beats a quick emoji.
- Plan a low-key summer get-together, such as a picnic, a hike or a board-game night.
- Swap books or playlists and talk about them the following week.
- Make a photo collage or shared album of moments from your years together.
- Volunteer together; shared projects deepen friendships.
For schools, camps and workplaces
Because July 30 falls during summer break in the US, it is a natural fit for summer camps and youth programs. Pen-pal exchanges with a group in another country, friendship-bracelet workshops and “get to know you” games all fit the day’s spirit. At work, a cross-team lunch or a peer-recognition board helps colleagues get to know people outside their usual circle.
Make your own friendship countdown
Planning a reunion or a trip with friends? Alongside this countdown, you can create your own countdown to any date and share the link with the group, so nobody forgets the day you are all waiting for. With 275 days to go until the international date, there is plenty of time to plan.
Related days
If you enjoy days that celebrate connection, the International Day of Happiness on March 20 and World Kindness Day on November 13 make good companions.