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National High Five Day2026 Countdown
Thursday, April 16, 2026
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About National High Five Day
National High Five Day lands on the third Thursday of April and turns the simplest gesture in sports into a full-day celebration of encouragement. A raised palm meeting another in midair takes half a second, yet it says something complicated: well done, I see you, we are in this together.
The modern holiday began as a student fundraiser at the University of Virginia in the early 2000s and has since spread to campuses, offices, and youth programs across the United States. Organizers often pair the day with charity, encouraging people to hand out high fives for a good cause, from supporting scholarships to thanking coaches and first responders.
It is also a reminder of how much morale a tiny ritual can carry. Teams use it to reset after mistakes, friends use it to seal plans, and strangers use it to share a small, harmless moment of joy.
History of National High Five Day
The high five's origin story is contested, but the most popular account places it at Dodger Stadium in October 1977, when Los Angeles Dodgers player Glenn Burke raised his hand to greet teammate Dusty Baker after a home run, and Baker slapped it. The gesture spread through sports culture in the 1980s, elbowing aside the low five that had dominated basketball courts. The holiday itself is much younger: students at the University of Virginia founded National High Five Day in the early 2000s as a playful fundraiser, and the idea of pairing palm-slaps with philanthropy stuck. Today the third Thursday of April belongs to the gesture, complete with charity events, office tournaments, and nostalgic essays about a celebration that requires no words at all.
2026 vs 2027 dates
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is National High Five Day?
- National High Five Day falls on the third Thursday of April each year. In 2026, that lands on April 16.
- Is National High Five Day a public holiday?
- No. It is a playful observance, not a public holiday. Schools and offices run as usual, though many teams and classrooms celebrate with quick high-five breaks.
- How do people celebrate National High Five Day?
- People celebrate by handing out high fives generously, running friendly contests, and tying the gesture to charity drives. Sports teams, offices, and youth groups often join in.
- Who invented the high five?
- The most common story credits baseball players Dusty Baker and Glenn Burke of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who exchanged the first famous high five at Dodger Stadium in 1977, though other claimants exist.