National Wear Red Day 2026
awarenessFriday, February 5, 2027
143 days from today · next occurrence
About National Wear Red Day
National Wear Red Day asks Americans to put on red clothing one Friday each February to raise awareness of heart disease in women. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, yet for decades it was widely mistaken for a mainly male problem. The American Heart Association's Go Red for Women campaign, launched in 2004, created the annual dress-red moment to change that.
The color turns awareness visible. Landmarks light up red, offices fill with scarlet sweaters, and social feeds fill with heart photos under campaign hashtags. Hospitals and health organizations use the day to share the warning signs of heart attacks in women, which can differ from the classic chest-clutching image, and to encourage screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes.
Participation costs nothing but makes an impact. Wearing red signals support for the women in your life and starts conversations that can literally save lives through earlier detection and treatment.
When is National Wear Red Day?
| Year | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | February 6, 2026 | Friday |
| 2027 | February 5, 2027 | Friday |
| 2028 | February 4, 2028 | Friday |
| 2029 | February 2, 2029 | Friday |
| 2030 | February 1, 2030 | Friday |
History of National Wear Red Day
The day grew out of a mounting response to a medical blind spot. In 2003 a national health institute launched a heart-awareness campaign for women with the red dress as its symbol, and in 2004 the American Heart Association introduced Go Red for Women. The first National Wear Red Day followed that same year, and Congress later passed resolutions supporting the observance. Over the years the campaign has funded cardiovascular research focused on women, pushed for sex-specific clinical data, and contributed to a significant decline in heart disease deaths among women since the early 2000s. Today the American Heart Association, federal health agencies, and countless local health departments coordinate the event on the first Friday of February, the opening of American Heart Month, with landmark lightings, workplace events, and free screenings.
How to Celebrate National Wear Red Day
- Wear something red to work or school and explain why when people ask.
- Check your blood pressure and schedule a heart-health screening.
- Learn the warning signs of heart attack and stroke in women.
- Donate to or fundraise for an organization funding women's cardiovascular research.
- Share heart-health facts on social media using the campaign's hashtags.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is National Wear Red Day?
- National Wear Red Day falls on the first Friday of February each year, the 1st Friday of the month, opening American Heart Month. Because it is tied to a weekday rather than a fixed date, the exact calendar day shifts from year to year.
- Is National Wear Red Day a public holiday?
- No. It is an awareness observance, not a public holiday. Offices and schools stay open, and most simply encourage wearing red for the day.
- How do people celebrate National Wear Red Day?
- People celebrate by wearing red, sharing heart-health facts, attending screenings and fundraisers, and lighting landmarks in red to support women's cardiovascular health.
- Who started National Wear Red Day?
- The American Heart Association launched it in 2004 through its Go Red for Women campaign, building on a federal health institute's red dress symbol from the year before.