National Hugging Day 2026: All You Need to Know
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There’s nothing like a good cuddle and they have even been scientifically proven to improve your health. They can boost self-esteem, reduce blood pressure, and increase oxytocin. There’s never been a better reason to bring your loved ones into your arms than on National Hugging Day. So, we had to ask: What is the most important information you need to know about this year’s National Hugging Day?
👉 Official Name: National Hugging Day
💚 Cause: To celebrate your loved ones with a hug
📅 Next Date: January 21, 2026
🌐 Event Website: https://psychiatry-uk.com/hug-it-out-for-national-hugging-day/
Keep on reading to find out all the important information about National Hugging Day at a glance, including its big picture, why it’s important, and how you can get involved. We’ll then share its brief history, three interesting facts about it, its future dates, and how you’ll never miss any important awareness event again.
The Most Important Information About National Hugging Day at a Glance
1️⃣ The big picture: National Hugging Day takes place on January 21. It is a day designed to celebrate those you love and hold them close. It was founded to encourage everyone to hug their families more often, and show them you care. However, it’s always best to ask first before diving into a hug in order to respect everyone’s personal space.
2️⃣ Why it is important: Hugging is a way of showing physical affection, and can work wonders for your physical health. It helps us foster a sense of warmth and strengthen bonds between family members. Embracing for just 10 seconds can increase your self-esteem, reduce fatigue, and boost oxytocin levels. Increase that to 20 seconds and the benefits include improved heart health and lower blood pressure. In fact, studies have shown that just hugging a teddy can significantly reduce feelings of loneliness and improve self-confidence. So, hugging is an easy way to lift your mood and brighten your day!
3️⃣ How you can get involved: National Hugging Day is one of the easiest days to celebrate; simply give your loved ones a cuddle! You could also support charities, such as Free Mom Hugs, which offers support, hugs, and campaigning for LGBTQIA+ individuals who may have been ostracized by their families for their identity.
A Brief History of National Hugging Day
When was this event established: The first mention of National Hugging Day was in Chase’s Calendar of Events in 1986. It was attributed to Christian pastor, Kevin Zaborney, who wished to encourage Americans to show their emotions more freely.
How has it developed since then: People have hugged each other since the beginning of time, but now that hugging has an official day, we can celebrate it in style! Today, people flock to social media to uplift their loved ones with a hug. On Instagram alone, there have been over 30,000 posts made to celebrate #nationalhuggingday.
3 Interesting Facts About National Hugging Day
- Monkeys Do It: In a study by Boeving et al., it was discovered that monkeys embrace each other. 92% of humans start a hug with their right arm, but 80% of Colombian spider monkeys were found to have a preference for leading with their left arm.
- How Long Do You Hug For?: The average hug lasts 3.17 seconds, according to a study by the University of Dundee. However, psychologists suggest that the perfect length of a hug is somewhere between 5 and 10 seconds.
- Cultural Differences: While hugging may be commonplace across the United States, there are certain cultures where a friendly embrace is a rare thing to see. For example, in some Asian cultures, it is more likely that people will bow to one another than hug.
Upcoming Dates of National Hugging Day
National Hugging Day is observed every year on January 21:
| Year | Date | Day(s) |
| 2025 | January 21 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | January 21 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | January 21 | Thursday |
Never Miss an Important Awareness Day Again
Sources
- MedicineNet: How Do Hugs Make You Feel?
- Psychiatry UK: Hug it Out for National Hugging Day
- Free Mom Hugs: Home
- Wooly Hugs: Home
- Rowman & Littlefield: Chase’s Calendar of Events
- The Christian Post: National Hugging Day – One Pastor’s Ingenious Idea
- Instagram: National Hugging Day
- American Journal of Primatology: Embraces are lateralized in spider monkeys (Ateles fusciceps rufiventris)
- The Guardian: Scientists say the perfect hug should last more than five seconds – but there is one problem
