National Teacher Appreciation Day 2026: All You Need to Know
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As Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Teachers around the globe have a phenomenal impact on future generations, yet are often underappreciated and underpaid. It’s important to let the teachers in your life know how impactful they are. So, we had to ask: What is the most important information you need to know about this year’s National Teacher Appreciation Day?
👉 Official Name: National Teacher Appreciation Day
💚 Cause: Celebrate the positive role that teachers have in children’s lives across the world
📅 Next Date: May 5, 2026
🌐 Official Website: https://www.nea.org/TAW
Keep on reading to find out all the important information about National Teacher Appreciation 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 Teacher Appreciation Day at a Glance
1️⃣ The big picture: National Teacher Appreciation Day is celebrated on the first Tuesday of the first full week of May. It is part of National Teacher Appreciation Week, and is a way to cheer on the nation’s educators as they support and guide the next generation.
2️⃣ Why it is important: A great teacher can change the course of a child’s life for the better. They help inspire and shape the lives of our children, passing on knowledge to the society of the future. Yet, despite their tireless work, teachers often go underpaid and underappreciated. For example, 85% of teachers think they aren’t paid enough, and 95% say they are worried about paying their bills. As well as this, 95% of teachers across the states buy classroom supplies with their own money. Celebrating such an important profession can show how valued teachers are, and fight for a fairer future for them.
3️⃣ How you can get involved: You can get involved with National Teacher Appreciation Day by showing your, or your children’s, teachers how important and admired they are. You could send a card signed by the whole class, make a thoughtful gift, or even help restock classroom supplies. Another way to celebrate, is to support charities that strive to aid teachers across the globe.
Below are our favorite charities that are especially relevant for National Teacher Appreciation Day:
A Brief History of National Teacher Appreciation Day
When was this event established: The idea of having a national day to celebrate teachers was first brought to Congress in 1953 by Eleanor Roosevelt. However, it was not until 1980, a whole 27 years later, that an official National Teacher Appreciation Day was created and celebrated in March.
How has it developed since then: In 1984, the National Parent Teacher Association created an official National Teacher Appreciation Week in May, and incorporated National Teacher Appreciation Week into this celebration. Since then, the #teacherappreciation hashtag has racked up nearly one million posts on Instagram alone.
3 Interesting Facts About National Teacher Appreciation Day
- 1500 Decisions a Day: Research in the 1980’s found that teachers made 1500 decisions every single day. With the increasing demands of teachers made in the modern classroom, that figure could be even higher today.
- Over Three Million Strong: According to federal statistics, there are about 3.2 million teachers in the US. Around the world, there are estimated to be 93.7 million teachers!
- A Stressful Career: Nine out of ten teachers in the US report high levels of stress. Celebrating all of the hard work they do on National Teacher Appreciation Day could be a way to try and help alleviate their stress.
Upcoming Dates of National Teacher Appreciation Day
National Teacher Appreciation Day is observed every year on the first Tuesday of the first full week of May.
| Year | Date | Day(s) |
| 2025 | May 6 | Tuesday |
| 2026 | May 5 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | May 4 | Tuesday |
Never Miss an Important Awareness Day Again
Sources
- Oxford Reference: Nelson Mandela 1918–2013 South African statesman
- National Education Association: Teacher Appreciation Week
- National Education Union: Teachers feel severely underpaid
- Forbes: Underpaid And Undersupplied: The Hidden Costs Of Teaching In America
- Teach For America: Home
- United Federation of Teachers: Home
- Teachers Without Borders: Home
- Instagram: Teacher Appreciation
- Education Week: 1,500 Decisions a Day (At Least!): How Teachers Cope With a Dizzying Array of Questions
- Merit Insurance Group: 7 Interesting Facts about Teachers
- International Task Force on Teachers for Education 2030: Data on Teachers
- The News Line: Teachers angry – nine out of ten facing workload stress
