Unmistakably rich smell, fluffy crumbs, and a most delicious taste – baking is not just about the final product – it’s a fun and creative way to spend your time. Baking is even considered an art that has changed the way we consume food and has been celebrated since ancient times. Whether you are new to the baking world or a seasoned baker, this day is for you to indulge in the pleasure of baking. So, we had to ask: What is the most important information you need to know about this year’s World Baking Day?

👉 Official Name: World Baking Day
💚 Cause: Celebrate the art of baking and inspire people to bake more
📅 Next Date: May 17, 2026
🌐 Official Website: https://www.facebook.com/worldbakingday/
🐦 Hashtags: #WorldBakingDay, #BakingDay, #BakeACake, #BakingGoods

Keep reading to find all the important information about World Baking Day at a glance: 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 World Baking Day at a Glance

1️⃣ The big picture: World Baking Day, also called International Baking Day, is a delicious opportunity to try out some new or good old baking recipes to bring back the sweetness of childhood. This event promotes the improvement of cooking and baking skills, encouraging us to get together with loved ones and experiment with the best recipes. People also celebrate this day by buying their favorite baked goods and exploring more about the history, importance, and art of baking. 

2️⃣ Why it is important: Baking is a much-loved human activity. The global bakery industry was worth $513 billion in 2023 alone, and is projected to reach nearly $1 trillion by 2032. Even baking supplies and individual ingredients are highly appreciated, as the baking ingredient market is expanding from around $22 billion in 2024 to over $42 billion by 2034. We love baking so much that we created tens of types of baking goods – with the bread alone, as a staple baking item, having countless variations across cultures. Tightly connected to the agricultural revolution, baking has transformed our diets, cultures, and professions. World Baking Day emboldens people to support further baking innovations and experiment with unique recipes or alternatives. 

3️⃣ How you can get involved: You can celebrate World Baking Day by trying your hand at some home-baked goods, having a thematic get-together, or using baked products to donate to people in need:

1. Bake something delish: You don’t have to be a famous pastry chef to celebrate this event. Be bold, play around with simple ingredients, and choose a delectable recipe that you will enjoy making. Afterward, you can share your home-baked creations with loved ones (or keep it all for yourself!).
2. Host a baking-theme party: Gather your family, friends, and kids for an engaging get-together where you teach each other how to bake the best sweet and salty snacks. In addition, you can set up some challenges to choose the best pastries and try some fun baking games. 
3. Baking goods and donations: Nothing is better than a bake sale! Especially when you do it for World Baking Day and use it to fundraise for a noble cause you love. Alternatively, you can bake some snacks and donate them directly to local charities and vulnerable populations in your area. 

Below are our favorite charities that are especially relevant for World Baking Day:

• Best Charities That Fight Hunger Globally
• Best Charities That Fight Hunger in America
• Best Charities That Advance Healthy Nutrition

A Brief History of World Baking Day

When was this event established: World Baking Day was funded in 2012. Some sources attribute it to the Unilever company, which might have created it to promote its margarine product. Others suggest that it was invented by the Dr. Oetker company, in order to increase the purchases of their baking supplies and encourage people to bake more. Initially, the focus of the event was to inspire people to bake and give away a home-baked cake.

How has it developed since then: Over the years, World Baking Day has become more popular, especially in the US, and has led to new, creative recipes and a bigger interest in baking for people of all ages. Today, people celebrate by baking and giving away countless baked goods, including niche varieties of bread, pizza, cookies, muffins, donuts, and other pastries. 

3 Interesting Facts About World Baking Day

1. Innovating recipe: The much-loved chocolate chip cookie was actually created by trying out a creative, unusual alternative to the standard chocolate cookie. This was done in the early 1900s when Ruth Graves Wakefield added cut semi-sweet chocolate bars from Nestle to her batter after she realized she had run out of the traditional baking chocolate. The recipe revolutionized the cookie business and became Massachusetts’ official cookie, as Ruth was from there. 
2. In love with cookies: The first historical record of cookie-making dates back to 7th century Persia. Then, these “cookie ancestors” were used just to test the oven’s temperature for the day’s baking. Fast forward to 2019, and we have the world record for most cookies baked in an hour: 6018! If this amount of dough is not enough, we also got, in 2003, the largest cookie ever baked, which weighed 40,000 lb and was over 100 feet in diameter. 
3. Roman baking: Ancient Romans recognized the value of baking and breadmaking. In 168 BC, they created the Roman Bakers Guild to protect baker interests and trade secrets. They also created mechanical mills and complex ovens while innovating recipes for flatbreads, loaves, sourdough, and pastries. For example, at the burial site of ancient Pompeii, archaeologists excavated dozens of loaves that were made 2000 years ago!

Upcoming Dates of World Baking Day

World Baking Day is observed every year on the third Sunday in May. 

Never Miss an Important Awareness Event Again

Sources

• Kenwood World: What to bake for World Baking Day
• Homebaking: Celebrate World Baking Day with the Home Baking Association
• Toast: Top Bakery Industry Trends and Statistics in 2025
• Fact.MR: Baking Ingredient Market
• Wikipedia: List of baked goods
• National Library of Medicine: The Evolutionary Impact of Dietary Shifts on Physical and Cognitive Development
• Good Food: Easy baking recipes
• Sally’s Baking Addiction: Trusted Baking Recipes from a Self-Taught Baker
• BakitBox: Bake-Off Party Ideas
• Queen of Theme Party Games: BAKING PARTY GAMES, ACTIVITIES, AND DIY IDEAS
• Taste of Home: 47 Bake Sale Recipes That’ll Earn Big Bucks
• Land O Lakes: Celebrate World Baking Day
• National Today: World Baking Day
• Dr. Oetker: The History of Baking
• Wikipedia: Ruth Graves Wakefield
• DogTownPizza: 21+ Fascinating Fun Facts About Cookies and Their History!
• Milk Jar Cookies: COOKIE HISTORY 101: COOKIE ORIGIN
• Guinness World Record: Most cookies baked in one hour
• Guinness World Record: Largest biscuit / cookie
• The True Wonder of Bread: The Romans and the Politics of Bread
• Sick History: The Baker’s Dozen: 10,000 Years in the Baking
• Visit Naples: The 2,000-year-old bread found at Pompeii excavations