National Coloring Day – Sep. 14, 2026

National Coloring Day
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United States
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Every September 14
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National Coloring Day brightens the calendar every September 14, inviting everyone to pick up their favorite art supplies and get creative. This annual event celebrates the simple, stress-reducing joy of adding color to the world. Whether you prefer crayons, markers, or digital palettes, dedicate some time to express yourself and discover the therapeutic benefits of coloring.

Want to sponsor National Coloring Day? Learn how

Expected National Coloring Day Deals

While we await official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that National Coloring Day often inspires fantastic deals on art supplies. Expect major retailers like Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and Blick Art Materials to offer discounts on coloring books, colored pencils, markers, and even digital art apps. Online giants such as Amazon and Target typically feature special bundles and sales on popular adult coloring sets. Smaller, independent art stores might host workshops or offer unique artisan supplies at reduced prices. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as September 14 approaches.

Platform Guide for National Coloring Day

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalColoringDay. Share your finished masterpieces, works in progress, or even time-lapse videos of your coloring process.

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalColoringDay. Create short, engaging videos showcasing your favorite coloring techniques or before-and-after transformations.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalColoringDay. Share photos of your coloring projects and connect with other enthusiasts in groups dedicated to the art of coloring.

Social Media Tips for National Coloring Day

Individuals

Dedicate an hour to mindful coloring, whether it's in a detailed adult coloring book or a simple sketch. Share your progress with friends or family.

Creators

Host a live coloring session, share tips for blending colors, or review new coloring books and supplies. Encourage your audience to share their own creations.

Brands

Launch a coloring contest with a specific theme, offer a free downloadable coloring page, or partner with an artist to create exclusive content. Promote your art supplies or coloring books.

Top Brands for National Coloring Day

  1. Crayola

    Founded in 1885 as Binney & Smith, Crayola is synonymous with crayons, producing over 3 billion crayons annually. Based in Easton, Pennsylvania, the company has expanded its product line to include markers, colored pencils, and art kits, making it a household name for creative expression.

  2. Faber-Castell

    Established in 1761 in Germany, Faber-Castell is one of the world's oldest and largest manufacturers of pens, pencils, and other art supplies. Renowned for its high-quality colored pencils and art sets, the brand is a favorite among artists and hobbyists alike.

  3. Michaels

    Michaels is North America's largest provider of arts, crafts, framing, floral, wall décor, and seasonal merchandise. Founded in 1973 in Dallas, Texas, the retail chain offers a vast selection of coloring books and supplies, catering to all ages and skill levels.

  4. Hobby Lobby

    Founded in 1972 by David Green, Hobby Lobby is a privately held retail chain of arts and crafts stores. With thousands of locations across the United States, it provides a wide range of products for creative projects, including an extensive collection of coloring materials.

  5. Johanna Basford

    A Scottish illustrator, Johanna Basford is widely credited with popularizing the adult coloring book trend. Her intricate, hand-drawn ink illustrations in bestsellers like 'Secret Garden' and 'Enchanted Forest' have sold millions worldwide, inspiring a global resurgence in coloring.

  6. Prismacolor

    Prismacolor, a brand of colored pencils and art markers, is known for its vibrant pigments and smooth application. Favored by professional artists and illustrators, the brand offers a premium coloring experience, allowing for rich layering and blending.

  7. Leuchtturm1917

    A German stationery company founded in 1917, Leuchtturm1917 is celebrated for its high-quality notebooks, journals, and planners. While not exclusively a coloring brand, their paper quality is ideal for various coloring mediums, making their products popular among bullet journalers and artists.

National Coloring Day Hero

Edwin Binney

Edwin Binney (1866-1934) was an American inventor and businessman, best known as the co-founder of Binney & Smith, the company that created Crayola crayons. Along with his cousin C. Harold Smith, Binney developed innovative art supplies, making coloring accessible and affordable for millions of children. His contributions revolutionized the art education landscape, ensuring that every child could experience the joy of creative expression through color.

How Businesses Can Celebrate National Coloring Day

Local businesses can celebrate National Coloring Day by hosting community coloring events, providing free coloring pages, or offering discounts on art supplies. Coffee shops might set up ‘color and sip’ stations, while bookstores could highlight adult coloring books. Art supply stores can run promotions on crayons, markers, and colored pencils, encouraging customers to explore new mediums. Consider partnering with local schools or community centers to donate art supplies or organize a coloring competition for all ages.

National Coloring Day FAQs

When is National Coloring Day?

National Coloring Day 2026 falls on Monday, September 14, offering a refreshing start to the week to embrace your inner artist. It’s a perfect opportunity to unwind and add a splash of color to your routine.

What are the benefits of coloring for adults?

Coloring for adults offers numerous benefits, including stress reduction, improved focus, and enhanced mindfulness. It can serve as a meditative practice, helping to quiet the mind and promote relaxation, similar to meditation or yoga.

How popular are adult coloring books?

Adult coloring books experienced a massive surge in popularity in the mid-2010s, with millions of copies sold worldwide. This trend continues to thrive, with an estimated market value in the hundreds of millions of dollars, driven by their therapeutic benefits.

What's the difference between crayons and colored pencils?

Crayons are wax-based, offering smooth, opaque coverage and are generally easier for younger children to use. They are known for their vibrant colors and blend well for simple shading, but can be less precise.

National Coloring Day Activities

  1. Color!

    Whether you like crayons, colored pencils, pens or permanent markers, there are art supplies somewhere with your name on them! Grab your favorite materials and sit down with some paper or a coloring book. If you don't have one, go online to download and print out free coloring pages at home.

  2. Have a coloring party

    People love parties and you can share the joys of coloring with all your friends on National Coloring Day. Buy some colored pencils, a coloring book with perforated pages and spread them out on any flat surface. Share the colored pencils and socialize while you work!

  3. Donate some art supplies

    It's unfortunate that over the past decade, schools are experiencing reduced budgets for their fine arts programs. On National Coloring Day, make a difference by donating coloring supplies to your local school arts program. Many libraries also offer after-school activities and, thanks to your generous donation, coloring might just become one of the children's favorite activities.

Why We Love National Coloring Day

  1. Coloring promotes wellness

    It might seem like adult coloring suddenly became popular out of nowhere. But it's widely-known that coloring is a profoundly beneficial hobby. The activity of coloring is both creative and repetitive, allowing your mind to get absorbed in what you're doing and let some of those high-level cognitive functions take a break. Coloring is also wordless, which lets your linguistic processes take a breather, too.

  2. Coloring is fun

    All those health benefits aside, coloring is really enjoyable unto itself. As you relax and start coloring, you can practically feel your creativity flowing faster. All your daily, intrusive thoughts start to lighten up. Coloring provides a wonderful get-away experience.

  3. It takes you beyond coloring books

    National Coloring Day doesn't exclude coloring books. Instead, this holiday calls on us to get extra creative by trying new mediums and to color outside those lines. Go one further — apply this idea to other parts of your life!

National Coloring Day dates

Year Date Day
2026 September 14 Monday
2027 September 14 Tuesday
2028 September 14 Thursday
2029 September 14 Friday
2030 September 14 Saturday