National Singles Day – Sep. 26, 2026

National Singles Day
Categories:
Tags:
Pop Culture
Where:
United States
Date change rule:
Last Saturday of September
Holiday emoji:
🧍‍♀️

National Singles Day arrives every last Saturday of September, a dedicated time to celebrate independence and self-love. It’s an invitation to embrace your solo journey, focus on personal growth, and enjoy the freedom that comes with being single. Treat yourself to a special outing, connect with fellow singles, or simply indulge in some well-deserved ‘me time’.

Want to sponsor National Singles Day? Learn how

Expected National Singles Day Deals

For National Singles Day, expect brands to cater to self-care, entertainment, and social experiences. While 2027 promotions are still in the works, history shows retailers like Sephora and Ulta Beauty often run discounts on beauty products, encouraging self-indulgence. Streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu might highlight solo-friendly content or offer special bundles. Local restaurants and bars could feature ‘singles mixers’ or ‘treat yourself’ meal deals. Online dating platforms like Bumble and Hinge may offer free premium features for a limited time, while travel sites like Expedia could promote solo travel packages. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as September 26 approaches.

Platform Guide for National Singles Day

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalSinglesDay. Share photos of your favorite solo activities, from a cozy night in to an adventurous day out.

TikTok

Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalSinglesDay. Film a short video showcasing your ‘me time’ routine or a fun solo challenge.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalSinglesDay. Share local events for singles or tips for embracing independence.

Social Media Tips for National Singles Day

Individuals

Plan a solo adventure, whether it's a hike, a museum visit, or a cooking class. Focus on activities that bring you joy and personal fulfillment.

Creators

Produce content celebrating single life, debunking myths, or offering self-care tips. Share your favorite solo date ideas or a 'day in the life' video.

Brands

Host a giveaway for self-care products, organize a virtual singles mixer, or launch a campaign promoting independent living and personal empowerment.

Top Brands for National Singles Day

  1. Bumble

    Dating app founded in 2014 by Whitney Wolfe Herd, known for empowering women to make the first move. It has expanded to include Bumble BFF for platonic friendships and Bumble Bizz for professional networking.

  2. Hinge

    Dating app launched in 2012 by Justin McLeod, positioning itself as 'the dating app designed to be deleted.' It focuses on helping users find meaningful relationships through detailed profiles and prompts.

  3. Netflix

    Global streaming service founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph. With millions of subscribers, it offers a vast library of movies and TV shows, perfect for a solo night in.

  4. Sephora

    French multinational retailer of personal care and beauty products, founded in France in 1970. It offers a wide range of cosmetics, skincare, fragrance, and hair care, encouraging self-indulgence.

  5. Headspace

    A digital health company founded in 2010 by Andy Puddicombe and Rich Pierson, offering guided meditation and mindfulness exercises. It helps users reduce stress and improve focus, supporting mental well-being for singles.

  6. Solo Stove

    Company founded in 2011, known for its portable, smokeless fire pits and outdoor cooking gear. It caters to individuals who enjoy outdoor adventures and creating cozy personal spaces.

  7. The Container Store

    Retail chain founded in 1978 by Kip Tindell, Garrett Boone, and Martha Leonard, specializing in storage and organization products. It helps individuals create organized and functional living spaces, fostering a sense of control and calm.

National Singles Day Hero

Whitney Wolfe Herd

Whitney Wolfe Herd is an American entrepreneur and the founder of Bumble, a popular dating app launched in 2014. After co-founding Tinder, she departed to create a platform that empowered women to initiate conversations, fostering a safer and more respectful online dating environment. Her work has significantly influenced the modern dating landscape, promoting individual agency and self-confidence.

History of National Singles Day

Although there are holidays around the world (the domestic Singles Awareness Day on February 15, China’s Singles Day on November 11, and the UK’s Singles Day on March 11) that have similar sentiments behind them, here in the US, National Singles Day is less emphatic about the idea that there is something wrong with being without a significant other, as if it’s a condition to be treated. A good bellwether would be an individual who, though he or she may be of limited means, takes time to pamper. Making a small sacrifice to get a massage, to keep up an exercise regimen, or the like, conveys the attitude of National Singles Day: yes, someone is out there for you, but no, you’re not in a big rush.

Some guys were in quite a rush, quite some time ago. Stay with us: the original European settlers to North America, during the vast sweep west from the first landing points like Jamestown, naturally came into contact with the aboriginal tribes of what would become the United States. Grizzled veteran Ebenezer Sproat impressed the Ohio-area Native people so much with his height and stature that they nicknamed him “Hetuck,” meaning “eye of the buck deer,” or simply, “Big Buckeye.” The name “buckeye” gradually came to denote Ohioans in general, and centuries later, in the 1980s, the Buckeyes Council created National Singles Week to “celebrate single life and recognize singles and their contributions to society.” As you see here on National Today, the idea has spread far and wide from the Buckeye State, and now what’s most remembered is September 22, to pack as much celebration into a “single” day (if you will) of that week as we can.

National Singles Day is all about successful single living, and we have some suggestions on how exactly to go about it. Read on.

National Singles Day timeline

1563
Queen Elizabeth I shuts it down

In response to pressure from England's lords to choose a mate, Queen Elizabeth I replies: "If I am to disclose to you what I should prefer ... it is this: beggar-woman and single, far rather than queen and married!"

1795
Beethoven: “Too ugly, and half crazy”

Magdalena Willman said no to his proposal, later telling her nephew that Beethoven was "too ugly and half crazy."

2014
Taylor Swift builds a money empire out of her failed relationships

"1989," the best-selling album of 2014, is simultaneously Swift's breakup with country music and a mourning of her one-month relationship with Harry Styles, referencing him literally and contextually in three songs on the album.

2018
Rihanna is single by choice

"Guys need attention," she says. "I’ll give it to my family, I’ll give it to my work – but I will not give it to a man right now."

How Businesses Can Celebrate National Singles Day

Local businesses can celebrate National Singles Day by creating welcoming environments for solo patrons. Restaurants could offer special ‘table for one’ deals or themed cocktail nights. Spas and wellness centers might promote self-care packages, encouraging individuals to indulge in massages or facials. Bookstores and coffee shops could host singles-friendly events like speed-friending or book clubs, fostering community without the pressure of romantic pairing.

National Singles Day FAQs

When is National Singles Day?

National Singles Day 2026 falls on Saturday, September 26, offering a perfect weekend opportunity to celebrate personal freedom and independence.

How many adults in the U.S. are single?

According to recent U.S. Census Bureau statistics, a significant and growing portion of the adult population identifies as single, with estimates often ranging around 40-50% of adults.

What is the origin of National Singles Day?

National Singles Day, often celebrated on the last Saturday of September, emerged as a counterpoint to relationship-focused holidays, providing a dedicated occasion for singles to celebrate their autonomy.

Is National Singles Day only for those looking for love?

No, National Singles Day is primarily about celebrating self-love, independence, and personal well-being, regardless of one’s romantic aspirations. It encourages individuals to enjoy their current status.

National Singles Day Activities

  1. Delete you ex’s number (for real)

    Don’t forget your Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or every single social platform where the two of you are connected. Take the time to make Google Contacts understand, as well. You will both have moments of weakness; the idea is to minimize their impact. We hope you won’t have to move and change your number, but be prepared. It happens.

  2. Hit the club…

    … or the gym, or the farmers’ market, or a brick-and-mortar book group. Older and wiser people have been known to say, “Develop the interest first, meet people second.” Think of it this way: you’d be more interested in someone who had a depth and breadth of talents, and they’ll feel the same about you, especially if you share some of those areas of interest and knowledge.

  3. Marry yourself (?)

    Needless to say, this activity is for National Singles Day extremists ONLY. If you want to cement your single status forever, plan a ceremony and invite all your friends and promise to love, cherish, and honor yourself in sickness and in health. (This is technically legal but will not be recognized as a valid marriage certificate by the United States government.)

FIVE AMAZING FACTS ABOUT DIVORCE

  1. Can you blame your singlehood on someone?

    In the state of New York and in Mississippi, you can sue a third party who “stole” your spouse, in civil court for “alienation of affection.”

  2. Another reason to put down butts

    A marriage is 75% more likely to end in divorce if one partner smokes cigarettes.

  3. The odds can seem hard to beat

    Official sources report that in the U.S., there are approximately 876,000 divorces per year, which when averaged out equals one divorce every 36 seconds.

  4. Take it from an articulate person

    Canadian author of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” Margaret Atwood was quoted as saying, “Divorce is like an amputation: you survive it, but there’s less of you.”

  5. “I must have learned something!”

    College graduates have a 13% smaller chance of going through a divorce.

Why We Love National Singles Day

  1. The world is our oyster

    For most of the year social events, popular culture, and even family dynamics can seem to be heavily skewed toward the couple’s paradigm. Who hasn’t been the “third wheel” on a road trip or spontaneous outing and ended up feeling like a toadstool, or worse, been in the same position with the additional stress of romantic feelings toward one member of the couple? Well, on National Singles Day, forget all that. This is your day.

  2. Singles are gaining ground

    With so many Americans who are single either by choice or because of a divorce or a spouse’s passing, businesses are taking advantage of the new niche. Singles can check to see if certain cruise lines have solo cabins without paying a supplemental fee. And if a single person eats out, there's no shame anymore, as restaurants have become more sensitive to seating parties of one with everyone else, instead of in hidden nooks back by the kitchen. Our advice? Experience single life to the max, and find more of these new developments.

  3. It’s easier to become a single parent today

    Singles often feel pressure to partner up and produce offspring, and we don’t see this changing fundamentally, considering the human biological procreation impulse (and our grandparents’ repeated reminders thereof). However, increasing numbers of singles with sufficient incomes are looking into adoption and other methods of raising a child on their own. If the idea tugs at your heart-strings, contact your local adoption agency and learn about the avenues available.

National Singles Day dates

Year Date Day
2025 September 27 Saturday
2026 September 26 Saturday