- Categories:
- Special Interest
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- ActivitiesFunny
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- United States
- Date change rule:
- First Friday of October
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- 😊
World Smile Day lights up the first Friday of October, inviting everyone to share a little joy. Created by artist Harvey Ball, the day honors his iconic smiley face and its message of goodwill. Take a moment to smile at a stranger, share a funny story, or simply appreciate the happiness a simple grin can bring.
Want to sponsor World Smile Day? Learn how
Expected World Smile Day Deals
While we await official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that World Smile Day often brings cheerful deals and promotions from brands eager to spread happiness. Look for coffee shops like Starbucks and Dunkin’ to offer discounts on beverages, encouraging a brighter start to the day. Fast-food chains such as McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A might feature special menu items or combo deals. Retailers like Target and Walmart could run sales on items that bring joy, from toys to comfort food. Even dental care brands like Colgate or Crest might offer promotions on whitening products. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as October approaches.
Platform Guide for World Smile Day
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #WorldSmileDay. Share short, uplifting videos of people smiling, funny moments, or acts of kindness that make you grin.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #WorldSmileDay. Post cheerful photos of friends, family, or even pets smiling, or create a Reel showcasing what makes you happy.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #WorldSmileDay. Share positive stories, memes, or host a live stream discussing the importance of a smile.
World Smile Day Hero
Harvey Ball
History of World Smile Day
In 1963, Harvey Ball, a graphic artist and ad man from Worcester, Massachusetts, created the smiley face symbol we’ve all come to know. Popularity for this symbol exploded into the world of popular culture. It’s every artists’ dream for their work to be respected and recreated and few symbols have had quite the legacy that Harvey’s creation has had.
Throughout the years, the smiley face has become one of the most well-known symbols in the world. It has appeared in movies such as ‘Forest Gump’ and used as a motif in the graphic novel, ‘Watchmen.’ It’s so well-known that just by saying “smiley face”, we bet that you can see it in your mind. That recognizable yellow circle with black dots for eyes and a simple curve for a genuine and pure smile. However, the original smiley face had more of an oblong smile, a bit more hand drawn in aesthetic, taking up more space on the face than we see in modern recreations. Because of its overuse, it started to move away from its intent of goodwill and good cheer and he knew something had to be done.
In 1999, World Smile Day became an official holiday in order to regain control. The celebration aspects of the day were simple yet effective: people were to use the day to smile and make small acts of kindness worldwide. Harvey wanted to keep the smile connected to the human being. By doing so, you’d smile and in return, you’d make someone else smile and brighten up their day.
World Smile Day timeline
The commercial artist Harvey Ball creates the smiley face.
The smiley face is used in cartoons, comics, and for political movements.
The popularity of the smiley face emoji increases with the expansion of the internet and its use as an emoji.
World Smile Day becomes an official holiday to inspire acts of kindness.
Harvey Ball passes away, but the power of the smile continues thanks in large part because of his dream.
How Businesses Can Celebrate World Smile Day
Local businesses can honor World Smile Day by creating a cheerful atmosphere and encouraging positive interactions. Restaurants might offer a ‘smile discount’ for customers who genuinely grin at the counter, or create a special ‘smiley face’ themed menu item. Retailers could host a ‘share a smile’ photo contest on social media, giving away gift cards to participants. Service-based businesses can train staff to greet every customer with an extra-friendly smile and offer small, unexpected gestures of kindness. All businesses can use the day to reinforce positive customer service and team morale.
World Smile Day FAQs
When is World Smile Day?
World Smile Day 2026 falls on Friday, October 2. This annual observance encourages everyone to spread kindness and smiles throughout their communities.
Who created the original smiley face?
The original smiley face was created by American commercial artist Harvey Ball in 1963. He designed it for an insurance company to boost employee morale, and it quickly became a global symbol of happiness.
How many times does the average person smile per day?
While estimates vary, children are said to smile approximately 400 times a day, while adults smile far less, averaging around 20-30 times daily. This day serves as a reminder to boost those numbers!
What are the benefits of smiling?
Smiling offers numerous benefits, including boosting your mood, reducing stress, and even strengthening your immune system. It’s also contagious, making it a simple way to improve the atmosphere around you.
World Smile Day Activities
Do Unto Others
There are many organizations that could use volunteers willing to offer extra help. Whether it involves cleaning up the environment, or helping the elderly, or giving back to veterans it all makes the world a better place. Doing something charitable outside of your everyday life can have enlightening effects on you and your community.
Follow Your Dreams
With work and other obligations, it can be hard to find time for yourself. We all have hopes and dreams that we’ve put on the back burner. Use this day to indulge in your heart’s desire. Pull out your guitar from the closet, pick up a paintbrush, anything that deeply resonates with you that will put a smile back on your face.
Commit a Random Act of Kindness
Not everything has to be planned out. Keeping a sense of goodwill in your spirit all day is the perfect way to celebrate. You’ll have it in mind to keep an eye out for ways that you can brighten someone’s day. Compliment someone’s outfit, thank your co-workers for their work ethic. Whatever small way you can positively impact someone, follow your instincts. You’d be surprised how much an acknowledgment can mean to someone.
Five Surprising Facts About World Smile Day
Happiness is biological
When you smile, neurotransmitters called endorphins are created that cause feelings of pleasure.
Why yellow?
Yellow is used as the color of the smiley face because it's a symbol of cheerfulness.
Money-maker
The Smiley Company office in London, England, is worth more than $55m per year.
Multiplicity
In 1999, 470 iterations of the smileys were created for internet emoticons.
Sweet Charity
The World Smile Foundation is a non-profit charitable trust that supports wonderful children's causes.
Why We Love World Smile Day
A day to show we care
While we use smile emojis in our digital conversations, we don’t always smile with our real faces. It’s always good to remember the benefits that true smiles can do for our own emotional well-being.
It brightens up the dark
When the world seems in a disarray, it can be hard to find your own smile. Enjoyment might seem like a preposterous thing at times, but science tells us that finding lightness in the dark can make you less anxious, annoyed, and sad.
Take on tougher tasks
People often neglect how much mental health affects our productivity. When you’re in the proper headspace, it can give you the boost you need to go about your day. It can also help positively raise the energy of those around you.
World Smile Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | October 3 | Friday |
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