When is Valentine's Day?
Valentine's Day is celebrated every year on 14 February. It is named after Saint Valentine, an early Christian martyr, and became associated with romantic love in the Middle Ages. Today couples exchange cards, flowers and gifts in many countries.
Traditions differ around the world. In Japan and South Korea, women traditionally give chocolate on 14 February and men return the gesture on White Day, 14 March. In Brazil, Dia dos Namorados is on 12 June, and in parts of Latin America 14 February is the "Day of Love and Friendship" for friends as well as couples.
Plan ahead
Restaurants and flower shops get booked up fast in the week before. When Valentine's Day falls on a weekend, many people celebrate on the Friday or Saturday instead; check the table below to see which day it lands on.
Valentine's Day dates for the coming years
| Year | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | February 14, 2026 | Saturday |
| 2027 | February 14, 2027 | Sunday |
| 2028 | February 14, 2028 | Monday |
| 2029 | February 14, 2029 | Wednesday |
| 2030 | February 14, 2030 | Thursday |
| 2031 | February 14, 2031 | Friday |
Frequently asked questions
Is Valentine's Day always on 14 February?
Yes. Unlike Easter or Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day has a fixed date, so only the day of the week changes from year to year.
Is Valentine's Day a public holiday?
No. It isn't a public holiday in any major country, so schools, offices and banks stay open.
The countdown runs to midnight at the start of the day in your own time zone. Dates of religious and lunar holidays can differ by a day between countries.