Remembrance Day 2026
A memorial day in Commonwealth countries honouring members of the armed forces who died in war, observed at 11 a.m. on November 11.
Quick facts
- Date
- November 11
- Day of the week
- Wednesday in 2026
- Type
- National
- Observed in
- Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK
- First observed
- 1919
- Also known as
- Poppy Day, Armistice Day
- Symbol
- Red poppy
- Hashtag
- #RemembranceDay
Overview
Remembrance Day marks the armistice that ended fighting in the First World War at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918 — "the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month". People observe two minutes of silence at 11 a.m. and wear red poppies.
In the United Kingdom the main national ceremony takes place on Remembrance Sunday, the second Sunday of November, at the Cenotaph in London.
History
King George V held the first Armistice Day in 1919. The red poppy became a symbol of remembrance thanks to John McCrae's 1915 poem "In Flanders Fields", written after he saw poppies growing on the battlefields of Belgium.
- 1918The armistice ends fighting on the Western Front at 11 a.m. on November 11.
- 1919The first Armistice Day is observed.
- 1921Poppies are first sold to raise funds for veterans in Britain.
How to celebrate
Keep the two-minute silence
Pause at 11 a.m. local time.
Wear a poppy
Buy a poppy to support veterans' charities.
Learn a family story
Find out whether relatives served and what happened to them.
Quotes
In Flanders fields the poppies blow / Between the crosses, row on row.
Wishes and messages
Greeting card
A 1080 × 1080 image, ready for WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram.
Social media captions
We will remember them. 🌺 #RemembranceDay
Lest we forget.
Remembrance Day dates
| Year | Date | Day of the week | Days from today |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | November 11 | Wednesday | 9 |
| 2027 | November 11 | Thursday | 374 |
| 2028 | November 11 | Saturday | 740 |
| 2029 | November 11 | Sunday | 1,105 |
| 2030 | November 11 | Monday | 1,470 |
| 2031 | November 11 | Tuesday | 1,835 |
Frequently asked questions
When is Remembrance Day?
On November 11. In the UK the national service is held on Remembrance Sunday, the second Sunday of November.
Why do people wear poppies?
Poppies grew on the First World War battlefields and became a symbol of remembrance through John McCrae's poem "In Flanders Fields".
Last updated November 2, 2026