Arbor Day 2026: Friday, April 24
National Arbor Day 2026 falls on Friday, April 24, 2026 — the last Friday in April. Individual states observe it on their own dates, chosen to match local planting seasons, so check your state if the exact day matters.
Arbor Day Dates, 2026–2035
| Year | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | April 24, 2026 | Friday |
| 2027 | April 30, 2027 | Friday |
| 2028 | April 28, 2028 | Friday |
| 2029 | April 27, 2029 | Friday |
| 2030 | April 26, 2030 | Friday |
| 2031 | April 25, 2031 | Friday |
| 2032 | April 30, 2032 | Friday |
| 2033 | April 29, 2033 | Friday |
| 2034 | April 28, 2034 | Friday |
| 2035 | April 27, 2035 | Friday |
Where Arbor Day came from
Arbor Day started in Nebraska in 1872. J. Sterling Morton, a journalist and agriculture advocate who had moved to a treeless stretch of the Great Plains, proposed a day set aside for planting trees, and the first observance saw an estimated one million trees planted across the state in a single day.
It spread state by state over the following decades and is now observed across the country — and in a number of other countries — though the federal government has never made it a public holiday.
Arbor Day never falls before April 24: the seven possible dates
National Arbor Day is the last Friday in April. April has 30 days, so the last Friday can only land on April 24 through April 30 — the last seven days of the month. It cannot be April 23 or earlier, because the last occurrence of a weekday in a 30-day month is always at least day 24.
Because the rule is about a weekday rather than a date, only seven different Arbor Day dates exist. The table reverses the usual question: it shows which years produce each date, and what has to be true of the calendar for that to happen.
The cycle is 28 years. In any 28-year span with no skipped leap year each of the seven dates occurs exactly four times, so 2026–2053 is a complete cycle rather than a truncated list.
This is the national date. Individual states set their own, and some of those are fixed dates rather than weekday rules — the state section below covers that.
| Date in April | Years (2026–2053) | Why that date |
|---|---|---|
| April 24 | 2026, 2037, 2043, 2048 | April 30 is a Thursday |
| April 25 | 2031, 2036, 2042, 2053 | April 30 is a Wednesday |
| April 26 | 2030, 2041, 2047, 2052 | April 30 is a Tuesday |
| April 27 | 2029, 2035, 2040, 2046 | April 30 is a Monday |
| April 28 | 2028, 2034, 2045, 2051 | April 30 is a Sunday |
| April 29 | 2033, 2039, 2044, 2050 | April 30 is a Saturday |
| April 30 | 2027, 2032, 2038, 2049 | April 30 is a Friday |
How these tables were built
Every year in these tables was generated from the calendar rule and cross-checked against the published 2026 date on this page.
Why the date differs by state
The national observance is the last Friday in April, but trees do not all leaf out at the same time across a country this size. States pick dates that suit their own climate:
| Jurisdiction | Typical date | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| National observance | Last Friday of April | The common reference date |
| Nebraska | Last Friday of April | Originating state, unchanged since 1872 |
| California | March 7 | Luther Burbank's birthday — early planting season |
| Alaska and northern states | May or June | Ground is still frozen in April |
How to check your own state
State Arbor Day dates are set by statute or by governor's proclamation, and a few shift slightly year to year. The safest check is your state's Department of Agriculture or Natural Resources page.
What people actually do on Arbor Day
- Community and school tree plantings, often organised by local parks departments
- Free or discounted tree giveaways from utilities and conservation districts
- Volunteer events run by state forestry agencies
- Tree-care workshops timed to spring planting
Other US holidays in April 2026
| Date | Holiday | Day | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 5, 2026 | Easter Sunday | Sunday | Observance |
| April 24, 2026 | Arbor Day (national) | Friday | Observance |
Frequently asked questions
What date is Arbor Day 2026?
National Arbor Day 2026 is Friday, April 24, 2026 — the last Friday in April.
Is Arbor Day a federal holiday?
No. It is a civic observance. Government offices, banks and schools stay open.
Why is Arbor Day on a different date in my state?
States choose dates that match local planting conditions. Warm-weather states observe it earlier in spring; northern states often push it into May or June.
When is Arbor Day 2027?
Friday, April 30, 2027.
Who started Arbor Day?
J. Sterling Morton, in Nebraska in 1872. The first observance is credited with around a million trees planted in a day.
Is Arbor Day the same as Earth Day?
No. Earth Day is fixed on April 22 every year and is an environmental awareness day. Arbor Day is about planting trees and moves with the last Friday of April.
Does Arbor Day fall on a weekend?
Never — by definition it is a Friday, which is why tree-planting events are usually scheduled around that Friday.
What should I plant on Arbor Day?
Native species suited to your USDA hardiness zone, and ideally one your local extension office or conservation district recommends for your soil and rainfall.
Official sources
- USDA Forest Service — Arbor Day history — background and tree-planting guidance
- Nebraska State Government — Arbor Day origin — 1872 origin and J. Sterling Morton
Last verified against official sources on September 26, 2026.