Mother’s Day 2026 is just around the corner, but there’s still time to buy last-minute cards and gifts to show your mum some appreciation.
The first signs of Spring usually coincide with the annual Mother’s Day celebrations across the UK, however the dates tend to vary each year.
The promise of it always falling on a Sunday means it can be enjoyed by many, but keeping track of the celebration can be tricky, especially since different countries observe it on different dates.
The UK celebrates Mother’s Day at the same time as countries like Ireland, Nigeria, and some Commonwealth states, but other countries observe the celebration at the end of Spring.
But where does the celebration come from? And why do some countries celebrate at different times?
To ensure you prepare for the day ahead of time, here’s everything you need to know about Mother’s Day 2026 and how it’s celebrated worldwide.
When is Mother’s Day 2026 in the UK?
Mothering Sunday falls on different dates in different countries annually, unlike Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Halloween.
This year, the UK will celebrate Mother’s Day on Sunday, March 15.
The UK date for this celebration is rooted in the Christian observance of Lent, with Mothering Sunday falling on the fourth Sunday, exactly three weeks before Easter Sunday.
This observance originated in the Middle Ages when children who had left home to work in domestic service were allowed to return to their family’s church, known as the “mother church”.
The journey home morphed into a spring occasion for families to reunite, which eventually adopted the custom of children picking flowers on the way home as a gift to their mothers.
The date also became a day to celebrate, as Lent’s fasting rules were relaxed. It earned various names, including Refreshment Sunday, Simnel Sunday — after the traditional Simnel cakes baked for the occasion — and Pudding Pie Sunday.
How did Mothering Sunday become Mother’s Day?
Anna Jarvis, the daughter of a peace activist who cared for wounded soldiers during the American Civil War, campaigned for a day to honour the vital role of mothers. She chose to observe the second Sunday in May, marking the date she held a memorial service for her late mother.
The idea quickly gained momentum, and by 1911, every US state had adopted the holiday. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson officially declared Mother’s Day a national holiday to be celebrated each May.
Ironically, despite founding the holiday, Anna Jarvis later became a vocal critic of its increasing commercialisation, even campaigning against the tradition she had established.
Over time, this celebration came to the UK, where Mothering Sunday became widely known as Mother’s Day.
Why is Mother’s Day celebrated at different times around the world?
Mother’s Day has become increasingly secular and commercialised, evolving into a global celebration.
In some countries, the day originally had religious significance, though much of this meaning has diminished. Elsewhere, the date is tied to seasonal events or particular times of the year.
For example, Nigeria observes Mother’s Day on the fourth Sunday of Lent, aligning with the UK and Ireland’s traditions. However, most countries worldwide, including the United States, celebrate on the second Sunday of May. This year, that date falls on May 10.
Other nations, such as Russia, Vietnam, and Afghanistan, honour mothers on March 8, coinciding with International Women’s Day.
In France, Mother’s Day is typically celebrated on the last Sunday of May. However, if it coincides with Pentecost, the celebration is moved to the first Sunday of June.
When is Father’s Day 2026?
Father’s Day 2026 will be on Sunday, June 21 in the UK.
The celebration of fatherhood is traditionally observed on the third Sunday of June each year.
The celebration is believed to have origins in pagan sun worship, with certain branches of the religion viewing the sun as the father of the universe.