Islamabad, Pakistan: Father’s Day 2026 will fall on Sunday, June 21, in Pakistan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, India and several other countries.
The observance honours fathers and father figures, though it is not a public holiday in most countries. Many countries mark Father’s Day on the third Sunday in June.
The National Retail Federation said Father’s Day spending in the United States is expected to reach a record $27.9 billion this year. Consumers plan to spend an average of $226.58 each, according to the NRF survey with Prosper Insights & Analytics.
Michael Sebastian, editor in chief of Esquire, told the National Consumer Unit that many fathers can be difficult to shop for because they often say they do not need anything.
Sebastian advised families to avoid generic last-minute gifts. He suggested personal items such as monogrammed shirts, socks or customised stationery, along with handmade cards, framed child artwork and shared experiences.
Read: Paternity Leave Ruling Pakistan: FOSPAH Directs SBP to Grant 30 Days
Father’s Day dates vary by country. Several Catholic-majority countries mark it on March 19, while Australia and New Zealand observe it on the first Sunday of September.
Nordic countries such as Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden observe Father’s Day on the second Sunday in November, while Denmark marks it on June 5, according to Nordic cooperation public-holiday guidance.
| Date / Observance | Country | Public Holiday Status / Remarks |
| March 19 (Saint Joseph’s Day) | Honduras, Italy, Portugal, Spain | Recognised on the Feast of St. Joseph. It is not a public holiday in Portugal. |
| Second Sunday in May | Romania | Distinct from the standard European dates. Not a public holiday. |
| June 5 | Denmark | Coincides directly with Denmark’s Constitution Day. |
| First Sunday in June | Lithuania, Switzerland | Standard regional observation. |
| Second Sunday in June | Austria, Belgium | Observed regionally; not a public holiday. |
| June 17 | El Salvador | Fixed calendar date every year. |
| Third Sunday in June | Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Guernsey, Hungary, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela | The most common global date. Most participating nations do not observe it as an official paid public holiday. |
| June 23 | Poland | Fixed calendar date; not a public holiday. |
| Last Sunday in July | Dominican Republic | Traditional summer observation; not a public holiday. |
| August 8 | Taiwan | Chosen because the Mandarin for 8/8 (bā-bā) sounds like the colloquial word for father (bàba). |
| Second Sunday in August | Brazil | Aligns historically with the Catholic feast day of Saint Joachim. |
| First Sunday in September | Australia, New Zealand | Traditional spring observation in the Southern Hemisphere. |
| Second Sunday in September | Latvia | Officially tracked regional observance. |
| First Sunday in October | Luxembourg | Locally known as Pappendag. |
| Second Sunday in November | Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden | Nordic countries moved the date in 1949 to separate it by half a year from Mother’s Day. |
| December 5 | Thailand | Commemorates the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, regarded as the Father of the Nation. |
