What April Fools’ Day is

A day of hoaxes and practical jokes observed across Europe and beyond since at least the sixteenth century, with several competing theories about its origin and none conclusive.

The convention in Britain is that jokes stop at noon.

When it falls, and why the date moves

The countdown at the top of this page is live, and the date beneath it is the next occurrence. This is a fixed date: it falls on the same day of the month every year, so only the weekday changes.

It is grouped here under Global, alongside the other observances that share its calendar.

What is coming up next

Once this date passes, the countdown moves on according to the recurrence rule described above. Calculated lunar dates remain estimates until the relevant calendar or local authority confirms them. See the full list of upcoming events, or use the countdown timer for a duration of your own.