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National Paper Airplane Day

Explore the skies and celebrate National Paper Airplane Day! Have a blast with your friends making paper airplanes, competing in races, and more!

Wednesday

May 2027

Last updated February 7, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

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YEARLY DATEMay 26

OBSERVED INUnited States

CATEGORYFun

SUBCATEGORYSilly

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Prepare for an exciting day of flight on National Paper Airplane Day on May 26! This special day celebrates the fun and creativity of paper airplane making, which has been around since the early 1900s. You can make your own paper airplanes or participate in a friendly competition with friends. Whether you’re new to paper airplanes or have been folding them since childhood, this is the perfect opportunity to get creative and fly high!

TIMELINE

National Paper Airplane Day Timeline

First Modern Paper Airplane

In 1909, the first modern paper airplane was designed by Jack Northrop, co-founder of Lockheed Corporation.

Origami Plane Artistry

In 1967, Eiji Nakatsu, an engineer at the Kyoto University in Japan, developed a paper airplane based on the origami technique.

World Record Paper Airplane Distance

In 1985, the world record for the longest distance flown by a paper aircraft was set by Tony Fletch of England with a flight distance of 34.2 meters.

First Paper Airplane Contest

The first major international paper airplane contest was held in Austria in 1994, inspiring similar events around the world.

National Paper Airplane Day Inception

In 2012, National Paper Airplane Day was first recognized as a celebratory day devoted to the art and hobby of paper airplane making.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate National Paper Airplane Day

Go on a paper airplane scavenger hunt

Organize a scavenger hunt around your neighborhood or local park with paper airplanes as the prizes. Hide them in the trees and mark the location with a map to make it even more exciting.

HOLD

Hold a paper airplane competition

Gather friends, family, and neighbors for an epic paper airplane competition. Set up different categories such as distance, aerobatics, and speed. Have some fun prizes like gift cards or movie tickets for the winners.

MAKE

Make paper airplanes with origami

Try folding different kinds of origami paper airplanes. Search online for some tutorials and challenge yourself to learn something new.

DECORATE

Decorate paper airplanes

Grab some markers and get creative by decorating your paper airplanes with designs or messages. You can also use glitter or sequins to give them a little something extra.

CREATE

Create a paper airplane chain

Make a chain of paper airplanes by connecting them in a line with tape or thread. Hang them up in your room to show off your creativity.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why We Love National Paper Airplane Day

It encourages creativity

Paper airplanes offer limitless creative opportunities. Kids can create their own personalized designs by experimenting with different shapes, sizes, colors and weights. Making paper airplanes allows children to engage their imaginations as they explore the intricate details behind aerodynamic flight.

It's fun and easy to make

Making a paper airplane only requires a few basic supplies, including a piece of paper and tape or glue. With just these materials you can create any number of unique designs that will keep kids entertained and busy. Once they've figured out the basics, they can experiment with different shapes, sizes, and weights to see what kinds of flight behaviors their planes will perform.

It's inexpensive

You don't need to spend big bucks on a fancy drone to have some airborne fun. All you need is a sheet of paper and proper folding techniques! Compared to other toys and hobbies, paper airplane construction is one of the most budget-friendly activities around.

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