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National Ugly Sweater Day

Dress your best (or worst!) for National Ugly Sweater Day - get creative and have some fun with funky patterns, bright colors, and outrageous accessories!

Friday

December 2026

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

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YEARLY DATEThird Friday in December

OBSERVED INUnited States

CATEGORYStyle

SUBCATEGORYFashion

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Get ready to show off your ugliest sweaters and celebrate National Ugly Sweater Day on the third Friday in December! This fun holiday has been around since 2011, when it was created to encourage people to embrace their unique style and let their creativity shine through. Whether you want to wear a vintage piece that's been passed down for generations or something new-yet-hideous, this is the perfect day to make a fashion statement. So get ready for some laughs and smiles on National Ugly Sweater Day – you'll be sure to stand out from the crowd!

DEALS & OFFERS

Past offers

No active deals yet — here’s who’s celebrated before.

Nothing yet for 2026

Brands typically announce offers a week before the date. Check back closer to the day.

5 brands have run a deal

Chipotle Mexican Grill

See past offers

TIMELINE

National Ugly Sweater Day Timeline

Ugly Sweater Parties Begin

The "ugly sweater party" trend takes root in Vancouver, Canada, as a clever excuse to clean out the wardrobe.

TV Helps Popularize Trend

The trend spreads to the United States with episodes of popular TV shows like "The Office" featuring ugly holiday sweater parties.

National Retailers Get Involved

Major retailers like Nordstrom, Forever 21, and Wal-Mart begin selling new "ugly" holiday sweaters.

Inception of National Ugly Sweater Day

National Ugly Sweater Day is officially acknowledged in the United States, to be celebrated on the third Friday in December.

Google Celebrates With Doodle

Google honours National Ugly Sweater Day with a fun, interactive doodle on its homepage.

Ugly Sweaters for a Cause

Mark Rober, former NASA engineer, creates a line of ugly holiday sweaters that also double as mobile games, with proceeds going to charity.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate National Ugly Sweater Day

Host an ugly sweater party

Invite your friends to dress up in their ugliest sweaters and join in the fun. Have a contest for the ugliest sweater and the best dressed, with prizes for the winners.

SHOP

Shop for an ugly sweater

Check out your local thrift stores for ugly sweaters. There are sure to be plenty of options, from sparkly sequins to gaudy holiday prints.

CRAFT

Craft an ugly sweater

Get creative and craft your own ugly sweater. Raid your local craft store or dollar store for materials like fabric paint, pom poms, ribbons, and glitter.

ORGANIZE

Organize an ugly sweater 5K

Invite your friends and family to join you in running a 5K in their ugliest sweaters. Have a post race celebration with snacks, music, and prizes.

HOLD

Hold an ugly sweater contest

Gather your friends together and have a virtual or in person ugly sweater contest. Let everyone vote on the ugliest, most outrageous, and funniest sweaters.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why We Love National Ugly Sweater Day

Ugly sweaters are timeless

The beauty of ugly sweaters is that they never go out of style. Even if they may look a little dated this year, chances are they'll be making a comeback next year - or even the next one after that! So embrace your inner fashionista (or anti-fashionista) and stock up on those festive knits - they won't let you down!

Ugly sweaters are fun and quirky

Ugly sweaters can be the perfect way to show your unique and quirky style. With their bright colors, wild patterns, and sometimes ridiculous designs, they're definitely something that can't be missed! They also act as great conversation starters and make for excellent holiday party outfits.

Ugly sweaters bring people together

There's nothing like wearing an ugly sweater to a holiday gathering to get people talking and laughing. Wearing an ugly sweater is sure to draw plenty of attention and ensure you always feel like you fit in, no matter what else is going on around you.