A UK holiday countdown
Mother's Day is getting closer.
In the UK, Mothering Sunday falls on the 4th Sunday of Lent, three weeks before Easter. It's a spring day to thank the mothers and carers in our lives.
Dates for 2026 to 2028 are listed below
Mothering Sunday in the UK
Mothering Sunday is the traditional UK name for the day. It is a chance to show appreciation to mothers, grandmothers, and other carers.
About Mother's Day
Mothering Sunday began as a religious custom when people returned to their home or mother church in the middle of Lent. Young servants were often given the day off to visit their families, picking wild flowers on the way, and a simnel cake was commonly baked. The American Mother's Day, promoted by Anna Jarvis from 1908, later influenced how the occasion is celebrated elsewhere.
When is Mother's Day?
In the UK and Ireland it is the fourth Sunday of Lent, three weeks before Easter, while the US, Canada and Australia use the second Sunday in May.
| Calendar | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom, Ireland | Sunday 15 March 2026 | Sunday 7 March 2027 | Sunday 26 March 2028 |
| United States, Canada, Australia, China, Japan, Germany, Italy, International | Sunday 10 May 2026 | Sunday 9 May 2027 | Sunday 14 May 2028 |
| France | Sunday 31 May 2026 | Sunday 30 May 2027 | Sunday 28 May 2028 |
| Spain | Sunday 3 May 2026 | Sunday 2 May 2027 | Sunday 7 May 2028 |
Planning around Mother's Day
Book restaurant tables several weeks ahead and send flowers a few days early, because florists and delivery services are at their busiest in the days immediately before the Sunday. Work out shifts and childcare cover with the free shift planner, or browse every holiday countdown.
Mother's Day questions
How many days until Mother's Day?
The live counter at the top of this page shows the days, hours, minutes and seconds left until the next Mother's Day, using the time zone you choose. The dates for 2026 to 2028 are in the table above.
When is Mother's Day in 2027?
In the United Kingdom calendar, Mother's Day falls on Sunday 7 March 2027. The date is different in some other countries, so check the table above for your calendar.
Why is Mother's Day in March in the UK?
British Mothering Sunday follows the church calendar, not the American May date. It is tied to Lent and Easter, so it moves each year, usually falling in March and occasionally in early April.