National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day falls on the third Friday of December each year. In 2026, that’s Friday 18 December – the last Friday before Christmas week for most workplaces and schools, which is exactly why so many office parties and dress-down days land on it.
Here’s how to make the most of it, whether you’re organising something or just need a sweater in time.
Ideas for the day
At work
- Run a contest with categories – ugliest overall, best light-up, best joke, best team or pair – so more people have a chance of winning. Our guide to winning an ugly sweater contest explains what tends to impress judges.
- Tie it to a good cause. Many workplaces ask for a small donation to wear a Christmas sweater for the day, with the money going to a charity of their choice.
- Take a team photo. It’s the one day of the year everyone is dressed for it.
At home and at school
- Family photo day. If you’ve been planning to get matching sweaters for the Christmas card, this is a natural deadline.
- Movie night. Pair a film-reference sweater with the film itself – Elf, Home Alone or Christmas Vacation.
- A sweater swap. Everyone brings a sweater they’re done with and leaves with someone else’s.
Get your sweater in time
The biggest mistake is leaving it too late. Popular designs and sizes sell out through December, and delivery slows down as Christmas approaches. As a rough rule, order your sweater by the start of December, and earlier if you need several matching sizes for a family or team. Delivery times are set by the retailer, so check the estimate on the listing before you buy.
Picks for the day
To win the office contest
To match with your family or partner
To be festive but office-appropriate
Not everyone wants to wear tinsel to a meeting. These are some of our lowest-rated sweaters on the ugliness scale – festive, but perfectly respectable.
Is it the same as Christmas Jumper Day?
Not quite. In the UK, Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day is a separate fundraising event, usually held earlier in December. In the US, National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day on the third Friday of December is the main event. Plenty of people celebrate both – there’s no rule against wearing a Christmas sweater twice.
More ideas
Browse our Movies & TV sweaters, family sets and light-up sweaters, or read the rest of our buying guides.