Ada Lovelace Day
October 13
About Ada Lovelace Day
Ada Lovelace Day is an international celebration of the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, held annually on the second Tuesday of October. In 2026 it falls on Tuesday, 13 October. The day takes its name from Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, the nineteenth-century mathematician widely regarded as the world’s first computer programmer.
The Story Behind Ada Lovelace Day
The day was founded in 2009 by the British technologist and writer Suw Charman-Anderson. Frustrated by the lack of visible female role models in science and technology, and by research suggesting that women’s contributions were routinely overlooked, she launched a grassroots campaign to give women in STEM the recognition they deserved. The first Ada Lovelace Day asked people to write a blog post about a woman in technology or science whom they admired, and thousands responded.
The choice of Ada Lovelace as a figurehead was deliberate. Born in London on 10 December 1815, she was the only legitimate child of the poet Lord Byron and the reformer Anne Isabella Milbanke. Her mother, anxious that she should not inherit her father’s volatile temperament, steered her towards mathematics and logic from an early age. That unusual education for a woman of her era set the stage for one of the most remarkable intellectual partnerships of the Victorian age.
In 1833, at the age of seventeen, Lovelace met the mathematician and inventor Charles Babbage, who was then developing his designs for mechanical calculating machines. She became fascinated by his proposed Analytical Engine, a general-purpose computing device far ahead of its time. Between 1842 and 1843 she translated an article on the engine written by the Italian engineer Luigi Menabrea, and to it she added a series of seven explanatory notes, labelled A to G, that ran to roughly three times the length of the original text.
It is within these notes that her genius shines. Note G contains a detailed method for using the Analytical Engine to calculate Bernoulli numbers, a sequence that computer historians widely regard as the first algorithm designed to be carried out by a machine. More strikingly, Lovelace grasped something Babbage himself had not fully articulated: that such a machine could manipulate not only numbers but any symbols, including musical notes and letters. She foresaw, more than a century before the modern computer, that computing could extend far beyond mere arithmetic. She died young, on 27 November 1852, at the age of just thirty-six, but the vision contained in her notes secured her lasting place in the history of computing.
When and Where is Ada Lovelace Day Celebrated?
Ada Lovelace Day is held on the second Tuesday of October each year, which means the date moves annually. In 2026 it lands on Tuesday, 13 October. Although it began in the United Kingdom, it is now marked internationally, with events held across Europe, North America, Australia and beyond. Universities, schools, technology companies, museums and community groups all take part, and the flagship “Ada Lovelace Day Live” showcase has historically brought together speakers from across the sciences to share their work with the public.
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday, 13 October |
| 2027 | Tuesday, 12 October |
| 2028 | Tuesday, 10 October |
| 2029 | Tuesday, 9 October |
| 2030 | Tuesday, 8 October |
Traditions and Customs
Over more than a decade, Ada Lovelace Day has developed a set of recognisable customs that bring its mission to life:
- Sharing stories of women in STEM – The founding tradition remains central. People publish articles, blog posts and social media tributes about women in science and technology whose work has inspired them, helping to make hidden figures visible.
- Ada Lovelace Day Live – A flagship evening showcase of talks and demonstrations by women working across the sciences, presented in an accessible and entertaining format for a general audience.
- School and university events – Educational institutions run workshops, talks and hands-on activities designed to encourage girls and young women to consider STEM subjects and careers.
- Wikipedia edit-a-thons – Volunteers gather to create and improve Wikipedia entries for women scientists and engineers, addressing the persistent gender imbalance in the encyclopaedia’s coverage.
- Workplace celebrations – Technology companies and research organisations host panels, networking sessions and mentoring events to champion their female staff and examine progress on inclusion.
Ways to Celebrate Ada Lovelace Day
There are plenty of ways to take part, whether you work in a STEM field or simply want to support the cause:
- Write about a woman who inspires you – Publish a short piece about a female scientist, engineer or mathematician, living or historical, and share it online to amplify her achievements.
- Read Ada Lovelace’s notes – Explore her translation of Menabrea’s paper and the famous Note G to appreciate just how far ahead of her time she was.
- Attend or host an event – Look for talks, panels or edit-a-thons in your area or online, or organise one within your school, workplace or community group.
- Mentor or encourage a young person – Offer guidance to a girl or young woman curious about STEM, whether through a formal scheme or an informal conversation.
- Improve the record – Join a Wikipedia edit-a-thon or contribute to projects that document the work of underrepresented scientists and engineers.
- Support an organisation – Donate to or volunteer with charities and networks that work to close the gender gap in science and technology.
Facts and Figures
- Ada Lovelace was born on 10 December 1815 and died on 27 November 1852, aged just 36.
- Her method for calculating Bernoulli numbers, published in 1843, is widely considered the first computer algorithm.
- Suw Charman-Anderson founded Ada Lovelace Day in 2009, beginning as a call for people to blog about women in technology.
- Women made up around 28 per cent of the global STEM workforce in 2024, despite comprising close to half of the workforce overall.
- Women earned just over a fifth of degrees in computer and information sciences and around 22 per cent in engineering, according to recent figures.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ada Lovelace Day?
Ada Lovelace Day is an annual international celebration of the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It aims to raise the profile of women in STEM and to create new role models for girls and young women.
When is Ada Lovelace Day in 2026?
Ada Lovelace Day falls on Tuesday, 13 October 2026. It is always held on the second Tuesday of October, so the exact date changes from year to year.
Why is the day named after Ada Lovelace?
It is named in honour of Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace, the nineteenth-century mathematician who wrote what is regarded as the first computer algorithm. She was chosen as a symbol of women’s long but often overlooked contribution to science and technology.
Spread the Word
Share Ada Lovelace Day with your community using #AdaLovelaceDay and #AdaLovelaceDay2026. Whether you mark the occasion by championing a woman in STEM whose work deserves wider recognition, every bit of awareness helps keep this tradition alive.
Related Awareness Days
- International Women in Engineering Day – A global celebration of women engineers and the work they do to shape the world around us.
- National Woman Astronomers Day – Honours the women who have advanced our understanding of the universe, from historical pioneers to today’s researchers.
- International Day of the Girl Child – Held earlier in October, this day champions the rights and potential of girls everywhere, including their access to education in STEM.
Links
Featured image: Photo by ThisisEngineering on Unsplash.
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