National Dress in Blue Day 2027
Friday 5 March 2027
National Dress in Blue Day is an annual awareness campaign held on the first Friday of March during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
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Dates and event details
National Dress in Blue Day 2027 is on Friday 5 March 2027. It falls on the first Friday of March each year, so the date changes from year to year.
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2027 | Friday 5 March 2027 |
| 2028 | Friday 3 March 2028 |
| 2029 | Friday 2 March 2029 |
| Where | US |
|---|
What is National Dress in Blue Day?
National Dress in Blue Day is an annual awareness campaign held on the first Friday of March during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Organised by the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, the day encourages people across the United States to wear blue clothing to raise awareness of colorectal cancer, the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. when men and women are combined. The blue star serves as the symbol of those affected, much as the pink ribbon represents breast cancer awareness.
National Dress in Blue Day is held on the first Friday of March during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Organised by the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, the day encourages people across the United States to wear blue clothing to raise awareness of colorectal cancer, the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the country.
When is National Dress in Blue Day?
National Dress in Blue Day falls on the first Friday of March each year. In 2027, that is Friday 5 March. The day sits within National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, which runs throughout March.
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2027 | Friday 5 March |
| 2028 | Friday 3 March |
| 2029 | Friday 2 March |
| 2030 | Friday 1 March |
| 2031 | Friday 7 March |
How to Get Involved in National Dress in Blue Day
Taking part is simple, and every action raises the profile of a disease that claims far too many lives:
- Wear blue on 5 March: A blue shirt, tie, scarf, dress, or even blue nail polish. The colour is the message. Wear it proudly and be prepared to explain why when people ask.
- Share a photo on social media: Post your blue outfit using #DressInBlueDay and tag the Colorectal Cancer Alliance on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, or TikTok. Your post could reach someone who has been putting off a screening.
- Organise a workplace or school blue day: Rally your colleagues or classmates to dress in blue together. Some organisations pair the day with an educational lunch-and-learn about colorectal cancer screening guidelines.
- Talk about screening: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends colorectal cancer screening beginning at age 45. If you are eligible, schedule your screening. If you have already been screened, encourage a friend or family member to do the same.
- Donate to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance: The Alliance funds research, patient support, and advocacy. Contributions of any size help advance the mission of ending colorectal cancer.
- Honour someone affected: Dedicate your blue attire to a loved one who has battled colorectal cancer. Share their story to put a human face on the statistics.
- Purchase blue merchandise: The Colorectal Cancer Alliance offers blue-themed items including shirts, wristbands, and pins, with proceeds supporting their programmes.
Noteworthy Facts About National Dress in Blue Day
- Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer-related death when men and women are combined.
- The Colorectal Cancer Alliance’s 2025 campaign materials estimated 154,270 colorectal cancer diagnoses in the United States that year and described more than 1.5 million people living as patients or survivors. These are dated campaign estimates, not a count for a later year. Source and context
- The blue star is the universal symbol for colorectal cancer awareness, serving the same role as the pink ribbon does for breast cancer.
- Screening is recommended from age 45 by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, lowered from the previous recommendation of 50 due to rising rates in younger adults.
What is National Dress in Blue Day?
National Dress in Blue Day is an annual campaign on the first Friday of March that encourages people to wear blue to raise awareness of colorectal cancer during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. It is organised by the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.
When is National Dress in Blue Day in 2027?
National Dress in Blue Day is on Friday 5 March 2027.
Who started Dress in Blue Day?
Anita Mitchell, a colon cancer survivor and Colorectal Cancer Alliance volunteer, originated the concept in 2006. The Colorectal Cancer Alliance adopted it as a national campaign in 2009.
Links
History of National Dress in Blue Day
The story of Dress in Blue Day begins with one woman’s refusal to let a devastating diagnosis define her legacy. Anita Mitchell, a Colorectal Cancer Alliance volunteer and member of the Never Too Young Advisory Board, was battling stage IV colon cancer when she lost her father and a close friend to the same disease. Determined to break through the stigma and silence surrounding colorectal cancer, she approached her children’s school in 2006 and coordinated a day where the entire school wore blue.
The response was overwhelming. Students, teachers, and parents embraced the idea, and the day generated real conversations about a cancer that many people were reluctant to discuss. Encouraged by the success, Mitchell brought the concept to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance in 2009, which expanded it into a national programme.
Since then, Dress in Blue Day has grown into one of the most visible colorectal cancer awareness events in the country. Schools, hospitals, corporations, sports teams, and government buildings now participate each year, turning the first Friday of March into a sea of blue. The campaign has also extended its reach internationally, with participants in several countries joining the effort to raise awareness about screening and early detection.
Hashtags
Help raise awareness by sharing National Dress in Blue Day with your friends, family, and followers. Use the hashtags #DressInBlueDay and #DressInBlueDay2027 on social media. A simple blue outfit and a shared post could remind someone to book the screening that saves their life.
