National Honey Day
October 21
About National Honey Day
National Honey Day takes place on Wednesday, 21 October 2026. Founded by the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA), it celebrates local honey, the beekeepers who produce it, and the bees that make it possible. The day encourages people to buy a jar of honey from a local producer and to think about where their honey actually comes from.
How to Celebrate National Honey Day
National Honey Day is built around one simple, enjoyable action: choosing and savouring local honey. Here are practical ways to take part on 21 October.
- Buy a jar of local honey – Track down honey produced by a beekeeper near you, whether at a farm shop, market stall, or directly from an apiary. Local honey carries the flavour of the plants and hedgerows in your area.
- Taste honey side by side – Line up two or three honeys from different regions or floral sources and compare colour, aroma, and taste. Heather, borage, and wildflower honeys can be strikingly different.
- Cook or bake with honey – Swap refined sugar for honey in a flapjack, glaze, salad dressing, or marinade. Drizzle it over porridge, yoghurt, or warm crumpets for a seasonal treat.
- Visit a local apiary or beekeeping association – Many BBKA member associations open their doors or run events around this date. Meet beekeepers, see a hive up close, and learn how honey is harvested.
- Read the label carefully – Check where your honey is from. A jar marked simply “blend of EU and non-EU honeys” tells you very little, whereas a local producer can tell you exactly which fields the bees foraged.
- Plant for pollinators – Use the day as a prompt to add bee-friendly flowers to your garden, balcony, or windowsill. Autumn is a good time to plan and plant for the year ahead.
- Share the buzz online – Post a photo of your honey jar or your favourite honey recipe and tag your local beekeeping group to spread the word.
- Give honey as a gift – A jar of local honey makes a thoughtful, sustainable present that supports a small producer at the same time.
What is National Honey Day?
National Honey Day is a United Kingdom awareness day that celebrates honey as a natural product with a strong sense of place. It is organised by the British Beekeepers Association, the largest organisation representing amateur beekeepers in England and Wales. The day promotes the sourcing and enjoyment of local honey and raises awareness about honey authenticity, encouraging shoppers to know exactly what is in their jar. It is a day for honey lovers, gardeners, and anyone curious about where their food comes from.
When is National Honey Day?
National Honey Day falls on 21 October every year. In 2026 that is a Wednesday. It is a fixed-date observance, so the date stays the same from one year to the next, making it easy to plan an event or a honey-tasting around it.
The History of National Honey Day
National Honey Day is a recent addition to the calendar. The British Beekeepers Association launched the first National Honey Day on 21 October 2022 as a way to shine attention on local honey and the beekeepers who produce it. The BBKA itself has a much longer history, having been founded in 1874 to support and represent beekeepers across England and Wales.
The choice of late October is fitting. By this point in the year, the main honey harvest is complete and beekeepers have extracted and jarred their summer crop. It is the moment when fresh local honey is widely available, making it a natural time to celebrate the season’s yield.
Honey itself has a history stretching back thousands of years. Cave paintings in Spain dating from around 8,000 years ago depict people gathering honey from wild bees, and honey has been valued as a food, sweetener, and remedy across countless cultures. National Honey Day connects that ancient relationship with a very modern concern: making sure the honey on supermarket shelves is the real thing.
Fun Facts About National Honey Day
- The first National Honey Day was held on 21 October 2022, organised by the British Beekeepers Association.
- The BBKA runs a “Bee Smart, Choose Local” campaign alongside the day, encouraging people to buy honey directly from local producers.
- Honey is the only food that never truly spoils. Sealed jars of edible honey have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs.
- A single honey bee produces only about a twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in its entire lifetime, so a single jar represents the work of thousands of bees.
- The colour and flavour of honey depend on the flowers the bees visit, which is why local honey tastes different from region to region.
- The British Beekeepers Association was established in 1874, making it one of the oldest beekeeping organisations in the world.
Why National Honey Day Matters
National Honey Day matters because honey authenticity has become a real concern. Investigations have found that a significant proportion of honey sold by large retailers shows signs of adulteration or mislabelling, while honey bought directly from local producers is far more likely to be genuine. Buying local honey supports small beekeepers, keeps money in the regional economy, and helps sustain healthy bee populations that pollinate the wider countryside. Choosing local is good for your taste buds and good for the environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Honey Day?
National Honey Day is a UK awareness day organised by the British Beekeepers Association. It celebrates local honey, supports beekeepers, and raises awareness about honey authenticity and the benefits of buying from local producers.
When is National Honey Day in 2026?
National Honey Day is on Wednesday, 21 October 2026. It is held on the same date every year.
How is National Honey Day different from National Honey Bee Day?
They are separate observances. National Honey Day on 21 October is a UK day focused on local honey and the people who produce it, while National Honey Bee Day in August focuses on honey bees themselves and the importance of protecting pollinators.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your favourite local honey on social media with #NationalHoneyDay and #NationalHoneyDay2026. Tag your local beekeeping association and challenge your friends to swap a supermarket jar for a local one.
Related Awareness Days
- National Honey Bee Day – Celebrates honey bees and the beekeepers who care for them, with a focus on protecting these vital pollinators.
- National Urban Beekeeping Day – Highlights beekeeping in towns and cities and the role of urban hives in supporting biodiversity.
- National Porridge Week – A UK food celebration in October, and a perfect chance to top your porridge with a spoonful of local honey.
Links
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