National No Apologies Period Day
June 9
About National No Apologies Period Day
National No Apologies Period Day takes place every year on 9 June. The day aims to dismantle the shame and secrecy that surround menstruation, encouraging menstruators to talk openly about their periods and stop apologising for a natural bodily process. In 2026 it falls on Tuesday, 9 June.
What is National No Apologies Period Day?
National No Apologies Period Day is an awareness day dedicated to challenging period stigma and normalising conversations about menstruation. It was created by Midol, the period pain relief brand owned by Bayer, as part of its “No Apologies. Period.” initiative. The day speaks to anyone who menstruates, alongside the friends, family members, colleagues and partners who can help build a more open culture around periods. Its central message is simple: nobody should feel they need to whisper, hide a tampon up their sleeve, or say sorry for something that around half the population experiences for much of their lives.
When is National No Apologies Period Day?
National No Apologies Period Day is observed annually on 9 June. In 2026 that falls on a Tuesday. The date is fixed, so it lands on the same calendar day each year, with the focus shifting to the day of the week. The observance is most active in the United States, where it began, but its themes of menstrual health and period positivity resonate worldwide.
Why National No Apologies Period Day Matters
Period shame has real consequences for confidence, health and equality. Research carried out for the Midol campaign found that 62% of menstruators under the age of 40 have apologised for their periods or period symptoms, while nearly half of all menstruators (47%) admit to having given a period apology at some point. The behaviour starts young: period shame was found to be most prevalent among Gen Z, at 70%. The same study found that half of menstruators say they learned their apologetic habits from family members, which shows how stigma is passed down through generations. By naming the problem, National No Apologies Period Day gives people permission to break that cycle and treat menstruation as the ordinary biological event it is.
How to Get Involved in National No Apologies Period Day
There are many ways to mark the day, whether you menstruate yourself or simply want to support the people around you who do.
- Share your story – Talking openly about a period experience, however small, helps others feel less alone. A single honest conversation can chip away at years of awkward silence.
- Catch yourself apologising – Notice the reflex to say sorry for needing a break, a painkiller or a bathroom trip, and choose not to. Replacing an apology with a plain statement of fact is a small but powerful shift.
- Talk to younger people – Parents, carers and teachers can use the day to have a matter-of-fact chat about periods with children, helping the next generation grow up without inherited embarrassment.
- Donate menstrual products – Food banks, shelters and schools often run short of pads and tampons. A donation helps tackle period poverty, which forces some people to miss work or school.
- Support a menstrual health charity – Organisations working on period equity rely on funding and volunteers. Giving your time or money extends the day’s impact well beyond 9 June.
- Normalise period talk at work – Employers can review whether staff have easy access to free products and whether menstrual health is treated seriously in wellbeing policies.
- Use the hashtag – Posting with #NoApologiesPeriod adds your voice to a wider movement and helps the message reach people who may need to hear it.
- Educate yourself – Reading about menstrual health conditions such as endometriosis, heavy bleeding and period pain builds the understanding that makes open conversation easier.
History of National No Apologies Period Day
National No Apologies Period Day grew out of a marketing and advocacy campaign launched by Midol in June 2021. The brand, which has sold period pain relief products for decades, commissioned research into the language people use around menstruation and found that apologising for periods was widespread and deeply ingrained.
In response, Midol released a 60-second film titled “No Apologies. Period.” The video featured people of different ages, ethnicities and genders sharing personal stories about saying sorry for their periods or hiding their symptoms. The digital-first campaign ran across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest and Amazon, and marked the brand’s first activity on TikTok, in partnership with Bustle Digital Group.
Out of that campaign came a dedicated awareness day on 9 June, designed to keep the conversation going year after year rather than fading once the advertising ended. Since then, healthcare providers, period product companies and menstrual health advocates have adopted the date, using it to promote period positivity and challenge the idea that menstruation is something to be managed quietly and apologetically.
Noteworthy Facts About National No Apologies Period Day
- The day was established in 2021 by Midol, a brand owned by the pharmaceutical company Bayer.
- 62% of menstruators under 40 have apologised for their periods or period symptoms, according to the research behind the campaign.
- Period shame was found to be most common among Gen Z, with 70% reporting apologetic behaviour.
- Half of menstruators say they picked up their apologetic habits from family members.
- The launch film, “No Apologies. Period.”, deliberately featured people of all ages, ethnicities and genders to reflect that menstruation is not a single, narrow experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National No Apologies Period Day?
It is an annual awareness day that encourages people to talk openly about menstruation and stop apologising for their periods. It was created to challenge the stigma and secrecy that still surround a normal biological process.
When is National No Apologies Period Day in 2026?
National No Apologies Period Day falls on Tuesday, 9 June 2026. It is observed on the same date every year.
Who started National No Apologies Period Day?
The day was launched by Midol, the period pain relief brand owned by Bayer, as part of its “No Apologies. Period.” campaign in June 2021.
Spread the Word
Help raise awareness by sharing National No Apologies Period Day with your friends, family, and followers. Use the hashtags #NoApologiesPeriod and #NoApologiesPeriodDay2026 on social media. The more people who treat periods as an ordinary part of life, the easier it becomes for everyone to talk about menstrual health without embarrassment.
Related Awareness Days
- Cervical Screening Awareness Week – A June observance encouraging people to attend cervical screening, another area of women’s health where openness saves lives.
- World Menopause Awareness Day – Marks a different stage of reproductive life and shares the goal of removing taboos around women’s health.
- Fibroids Awareness Month – Raises awareness of a common condition that affects menstruation and is too often suffered in silence.
Links
- Visit the Midol website behind the No Apologies. Period. campaign
- Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com
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