Stoptober 2026
October 1 - October 31
About Stoptober 2026
Stoptober 2026 is Thursday 1 October 2026 and runs for the whole of October. Stoptober always starts on 1 October, the date set by the Department of Health and Social Care and the NHS since the campaign launched in 2012.
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday 1 October to Saturday 31 October 2026 |
| 2027 | Friday 1 October to Sunday 31 October 2027 |
| 2028 | Sunday 1 October to Tuesday 31 October 2028 |
What is Stoptober?
Stoptober is the annual 28 day stop smoking challenge run by the Department of Health and Social Care in England, delivered through the NHS Better Health service. The premise is simple: smokers who stop for 28 days are around five times more likely to quit for good than those who do not reach that milestone. The campaign launched in 2012 and was the first mass quit attempt of its kind in the UK.
Participants sign up for free support that includes the NHS Quit Smoking app, daily emails, a personal quit plan and advice on nicotine replacement therapy and vaping as a quitting tool. Local stop smoking services, pharmacies and GP practices promote the campaign throughout October, and the government has reported that more than two million quit attempts have been made through Stoptober since it began.
Why it matters for marketers and organisations
Stoptober is one of the most recognised public health brands in England, so it is a natural hook for pharmacies, health insurers, gyms, employers and charities such as Cancer Research UK and Asthma + Lung UK. HR teams and occupational health providers use it to promote workplace quit support, which pays back quickly in reduced sick days. For content teams, the angle is encouragement and practical tools rather than lecturing: people who have already decided to quit are looking for a plan, a community and a reason to start on 1 October.
Ideas: how to mark Stoptober
- Set up a workplace quit group with a weekly check in and a small reward at the 28 day mark.
- Share the NHS Quit Smoking app link and local stop smoking service details on your intranet and social channels.
- Run a savings calculator post showing what a 20 a day smoker saves in one month.
- Invite a pharmacist or stop smoking adviser to give a lunchtime talk in the first week of October.
- Publish quit stories from staff or customers, with their permission, at days 7, 14, 21 and 28.
- Offer a subsidised nicotine replacement product or vaping starter kit through your benefits scheme.
- Pair the campaign with a step or fitness challenge so the focus is on gaining health, not giving something up.
- Remind people that a slip does not mean failure and point to support for restarting.
Key facts
- Stoptober launched in October 2012 as a Public Health England campaign.
- Stopping for 28 days makes a smoker around five times more likely to quit permanently.
- Adult smoking prevalence in the UK fell to 11.9 per cent in 2023, the lowest on record according to the Office for National Statistics.
- Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in England, linked to around 64,000 deaths a year.
- The Tobacco and Vapes Bill introduced in 2024 proposes to prevent anyone born on or after 1 January 2009 from ever legally being sold tobacco.
Frequently asked questions
When is Stoptober 2027?
Stoptober 2027 begins on Friday 1 October 2027 and runs until Sunday 31 October 2027. The campaign always starts on the first day of October, so you can plan support and content around that date every year.
Is Stoptober only for England?
The official campaign is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care and targets England, but the free NHS app and online resources are available to anyone. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own stop smoking services and often promote Stoptober materials alongside them.
Can I use vaping to quit during Stoptober?
Yes. NHS guidance states that vaping is substantially less harmful than smoking and is one of the most effective quitting tools, particularly when combined with support from a stop smoking service. It is not recommended for people who have never smoked.
Published 28 August 2026: dates checked for 2026 to 2028.
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