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September 25
About Macmillan Coffee Morning 2026
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 25 September | Friday |
| 2027 | 24 September | Friday |
| 2028 | 29 September | Friday |
Macmillan Coffee Morning is held on the last Friday in September each year. In 2026 that is Friday, 25 September.
Every autumn, Macmillan Coffee Morning brings communities together over coffee, cake, and conversation to raise vital funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. Since 1990, it has grown into one of the UK’s largest single-day charity fundraisers, consistently raising around £17 million per year.
What Happens on Macmillan Coffee Morning?
Individuals, families, schools, offices, and community groups host gatherings – sharing hot drinks and homemade treats – in exchange for donations. Macmillan provides free fundraising kits to every host, including a tablecloth, bunting, posters, recipe cards, and collection envelopes. Events range from a quiet kitchen-table coffee for two to large workplace bake sales or school fairs.
The UK’s biggest supermarkets, banks, and employers all participate, and Marks and Spencer has alone raised over £25 million through Macmillan-themed products and in-store collections over the years. The money raised funds Macmillan cancer nurses, emotional support helplines, financial guidance, and grants for people living with cancer and their families.
Why Macmillan Coffee Morning Matters
There are around 3.5 million people living with cancer in the UK. Macmillan’s cancer nurses and support workers help them navigate treatment, manage finances, and stay connected to community – often at moments of profound uncertainty. The Coffee Morning is the charity’s largest fundraising event and a primary source of the income that keeps those services running.
Since 1990, Coffee Morning has raised over £310 million. Each cup of tea poured and each slice of cake donated is part of that collective effort. Macmillan estimates that the funds raised each year support tens of thousands of individual interactions between its nurses and people living with cancer.
How to Host a Macmillan Coffee Morning
- Register on the Macmillan website – hosts receive a free kit with everything needed to plan, decorate, and promote their event.
- Choose a venue and date – the official day is 25 September 2026, but any Friday in late September works. Schools often hold theirs in the week leading up.
- Serve cake and drinks – encourage donations rather than setting a fixed price. A suggested donation prompt raises more than a free event.
- Get creative – host a chai afternoon, a kitchen disco, a pet-friendly gathering, or a “dress as your favourite biscuit” day. Macmillan actively encourages unusual formats.
- Promote in advance – use the official posters in staff rooms, classrooms, and on social media. Use #MacmillanCoffeeMorning and #WorldsBiggestCoffeeMorning.
- Submit donations – Macmillan provides instructions for paying in funds online or by cheque. Hosts receive a thank-you certificate.
What is Macmillan Coffee Morning?
Macmillan Coffee Morning – officially called the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning – is an annual charity fundraising event run by Macmillan Cancer Support. It began in 1990 when Macmillan nurses asked their supporters to host small coffee gatherings and donate the proceeds. The first national event ran in 1991. Over three decades, it has become one of the most recognisable charity events in the UK calendar, with participants in every county.
A Short History
The event started as a grassroots idea among Macmillan nurses: invite people round for coffee and ask them to donate the cost of the drinks. That simple concept worked so well locally that it became a national campaign the following year. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, it expanded steadily – taken up by schools, workplaces, churches, and retailers. The addition of large corporate partners, social media sharing, and celebrity support in the 2010s pushed annual income past £25 million in its peak years. The pandemic years saw the event shift partly online, with virtual coffee mornings maintaining momentum until in-person events returned.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Macmillan Coffee Morning 2026?
Friday, 25 September 2026 – the last Friday in September.
How do I sign up to host?
Register at macmillan.org.uk/coffee-morning. You’ll receive a free fundraising kit by post.
Can I hold it on a different day?
Yes. Macmillan encourages flexibility – many schools hold their event on a convenient Thursday or Monday in late September. The important thing is the fundraising, not the exact date.
Do I need to do it in person?
No. Online coffee mornings – where participants join a video call, bake at home, and donate via a JustGiving page – became popular during the pandemic and remain a valid option.
Related Awareness Days
- September Awareness Days
- UK Awareness Days
- World Cancer Day – 4 February
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month – October
Official Links
Last reviewed: 2026-09-05. Body date corrected from 26 September to 25 September 2026 (last Friday of September); dates table added for 2026-2028; article restructured to tentpole spec with FAQ section and improved how-to guide.
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