April Fools' Day

April Fools' Day
An April Fools' Day prank marking the construction of the Copenhagen Metro in 2001
Also calledApril Fool's Day
TypeCultural, Western
SignificancePractical jokes, pranks
ObservancesComedy
Date1 April
Next time1 April 2026 (2026-04-01)
FrequencyAnnual

April Fools' Day or April Fool's Day (rarely called All Fools' Day) is an annual custom on the 1st of April consisting of practical jokes, hoaxes, and pranks. Jokesters often expose their actions by shouting "April Fool[s]!" at the recipient. Mass media can be involved with these pranks, which may be revealed as such the following day. The custom of setting aside a day for playing harmless pranks upon one's neighbor has been relatively common in the world historically.