Programmers’ Day

Programmers’ Day is an annual holiday dedicated to programmers and other software professionals. It is observed on the 256th day of the year, which usually falls on September 13, or on September 12 in leap years.

History of Programmers’ Day

Programmers’ Day originated in Russia. In 2002, IT specialists Valentin Balt and Mikhail Chervyakov began collecting signatures for a petition asking the government to recognize a professional holiday for programmers.

Their effort eventually succeeded, and in 2009 President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree officially establishing Programmers’ Day in Russia. The holiday has since become popular among IT professionals in other countries as well.

The history of programming reaches back to the 19th century, when Charles Babbage designed early mechanical computing machines and Ada Lovelace wrote what is often considered the first computer algorithm. Since then, programming has become essential to science, business, communication, entertainment, and everyday life.

Interesting Facts About Programmers’ Day

• Programmers’ Day is observed on the 256th day of the year because 256 is an important number in computing.
• In common years, the 256th day falls on September 13.
• In leap years, Programmers’ Day falls on September 12.
• FORTRAN, developed in the 1950s, was one of the first widely used high-level programming languages.

How to Take Part in Programmers’ Day

Celebrate Programmers’ Day by congratulating friends, colleagues, or family members who work in software development, data science, cybersecurity, web development, or other IT fields.

You can also use the day to learn the basics of coding, start a small programming project, take an online course, or explore the history of computer science and the people who helped shape the digital world.

When Is Programmers’ Day in 2026?

Programmers’ Day is observed on the 256th day of the year. In 2026, it falls on September 13.

Observations