National Grandparents Day 2026 is Sunday, September 13, 2026, in the United States. It is observed on the first Sunday after Labor Day and is a day to recognize grandparents and the role older generations play in families.
But you don’t need to wait for Grandparents Day to do something special for your grandparents.
For many families, grandparents are the people who remember the stories that came before us. They know what our parents were like as children, where family traditions came from and what life was like long before we were around. Spending time with them gives us a chance to hear those stories while we still can.
This Grandparents Day, instead of simply buying another present, consider giving your grandparent something more personal: your time, your attention and an opportunity to share their story.
When Is Grandparents Day 2026?
In the United States, National Grandparents Day is Sunday, September 13, 2026.
In 2027, National Grandparents Day will be celebrated on Sunday, September 12, in the United States.
The observance began with Marian McQuade, a West Virginia woman who campaigned for a day that recognised the importance of older people and their relationships with younger generations. National Grandparents Day was formally established in U.S. law in 1979.
The original idea wasn’t simply to give grandparents presents. One of the purposes of the day is to help younger people recognise the knowledge, guidance and experience that older generations can offer.
That makes the day a good excuse to do something that can easily get pushed aside during a busy year: sit down and listen.
Why Grandparents Deserve to Be Celebrated
Grandparents can occupy a unique place in a family.
They may have known your parents when they were young. They can remember relatives you’ve never met and explain the stories behind old photographs. They may know family recipes, traditions, languages, places and experiences that aren’t written down anywhere else.
And their contribution isn’t only about family history.
Grandparents often help care for grandchildren, provide practical support and offer another source of advice and reassurance. A 2023 presidential proclamation for National Grandparents Day described grandparents as people who share stories of courage and resilience and, in many families, help hold the household together.
That’s why celebrating grandparents isn’t just about making them feel appreciated for one day.
It’s also about recognising that their experiences are part of your family’s story.
6 Simple Ways to Celebrate Grandparents Day
You don’t need to organise a big family gathering or spend a lot of money. Some of the best ways to celebrate are surprisingly simple.
1. Spend some proper time together
Visit your grandparents for lunch. Take them for a coffee. Go for a walk. Sit in the garden.
If you don’t live nearby, arrange a video call or phone call and give them your full attention for a while.
The goal isn’t to fill the day with activities. It’s to spend time together without rushing.
Generations United’s 2026 Grandparents Day campaign similarly encourages families to share a meal, take a walk, look through photographs, share stories or arrange a virtual visit.
2. Look through old family photographs
Find an old family album and ask your grandparent to tell you about the people in the pictures.
You might know someone’s name but have no idea what they were like.
Ask:
- Who is this?
- Where was this photograph taken?
- How old were you?
- What was happening that day?
- What do you remember about this person?
- What was your family like when you were growing up?
You may hear stories you’ve never heard before.
And don’t assume the stories you think you know are the whole story. Sometimes asking the same question years later brings out a completely different memory.
3. Ask about their life before you knew them
Most of us know our grandparents as grandparents. We don’t always think about the fact that they were once children, teenagers, young adults, newlyweds and new parents themselves.
Ask about those parts of their lives.
What did they want to be when they were young? What was their first job? How did they meet their partner? What was their first home like? What did they do for fun? What was difficult about raising a family?
If you need somewhere to start, try these questions to ask your grandparents about their lives and memories.
The answers may tell you things you never knew about your own family.
4. Cook a family recipe together
Ask your grandparent to make something they’ve cooked for years.
But don’t just write down the recipe.
Ask where it came from.
Who taught them? When did they usually make it? Was it something their mother or grandmother made? Is there a story behind it?
Take photographs while you cook and write down the story alongside the recipe.
That turns a family recipe into something much more valuable than a list of ingredients.
5. Record their stories
This may be one of the most valuable things you can do.
If your grandparent is comfortable with it, record some of your conversations. You could use your phone to capture their voice while you talk about their childhood, family, work, travels or experiences.
Don’t make it feel like an interview. Start with one question and let the conversation go where it naturally goes.
Years from now, hearing their actual voice telling a story may mean as much as the story itself.
If your family is interested in preserving more than a few recordings, you could turn those conversations into a family keepsake or life story that future generations can read and revisit.
6. Give them a gift that tells their story
If your grandparent doesn’t need another mug, sweater or box of chocolates, think about giving them something connected to their life.
A photo album is one option. A collection of family recipes is another.
You could also create a memoir.
A memoir gives your grandparent the chance to tell their story in their own words — from childhood and family life to the experiences and lessons that shaped them.
A Grandparents Day Gift They’ll Keep
A personalised memoir can be a particularly meaningful gift for a grandparent because it starts with something they already have: their story.
With StoriedLife, grandparents can have guided conversations with Eva, an AI biographer who asks questions about their life and helps turn those conversations into a written memoir.
Families can add photographs, voice recordings and other memories to make the finished book more personal.
The result isn’t just another gift.
It’s a record of the person behind the role of “Grandma” or “Grandpa.”
And that’s important because the details that seem ordinary today can become the things your family wants to remember later.
You can also explore more ways to preserve family memories and create a family legacy.
What If Your Grandparents Live Far Away?
Distance doesn’t have to mean missing Grandparents Day.
Send them a handwritten letter. Arrange a video call. Ask them to show you an old photograph over the phone. Cook the same family recipe together from different homes.
You could even start a regular tradition — a monthly call where you ask one question about their life.
If you’re looking for a physical gift, there are also thoughtful gifts for grandparents who live far away that can help you feel closer despite the distance.
The important thing is to make the effort personal.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late to Ask
One of the easiest things to take for granted is that there will always be another opportunity to ask.
Another Christmas.
Another birthday.
Another family lunch.
Another chance to hear the story you’ve heard a hundred times.
But eventually, those opportunities stop.
That’s why Grandparents Day can be a useful reminder to ask the questions you’ve been meaning to ask and record the stories you don’t want your family to lose.
You don’t need to document an entire life in one afternoon. Start with one conversation.
Ask your grandparent:
“What’s a story from your life that you wish more people in the family knew?”
Then listen.
Grandparents Day Is About More Than a Gift
National Grandparents Day is officially one day on the calendar, but celebrating your grandparents doesn’t have to be.
Call them more often. Visit when you can. Learn the family recipes. Look through the photographs. Ask about their childhood. Record their stories.
And if you want to give them something to keep, consider giving them the opportunity to create a memoir — not simply because it preserves their history, but because it tells them that their life is worth listening to.
That may be the most meaningful gift you can give.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is National Grandparents Day 2026?
National Grandparents Day 2026 is Sunday, September 13, 2026, in the United States. It is observed on the first Sunday after Labor Day.
What is the purpose of National Grandparents Day?
The day was established to honor grandparents, give grandparents an opportunity to share their love with grandchildren and encourage younger generations to recognize the knowledge and guidance older people can offer.
What can I do for my grandparents on Grandparents Day?
You could visit them, have a meal together, look through old photographs, ask about their childhood, cook a family recipe, record their stories or create a personalized keepsake.
What is a meaningful Grandparents Day gift?
A meaningful gift is usually something personal rather than simply expensive. A family photo book, handwritten letter, family recipe collection or personalized memoir can all help preserve memories and celebrate your grandparent’s life.
How can I preserve my grandparents’ stories?
You can record conversations with your grandparent, write down their memories, collect photographs and family documents, or create a memoir that brings their stories together in one place. Tools such as StoriedLife can help guide conversations and turn them into a finished life story.
Is September 13, 2026 Grandparents Day everywhere?
September 13, 2026 is National Grandparents Day in the United States. Other countries and organisations may observe different days. For example, the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly takes place on the fourth Sunday of July, although the U.S. Catholic bishops have aligned the 2026 observance with the September Grandparents Day weekend.