World Kindness Day 2026: Small acts, big days.
Every year on 13 November 🌻
One kind thing can change how someone's whole day feels. Here are small ideas, kind words to send, and a place to listen to someone who needs it.
Zuzu Club's World Kindness Day page: what the day is, small acts of kindness for strangers, friends and yourself, kind words to send, and free, anonymous ways to listen to someone or be heard.
· By Zuzu Club
What is World Kindness Day? A day to notice the good we can do.
World Kindness Day is on 13 November every year. It was started in 1998 by the World Kindness Movement, a group of kindness organisations that first came together in Tokyo in 1997.
The idea is simple: kindness is something anyone can do, anywhere, for free. It does not need a plan or money. A message, a door held open, ten minutes of listening. That is enough.
- Date: 13 November, every year
- In 2026: Friday, 13 November
- Since: 1998
- Started by: The World Kindness Movement
Sources: World Kindness Day on Wikipedia, The World Kindness Movement
Acts of kindness ideas: Small acts, pick one.
Kindness for a stranger
- Smile and say thank you, and mean it.
- Leave a kind review for a small shop or café.
- Reply kindly to a stranger's thought in the Sky.
Kindness for someone you know
- Send "I thought of you today" to someone you miss.
- Tell a friend one thing you like about them.
- Ask "How are you, really?" and wait for the answer.
Kindness for yourself
- Speak to yourself like you would to a friend.
- Rest for five minutes without your phone.
- Let go of one worry you have carried too long.
World Kindness Day quotes and messages: Kind words, ready to send.
Copy one and send it to someone today. Short is fine. Kind is enough.
I thought of you today. Hope your day is gentle.
You make things better just by being you.
No need to reply. Just wanted you to know I care.
I'm proud of you, even for the small things.
If you ever need to talk, I'm here.
Be kind to yourself today. You're doing your best.
Kindness films, books and music: Films, books and music full of kindness.
Warm picks for a quiet evening, for a class, or to share with someone who needs a softer day.
Films about kindness
- Wonder (2017 · Family drama): A boy with a facial difference starts school. "When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind."
- Paddington 2 (2017 · Family comedy): A bear who sees the good in everyone, even in prison. "If we're kind and polite, the world will be right."
- A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019 · Drama): A tired journalist meets Fred Rogers, and slowly learns to be gentle with his own feelings.
- Won't You Be My Neighbor? (2018 · Documentary): The real Fred Rogers, and why his quiet kindness still means so much.
- Klaus (2019 · Animated): A grumpy postman and a lonely toymaker find that one kind act sparks another.
- Pay It Forward (2000 · Drama): A boy's school project: do something big for three people, and ask each to pass it on. Content note: addiction, a sad ending.
Books about kindness
- Wonder (R. J. Palacio · 2012 · Middle grade): The book behind the film, told by Auggie and the people around him. A favourite for classrooms.
- The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse (Charlie Mackesy · 2019 · Illustrated): "What is the bravest thing you've ever said?" "Help." Little drawings about kindness, for every age.
- Humankind: A Hopeful History (Rutger Bregman · 2019 · Non-fiction): A hopeful case that most people, deep down, are pretty decent.
- Congratulations, by the way (George Saunders · 2014 · Speech): A short graduation speech: what he regrets most in life are his "failures of kindness".
- Self-Compassion (Kristin Neff · 2011 · Self-help): Kindness starts at home: how to treat yourself like you would treat a good friend.
Songs about kindness
- Lean on Me (Bill Withers · 1972): The simplest song about friendship: we all need somebody, sometimes.
- You've Got a Friend (Carole King · 1971): Winter, spring, summer or fall: a promise to show up when someone calls.
- Count on Me (Bruno Mars · 2010): A light, ukulele song about being there for a friend, any time.
- Be Kind (Marshmello & Halsey · 2020): A pop plea for gentleness, with the title as the whole message.
- What the World Needs Now Is Love (Jackie DeShannon · 1965): Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Still true, sixty years on.
- Bridge over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkel · 1970): When times get rough, someone lays themselves down like a bridge.
Kindness on Zuzu: Be the kind stranger someone needs.
Zuzu is a free, anonymous place built on kindness between strangers. A few ways to share some today.
- Listen to someone: Be the kind stranger someone is hoping for. Join as a listener and just be there.
- Talk to someone: Kindness goes both ways. If you need it today, a kind stranger is here, free and anonymous.
- Reply to a thought: Open the Sky of Thoughts, tap a thought that feels heavy, and leave a kind reply.
- Learn to listen well: Ten minutes with the Listener Guide: what to say, what not to say, and how to stay kind.
World Kindness Day FAQ
When is World Kindness Day 2026?
World Kindness Day is on 13 November every year. In 2026 it falls on a Friday.
Who started World Kindness Day?
The World Kindness Movement started it in 1998. The movement grew out of a meeting of kindness groups in Tokyo in 1997.
What can I do on World Kindness Day?
Something small is perfect: send a kind message, thank someone, help a stranger, or be gentle with yourself. You can also listen to someone on Zuzu for ten minutes.
What are some random acts of kindness ideas?
Thank a bus driver or cleaner by name, leave a kind note for a neighbour, pay a compliment you would normally keep to yourself, give a good review to a small shop, or reply kindly to a stranger's thought in the Sky of Thoughts.
How can schools and workplaces mark World Kindness Day?
Keep it simple: a kindness wall where people leave notes for each other, a "thank you" message chain, or ten quiet minutes to message someone you have not checked on. The kind words on this page are free to copy and share.
Why does kindness matter for mental health?
Kindness helps people feel seen and less alone, both the person who gets it and the person who gives it. Sometimes the kindest thing is simply to listen. The Listener Guide shows how.
How can I be kind to a stranger online?
Read slowly, reply gently, and listen more than you talk. On Zuzu you can chat with a stranger anonymously and simply be there for them.
Got a kind idea? Tell me.
An idea for this page, a film or book to add, a kind thing someone did for you, or feedback on Zuzu. I read every message myself.
Need help right now?
If you might hurt yourself or you are in danger, please contact local emergency services, or find a free, confidential helpline in your country. You deserve kindness today too.
