Father’s Day is a day to celebrate dads. You may be stuck for ideas on what to do for the dad in your life. Well, you can relax, we’ve got some great ideas for you
Whether you’re celebrating your dad or your child’s dad, this guide is for you. Throughout the article, when we say “your dad,” feel free to read it as “your child’s dad” if that’s who you’re honouring. We understand that some children may be too young to get the concept, or may not even be born yet! That doesn’t mean he shouldn’t feel celebrated and appreciated.
Coming up with meaningful ways to mark the day can be tricky, so we’ve put together 10 thoughtful ideas to help you plan something special. Plus, scroll to the end for answers to common Father’s Day questions.
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When is Father’s day 2026?
Before we get started on our ideas, let’s cover the important part….Father’s Day this year is on Sunday, 26 June 2026.
Ideas to celebrate the day
If you need some ideas to celebrate dads this Father’s Day, here are 10 great ideas for you.
- Make a personalised card:
Making your own card can take some thought and be time-consuming, but it can be fun. One thing is for sure, they’ll almost always be more appreciated than a shop-bought card. Of course, if you don’t fancy that or aren’t very arty, you could try creating a card and printing it using Canva. You can use their images or, even better, use your own. Canva is free to use, but they do have some premium images or you could even use their AI to generate an image. - Create a quiz:
Quizzes can be fun, especially if you’ve got a few people around. You could create questions around things he should know about his family, or search Google for some harder ones. Add some jeopardy to it and create forfeits for incorrect answers. - Research his family history:
If you’ve got time and you’re not reading this the day before Father’s Day, you could research his family tree and present that to him. You can cover his ancestors and what they did and how they lived. - Create a photobook:
A few Apps around now allow you to upload photos and then create a photobook. If you’re doing this for your partner on behalf of the little one, you could use some photos from the last year or two of them together. - Bake a cake:
Why not bake a cake with your little one. We have cakes for birthdays, Christmas and other celebrations. Get baking a Father’s Day cake. It doesn’t have to be a huge fancy cake you could keep it simple with this Weetabix cake recipe. Let’s be honest here who doesn’t like cake and have a favourite?
Father’s Day 2026 ideas continued…
- Go on a treasure hunt:
Here’s a fun one the kids will love too! Gather a few small gifts, then sneak out and hide them around your garden or local area. Next, come up with a list of clues and turn it into a mini treasure hunt! It’s the perfect excuse for a family adventure, some giggles, and a bit of mischief. Your child can be your sneaky sidekick while hiding the gifts, or team up with Dad to help him find them. Either way, it’s a guaranteed good time and a memory in the making! - BBQ time:
Since it’s June (and we’ll cross our fingers for sunshine!), why not fire up the BBQ and turn Father’s Day into a laid-back, social celebration? Get together with other families and host a group gathering in your garden, local park, or even at the beach if you’re lucky enough to live near one. Think sizzling burgers, ice-cold drinks, and kids running around having a blast. It’s a great way to take the pressure off planning something big—plus, dads usually aren’t hard to please when there’s a burger in one hand and a beer in the other! Add in some lawn games or a little music, and you’ve got yourself a proper Father’s Day festivity. - Help him relax:
Making a big thing about it isn’t the sort of thing dad likes to do? Grab some popcorn and some snacks and binge-watch some movies on Netflix. You may want to take the kids out to let him have some peace. - Experience days:
🎁 Experience days are a winner for a reason—there’s something for every kind of dad! Whether he’s an adrenaline junkie or just loves trying something new, you’ve got options. Take him up, up, and away in a hot air balloon 🎈, let him feel like James Bond with a helicopter ride 🚁, or legally unleash his inner speed demon on a racetrack with a high-performance car 🏎️. Don’t forget to snap loads of photos while you’re at it—then, just like we mentioned earlier, turn those memories into a Photobook 📸 for a gift that keeps the good vibes going long after the day is over. - Personalised gifts:
Personalised gifts are great, why not make or keep a list of all the reasons Dad is amazing? Then get those reasons printed on a mug, poster or coasters. He’ll be reminded daily about how much he is appreciated.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is Father’s Day determined in the UK?
The day is set for the 3rd Sunday every June.
Do other countries celebrate Father’s Day?
Yes, dads are celebrated internationally in 84 countries. However many countries have different days throughout the year.
Who invented Father’s Day?
Father’s day was thought up by Sonora Smart Dodd from the USA. When she was attending a church service for Mother’s Day in 1909. Sonora, who was 27 years old at the time, came up with the idea of celebrating dads. She then convinced the Spokane Ministerial Association and the YMCA to set one Sunday in June to celebrate. She originally wanted the day to be on the 5th of June, her Father’s birthday.
How can I make Father’s Day special?
The best way to make the day truly special is to turn it into something he will genuinely remember. Not just a nice gesture, but a day that stands out – one he’ll still be talking about long after it’s over (or at least until the next year rolls around). The key is to think beyond a single moment and instead make a full day of it, filled with thoughtful touches and a real element of surprise.
You could start the morning by treating him to his favourite breakfast. Whether that’s a classic fry-up, pancakes, or something simple he loves, it sets the tone for the day straight away. After breakfast, present him with a carefully chosen gift and, of course, a card with a message that shows how much he means to you. Taking a little extra time over this moment can make it feel even more special.
From there, plan a day out together. It doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated – something as simple as a picnic in the park, a long walk somewhere meaningful, or a relaxed day exploring can be just as memorable. Alternatively, you could book an experience day or activity that he wouldn’t normally expect. Choosing something slightly out of the ordinary can turn the day into a real talking point and give him a story to remember.
To round everything off, finish the day with a meal at his favourite restaurant or a place he’s always wanted to try. It’s the perfect way to relax, reflect on the day, and enjoy some quality time together. By combining a few thoughtful ideas and spreading them across the day, you create an experience that feels personal, memorable, and truly special.
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