Pancake Day
Pancake Day 2027 falls on Tuesday 9 February. In 2028, Pancake Day falls on Tuesday 29 February.
The dates of Pancake Day, this year and in the years ahead.
When is Pancake Day?
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Tuesday, 4 March 2025 |
| 2026 | Tuesday, 17 February 2026 |
| 2027 | Tuesday, 9 February 2027 |
| 2028 | Tuesday, 29 February 2028 |
| 2029 | Tuesday, 13 February 2029 |
| 2030 | Tuesday, 5 March 2030 |
| 2031 | Tuesday, 25 February 2031 |
Dates calculated from the statutory rules. Source: GOV.UK: UK bank holidays. More about our sources
What is Pancake Day?
Pancake Day is the popular name for Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. 'Shrove' comes from 'shrive', to hear confession: Christians went to confession before the forty days of fasting began. It was also the last chance to use up rich foods such as eggs, butter and milk, and pancakes were the perfect way to do that.
In many other countries the same day is known as Mardi Gras, or 'Fat Tuesday', the end of Carnival.
When is Pancake Day?
Shrove Tuesday falls 47 days before Easter Sunday, so the date moves every year, from early February to early March. It is not a bank holiday: shops, schools and offices are open as normal.
In 2027 it falls on Tuesday 9 February.
Pancake races and toppings
British pancakes are thin, like crêpes, and the classic topping is lemon juice and sugar, although chocolate spread, syrup and fruit are just as popular. Tossing pancakes in the pan is part of the fun.
In many towns, people run pancake races, flipping a pancake in a frying pan as they go. The best-known race, in Olney in Buckinghamshire, is said to go back to the fifteenth century, when a woman supposedly heard the church bell while making pancakes and ran to church still holding her pan.
Frequently asked questions
When is Pancake Day 2027?
In 2027, Pancake Day falls on Tuesday 9 February.
Is Pancake Day a day off?
No, Pancake Day is not a public holiday in the United Kingdom.
Why do we eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday?
To use up rich foods like eggs, butter and milk before the fasting of Lent began on Ash Wednesday.
Is Pancake Day the same as Mardi Gras?
Yes, it's the same day: the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras means 'Fat Tuesday' in French.