Community Manager Appreciation Day is observed worldwide on the fourth Monday in January, specifically on January 26 in 2026. This annual event recognizes and celebrates the contributions of online community managers, who are responsible for building, developing, and managing online communities around brands or causes. Launched in 2010 by industry analyst Jeremiah Owyang, the first CMAD took place in the United States on January 25. The observance expanded internationally the following year, with events held in Nairobi, Kenya, and Finland being the first European country to celebrate in 2012. Countries participating in CMAD now include the USA, Australia, Ireland, the Netherlands, the UK, Canada, South Africa, Finland, China, and France. Celebrations often involve in-person meetups to discuss digital media and content industry matters, and participants can also express their appreciation for community managers through social media using the hashtags #CMAD and #CMGR.