National Coffee with a Cop Day 2026
National Coffee with a Cop Day is observed on the first Wednesday of October. In 2026 that is Wednesday, October 7. Officers and neighbors meet over coffee with no agenda and no speeches. The program began with Hawthorne PD in 2011; the first national day was 2016 with COPS Office support. It is not a U.S. federal holiday and not National Coffee Day.
About National Coffee with a Cop Day
National Coffee with a Cop Day is observed on the first Wednesday of October. In 2026 that is Wednesday, October 7. Officers and neighbors meet over coffee in a public place with no agenda and no speeches. The program began with the Hawthorne Police Department in California in 2011; the first national day was 2016 with support from the Justice Department’s COPS Office. It is not a U.S. federal holiday and not National Coffee Day or International Coffee Day.
Floating date vs Walk to School Day / Coffee Day
| Name | Typical date | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| National Coffee with a Cop Day | First Wednesday of October (2026 = Oct 7) | This page — informal officer–neighbor coffee |
| National Walk to School Day | Same first Wednesday of October | Safe Routes / schools — not policing |
| National Coffee Day | September 29 on this site | Coffee beverage day — different |
| International Coffee Day | October 1 commonly | Different beverage observance |
Same first Wednesday can host more than one informal observance. Coffee with a Cop stays about conversation over coffee. Walk to School stays about the school trip — see National Walk to School Day. For the beverage dates, keep National Coffee Day and International Coffee Day on their own pages. Date hub: October 7 hub. Month: October national days.
Timeline
March 2011. Hawthorne Police Department in California launches Coffee with a Cop — officers and community members talking over coffee without a formal agenda. The format spreads to other agencies; secondary materials commonly note participation across all 50 states by around 2016.
7 October 2016. First National Coffee with a Cop Day, with support from the Justice Department’s COPS Office. The national calendar later settles on the first Wednesday of October as the recurring slot. It is a community event date used by many agencies — not a paid federal holiday and not a claim that coffee fixes policing.
How to observe National Coffee with a Cop Day
- Find a local event via coffeewithacop.com or your agency’s public page — times and locations vary.
- Ask a real question about the neighborhood, not a rehearsed talking point.
- Expect officers at tables, not podiums — the format is conversation, not a speech.
- Bring a neighbor so more than one household gets face time.
- Keep it informal — conversation first; skip turning the meetup into a photo-op without talking.
Answer-ready summary
National Coffee with a Cop Day is observed on the first Wednesday of October. In 2026 that is Wednesday, October 7. Officers and neighbors meet over coffee with no agenda and no speeches. The program began with Hawthorne PD in 2011; the first national day was 2016 with COPS Office support. It is not a U.S. federal holiday and not National Coffee Day.
Facts
- Hawthorne Police Department held the first Coffee with a Cop in March 2011
- The format is informal conversation: no agenda and no speeches
- The first national day was 7 October 2016, with support from the DOJ COPS Office
- The day is now the first Wednesday of October each year
- It is not a U.S. federal holiday, and it is not National Coffee Day
Upcoming dates
- Wednesday, October 7, 2026
- Wednesday, October 6, 2027
- Wednesday, October 4, 2028
- Wednesday, October 3, 2029
- Wednesday, October 2, 2030
Frequently asked questions
When is National Coffee with a Cop Day in 2026?
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 — the first Wednesday of October.
Is today National Coffee with a Cop Day?
No. National Coffee with a Cop Day in 2026 falls on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, not today.
Does National Coffee with a Cop Day move?
Yes. The promoted rule is the first Wednesday of October.
Is it the same as National Walk to School Day?
No. They share the first-Wednesday-of-October slot in many years, including 2026, but Walk to School is a Safe Routes / school-trip observance.
Who started Coffee with a Cop?
The Hawthorne Police Department (California) in 2011; the first national day was 2016 with COPS Office support.
How do you take part in Coffee with a Cop?
Find a local coffee meetup, ask a real question, keep it informal, and bring a neighbor if you can.
Is National Coffee with a Cop Day a federal holiday?
No. It is also not National Coffee Day or International Coffee Day.
Share
Help others discover this day by sharing it.