If you’re the type of person who stays under the covers when the calendar hits a certain date, you might want to stock up on snacks and movies. 2026 is going to be a busy one for the superstitious. Honestly, it’s not just one of those "once a year" things this time around. We are actually looking at a rare "triple threat" year.
So, when is the next Friday the 13th in 2026? Mark your calendars for February 13, 2026.
But don't uncross your fingers after that. Because the universe has a sense of humor, the second one hits exactly four weeks later on March 13, 2026. And just when you think you’ve made it through the year unscathed, the third and final one arrives on November 13, 2026.
Three of them. In one year.
That’s a lot of spilled salt and avoided ladders.
The Math Behind the Madness
Most years only have one or maybe two of these "unlucky" days. To get three in a single non-leap year (like 2026), the year has to start on a Thursday. When January 1st is a Thursday, it creates a specific domino effect in the Gregorian calendar where February, March, and November all start on a Sunday.
And if a month starts on a Sunday? You guessed it. The 13th is always a Friday.
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It's basically a calendar glitch that happens in a predictable cycle. You’ve probably noticed that we haven't had a triple-header like this since 2015. After 2026, we won't see this specific February-March-November trio again until 2037. It's a 28-year pattern that keeps the rhythm of the calendar steady, even if it feels like the stars are aligning against us.
Interestingly, the math shows that Friday is actually the most common day for the 13th of the month to fall on over a 400-year cycle. It’s not just your imagination; the calendar literally leans toward Fridays.
Why Are We Even Afraid of This?
The fear has a name: paraskevidekatriaphobia. Try saying that three times fast while looking in a mirror. Actually, maybe don't.
People have been trying to pinpoint where this collective dread comes from for centuries. Most historians think it’s a "superstition smoothie"—a blend of two separate fears that got mashed together in the late 1800s.
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First, you’ve got the number 13. It’s always been the awkward guest at the party. In numerology, 12 is considered "complete"—12 months, 12 zodiac signs, 12 hours on a clock, 12 apostles. 13 is the one that breaks the perfection. It’s the "extra" that causes chaos.
Then there’s Friday. For a long time, Friday was "hangman’s day" in Britain because that’s when executions usually happened. Combine an unlucky number with a day associated with the gallows, and you’ve got a recipe for a bad vibe.
Some people point to the Knights Templar. On Friday, October 13, 1307, King Philip IV of France ordered the mass arrest of the Templars. They were tortured and eventually executed. While it’s a compelling story, many folklorists believe the link between this event and the modern superstition was actually popularized much later, likely by 20th-century novels like Thomas Lawson's Friday, the Thirteenth.
Does Anything Actually Happen?
Statistically? It’s a mixed bag.
There’s a famous study from the British Medical Journal that suggested hospital admissions for traffic accidents might spike on Friday the 13th. But other researchers, like those in Finland, found that while there might be more accidents involving women on that day, it’s often due to the anxiety of the superstition rather than some cosmic curse.
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Basically, if you’re so worried about being unlucky that you’re looking for black cats instead of watching the road, you’re probably going to have a bad time.
Of course, some real-world "bad luck" has landed on this date:
- The Andes flight disaster in 1972 (Friday, Oct 13).
- The mini-crash of the stock market in 1989 (Friday, Oct 13).
- The Costa Concordia cruise ship crash in 2012 (Friday, Jan 13).
But for every disaster, there’s a counter-point. For instance, some people consider 13 a lucky number. In Italy, 17 is actually the "scary" number, and Friday the 13th is just another day to grab an espresso.
How to Handle the 2026 Trio
Since we’re facing three of these days in 2026, you might as well lean into it.
The February and March dates are back-to-back, which is a bit intense. If you’re a horror fan, that’s basically a two-month-long excuse for a Jason Voorhees marathon. If you’re genuinely nervous, maybe just treat those days as "self-care" days. Stay home, order in, and don’t walk under any scaffolding.
Honestly, the "bad luck" is usually just a confirmation bias. If you stub your toe on a Tuesday, you forget it. If you stub your toe on Friday the 13th, you blame the moon.
Actionable Steps for 2026:
- Check your travel plans: If you’re flying on February 13, March 13, or November 13, you’ll likely find cheaper tickets. Many people are still too spooked to fly, so take the discount.
- Psychology check: Remind yourself that paraskevidekatriaphobia is a learned behavior. If you feel anxious, look at the stats—millions of people have the best days of their lives on these dates.
- Calendar prep: If you run a business or an event, maybe avoid scheduling a major "Grand Opening" on these days. Not because it’s cursed, but because your customers might be staying home!
2026 is going to be an interesting year for the calendar-obsessed. Just remember that by the time we hit that final one in November, we'll all be pros at navigating the "unluckiest" day of the year.