Valentine’s Day 2027 falls on Sunday, February 14, 2027. It is the same date every year — February 14 — but in 2027 it lands on a Sunday, which makes it a full weekend celebration for couples, families, and friends across the United States. It is not a federal holiday, so schools, offices, and shops stay open, but restaurants book up fast and flower and chocolate sales surge in the days before.
This guide covers everything about Valentine’s Day 2027: the exact date and upcoming years, the real history behind St. Valentine (including what historians actually know — and what they don’t), the traditions and symbols, how much Americans spend and on what, and practical ideas for celebrating with a partner, friends, kids, or yourself. It is the main guide for our Valentine’s Day 2027 cluster — wishes, messages, and gift guides follow separately. If you are planning the season’s other holidays, see our guides to Christmas 2026, Hanukkah 2026, Kwanzaa 2026, New Year’s Day 2027, and Lunar New Year 2027.
When Is Valentine’s Day 2027?
Valentine’s Day is always February 14. In 2027, February 14 is a Sunday.
| Year | Valentine’s Day | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | February 14, 2026 | Saturday |
| 2027 | February 14, 2027 | Sunday |
| 2028 | February 14, 2028 | Monday |
| 2029 | February 14, 2029 | Wednesday |
| 2030 | February 14, 2030 | Thursday |
Because Valentine’s Day 2027 falls on a Sunday, it sits at the end of a full weekend — good news for dinner reservations and weekend getaways, and one reason restaurants and hotels expect a busy weekend. If you plan to eat out, book early: Valentine’s weekend is one of the busiest dining weekends of the year. The day before, Saturday, February 13, 2027, is Galentine’s Day, the informal celebration of female friendship popularized by the TV show Parks and Recreation in 2010, when friends gather for brunch, gifts, and time together.
February 2027 also brings Groundhog Day 2027 on February 2 and National Freedom Day 2027 on February 1.
What Is Valentine’s Day?
Valentine’s Day — also called Saint Valentine’s Day — is the annual celebration of love and affection, observed every February 14. In the United States today it is far broader than romance alone. Couples exchange cards, flowers, chocolates, and gifts; friends celebrate each other; parents give small treats to children; teachers receive valentines from students; and a growing number of people mark the day by treating themselves.
It is a cultural and commercial holiday, not a federal one. No one gets the day off work for it, the mail still runs, and stores stay open — but it is one of the biggest spending days of the year, second only to the Christmas season in card sales.
Who Was St. Valentine?
The honest answer is that historians are not entirely sure — and that uncertainty is part of the story.
According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, St. Valentine was the name of one or two legendary Christian martyrs whose lives “seem to have a historical basis.” One is believed to have been a priest and physician in Rome; the other a bishop in Terni, Italy. Both are said to have been executed on February 14, around the year 270 CE, during the persecution of Christians under the Roman emperor Claudius II Gothicus — and they may well have been the same person.
The most repeated legend says Valentine was a priest who defied Emperor Claudius II’s ban on marriages for young soldiers, secretly marrying couples in love. When discovered, he was imprisoned and executed. Another version says that before his death he wrote a letter to a jailer’s daughter and signed it “From your Valentine” — the phrase still used on cards today. These stories are legends, not documented history, and should be read as such.
What is documented: in the 5th century, Pope Gelasius I established February 14 as the feast day of St. Valentine. Centuries later, in 1969, the Catholic Church removed Valentine from the General Roman Calendar, citing the lack of reliable information about him — while continuing to recognize him as a saint.
How February 14 Became a Day of Romance
For centuries after St. Valentine’s feast day was established, February 14 had no connection to romance at all. That link arrived much later, and it came from literature, not from the church.
The 1300s — Chaucer makes the connection. The first known association between St. Valentine’s Day and romantic love appears in Geoffrey Chaucer’s poem Parlement of Foules, written around 1382, in which birds gather on St. Valentine’s Day to choose their mates: “For this was on Saint Valentine’s Day / When every fowl cometh there to choose his mate.” Within courtly circles, the idea caught on, and February 14 gradually became a day for lovers.
The Lupercalia story — popular, but probably wrong. You will often read that Valentine’s Day descends from Lupercalia, a Roman fertility festival held February 13–15, and that the church simply replaced it. Historians say there is no real evidence for that claim. The feast day and the festival shared a season, but the direct link is a later invention, not a documented fact.
The 1700s — cards begin. The tradition of exchanging written valentines took hold in the 18th century, when lovers began sending handmade notes and cards. In Britain, the practice exploded after 1840 with the introduction of the postage stamp.
The 1840s — America gets its valentine industry. Esther Howland of Worcester, Massachusetts, began producing elaborate handmade valentines in 1847 after receiving an English valentine card. Working from her father’s home with a team of local women, she built what became the New England Valentine Company — and earned the title “Mother of the American Valentine.” By the 1850s her business was reportedly earning $100,000 a year, an enormous sum at the time. The commercial valentine card industry in the United States starts with her.
Today. Around 145 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged in the United States each year, according to the Greeting Card Association — second only to Christmas in card volume.
Symbols and Traditions of Valentine’s Day
A few images have become inseparable from February 14. Each has its own history:
| Symbol | What it means |
|---|---|
| Red hearts | The heart shape became the visual shorthand for love; red roses and red hearts dominate cards, decorations, and gifts. |
| Red roses | The classic Valentine’s flower. Red roses are associated with Venus, the Roman goddess of love, and with romantic passion. |
| Cupid | The Roman god of love, son of Venus, usually shown as a winged child with a bow and arrow. His arrow was said to make its target fall in love. |
| Chocolates | Heart-shaped boxes of chocolate became a Valentine’s staple in the 19th century and remain one of the most-bought gifts. |
| Doves and lovebirds | Doves symbolize love and fidelity; lovebirds mate for life, which is why they appear on vintage valentines. |
| The colors red, pink, and white | Red for passion, pink for affection, white for purity — the standard Valentine’s palette. |
Common traditions in the US include exchanging cards, giving flowers (especially roses) and chocolates, sharing a romantic dinner at home or at a restaurant, and giving jewelry. Schoolchildren exchange valentines with classmates, and many workplaces see small gifts between colleagues.
How Americans Celebrate: Spending, Gifts, and Who Gets What
Valentine’s Day is one of the biggest retail events in the United States. The National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics survey consumers each January, and their 2025 survey projected record spending of $27.5 billion, with the average person planning to spend $188.81 — up from $25.8 billion in 2024 and just above the previous record of $27.4 billion in 2020. A little over half of Americans — 56% — planned to celebrate in 2025. The NRF’s 2027 survey will be released in January 2027; expect the total to stay in the same range.
Candy is the most commonly bought gift, followed by flowers and greeting cards, with an evening out also near the top of the list. Jewelry costs the most per purchase, which is why it accounts for the largest share of dollars spent even though fewer people buy it.
But the spending is not all for romantic partners. The 2025 figures show how wide the celebration has become:
- 34% of Americans buy Valentine’s gifts for themselves.
- 33% buy gifts for friends — projected at $2.4 billion.
- 27% buy for their children’s classmates and teachers — projected at $2.2 billion.
- 21% buy for coworkers — projected at $1.7 billion.
- Around a third of shoppers buy something for their pets.
Younger Americans spend the most: Gen Z averaged about $235 in 2025, while Gen X averaged about $95. And because Valentine’s Day 2027 falls on a Sunday, expect spending on dining out and weekend experiences to be strong — weekend dates tend to push people toward restaurants, trips, and activities rather than gifts alone.
Valentine’s Day 2027 Ideas
You do not need a big budget to mark the day well. The best ideas match the person, not the price tag.
For a partner
- A home-cooked dinner with candles beats a crowded restaurant for many couples — and on a Sunday, you have the whole day to prepare.
- A handwritten letter or card. After 600 years of valentines, the written note is still the part people keep.
- An experience instead of an object: a cooking class, a show, a day trip, or a walk somewhere new together.
For friends (Galentine’s Day, February 13)
- A brunch or potluck with friends, small gifts, and handwritten notes.
- A movie night, a craft afternoon, or a group outing — the point is time together, not expense. Our Best Christmas Movies guide has plenty of cozy picks for a group movie night.
For kids
- Classroom valentines and a small box of chocolates — the classic school tradition.
- A family baking session: heart-shaped cookies or a simple cake, decorated together.
- A “love notes” jar: each family member writes one kind note for each other person.
For yourself
- A third of Americans now buy themselves a Valentine’s gift. A favorite meal, a book, flowers for your own table, or an afternoon off all count.
Low-cost and free
- A picnic (weather permitting), a walk at sunset, a playlist of meaningful songs, a photo album of the year, or a letter listing ten things you love about the person. None of these cost much; all of them are remembered longer than a generic gift.
Planning tips for 2027
- Book restaurants weeks ahead — Valentine’s weekend is one of the busiest dining weekends of the year, and Sunday the 14th will be the peak night.
- Order flowers early. Prices rise and delivery slots fill in the final days before February 14.
- If you are shopping online, check delivery cutoffs in early February so gifts arrive before the weekend.
Is Valentine’s Day a Federal Holiday? What’s Open?
No — Valentine’s Day is not a federal holiday in the United States. Government offices, banks, schools, and the post office all operate on normal schedules, and the mail is delivered. Most shops, restaurants, and attractions are open, and many stay open later than usual for the occasion.
The practical point for 2027: because February 14 is a Sunday, some businesses that keep Sunday hours will close earlier than on a weekday, while restaurants, florists, and gift shops will be at their busiest. If you need a reservation, a delivery, or a specific gift, arrange it before the weekend.
A Crowded Date: Valentine’s Day Meets Super Bowl LXI
Valentine’s Day 2027 shares its date with a major sporting event: Super Bowl LXI takes place on Sunday, February 14, 2027, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. That makes 2027 an unusual year — romantic dinners and Super Bowl parties on the same evening. Some couples will combine the two; others will pick one. Either way, expect restaurants with big screens to be busy and sports bars to be packed. Our separate Super Bowl LXI 2027 guide covers the game in full.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Valentine’s Day 2027?
Sunday, February 14, 2027. Valentine’s Day is always February 14; the weekday changes each year.
Is Valentine’s Day a public holiday in the US?
No. It is not a federal holiday. Schools, offices, banks, and government services stay open, and mail is delivered.
Why do we celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 14?
February 14 is the feast day of St. Valentine, established in the 5th century by Pope Gelasius I. The romantic meaning came later, largely through Geoffrey Chaucer’s poetry in the 1380s, and the card-giving tradition developed in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Who was St. Valentine?
St. Valentine was one or two legendary Christian martyrs executed around 270 CE under Emperor Claudius II. The popular story of a priest secretly marrying couples is a legend; the historical record is thin, which is why the Church removed his feast from the General Roman Calendar in 1969 while still recognizing him as a saint.
What is Galentine’s Day?
Galentine’s Day is February 13, a celebration of female friendship popularized by the TV show Parks and Recreation in 2010. Friends gather for brunch, gifts, and time together the day before Valentine’s Day.
How much do Americans spend on Valentine’s Day?
In 2025, the National Retail Federation projected record spending of $27.5 billion, averaging $188.81 per person, with 56% of Americans planning to celebrate. The NRF’s 2027 survey will be published in January 2027.
What are the most popular Valentine’s Day gifts?
Candy, flowers, and greeting cards are the most commonly bought gifts, followed by an evening out. Jewelry accounts for the largest share of spending by value.
Sources and References
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — “St. Valentine”: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Valentine
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — “Valentine’s Day” (2025 spending data): https://www.britannica.com/procon/Valentines-Day-debate
- The Frick Pittsburgh — “A Great Many Hearts: The History of Valentine’s Day” (Esther Howland): https://www.thefrickpittsburgh.org/Story-A-Great-Many-Hearts-The-History-of-Valentines-Day
- National Retail Federation via Digital Commerce 360 — “NRF projects record Valentine’s Day 2025 spending”: https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2025/01/29/online-spending-valentines-day-2025/
- Holiday Calendar — “Valentine’s Day”: https://www.holidaycalendar.io/holiday/valentines-day
No 2027 deals or offers are listed here — none were verified from official sources at the time of writing (November 5, 2026). The NRF’s 2027 Valentine’s Day spending survey will be released in January 2027. This is the main guide in our Valentine’s Day 2027 cluster; wishes and gift-idea guides will follow.