A little reason to celebrate
Fountain Pen Day
Hobby ยท The first Friday in November
A day for fountain pens: how they work, why people love writing with them, and simple ways to try one or put an old one back in use.
Fountain Pen Day falls on Friday, November 6, 2026. That is 10 days away.
A fountain pen holds liquid ink inside its body and feeds it to a metal nib, usually steel or gold. The ink moves down by gravity and capillary action, through a narrow slit in the nib, and onto the paper. You barely have to press.
That lightness is what people tend to notice first. A good fountain pen glides, and the line changes a little with speed and angle, so handwriting starts to look more like your own. Fans talk about nib sizes, ink colors and paper the way other people talk about coffee beans. Some inks shade from light to dark within a single letter. Others have a faint sheen when the light hits them.
The day falls on the first Friday in November, and it is mostly marked quietly, at a desk. People ink up a pen that has been sitting in a drawer, write a letter by hand, or compare notes with other pen owners. Inexpensive starter pens are common, so trying one does not take a collector's budget.
Paper matters more than beginners expect. Thin or cheap paper can let wet ink spread into fuzzy lines or show through on the back, while smoother, heavier paper keeps the line crisp. A pen that has dried out often just needs its nib rinsed in plain water.
Cartridge pens are the simplest to start with. Converter and piston pens draw ink from a bottle, which opens up a much wider range of colors.
Ways to celebrate
- Find an old fountain pen, flush it with water, and ink it up again.
- Write a handwritten letter or postcard to someone you know.
- Try a new ink color and fill a page with practice letters.
- Test your pen on a few different papers and compare the lines.
- Share a photo of your handwriting or pen with a friend.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday, November 6 |
| 2027 | Friday, November 5 |
| 2028 | Friday, November 3 |
| 2029 | Friday, November 2 |
| 2030 | Friday, November 1 |
All national days on November 6
Also on November 6
Categories: Hobby days