International Self-Compassion Day

Celebrating Common Humanity

Saturday, July 18, 2026

Mark your calendar for International Self-Compassion Day (ISCD) on Saturday, July 18, 2026! Created by the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion in 2024, ISCD celebrates the proven power of self-compassion and honors the strengths, challenges, and common humanity that connect us across cultures and continents. Celebrated on the third Saturday in July, International Self-Compassion Day invites people of all backgrounds to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the transformative practice of self-compassion.

The following Saturday, July 25, 2026, we continue the celebration of International Self-Compassion Day with our annual Mid-Year Online Renewal Retreat—a free, global gathering to deepen practice and reconnect in community. The retreat is free to attend, and registration opens June 1, 2026.

However you choose to participate—through rest, reflection, or reaching out in community—your self-compassion helps ease suffering and foster well-being for yourself and those around you.

Explore the free ISCD resources and celebration ideas below to plan how you can participate and share with your family, friends, co-workers, organization, or community.

Free Resources to Celebrate International Self-Compassion Day

Listen to a Mindful Self-Compassion Meditation
Strengthen your self-compassion practice by listening to a meditation from the Mindful Self-Compassion program developed by CMSC Co-Founders Kristin Neff and Chris Germer.
Listen to an MSC Meditation
Sign up for 30 Days of Self-Compassion Phrases
Receive a brief daily email of reminders to embrace kindness and care for yourself. Words of tender and fierce self-compassion helping you approach life’s ups and downs with greater warmth and resilience.
Sign up for free: 30 Days of Self-Compassion Phrases
Attend our Free Mid-Year Online Renewal Retreat
Experience a restorative return to yourself on Saturday, July 25, 2026. Join us for reflection, MSC practice, and connection to celebrate our common humanity.
Registration open June 1. Sign up for our newsletter for updates.
Join a Circles of Practice Session
Experience the transformative practice of Mindful Self-Compassion. Led by trained MSC Teachers, MSC public practice circles are live, online, and held daily.
Sign up here to learn more and join a session.
Watch a Talk, Workshop, or Silent Retreat on the CMSC YouTube Channel
Dozens of recorded guided practices, lectures, silent retreats, and Q&As with MSC teachers—available anytime.
Check out CMSC videos on YouTube
Practice the Quick Six
The quintessential self-compassion question is "What do I need?" Here are six self-care practices you can prioritize every day as a loving way to care for yourself.
Discover Your Quick Six Self-Care Practices

Join International Self-Compassion Day Around the World

International Self-Compassion Day is a global celebration of our shared humanity, founded by CMSC to inspire kindness, connection, and collective care. To help bring this day to life across languages and cultures, CMSC is honored to collaborate with trusted international partners who share in the vision of spreading self-compassion worldwide.

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Connect with Our International Partners

We invite you to connect with our partner organizations below offering opportunities to participate in your language, country, or cultural community—including bilingual and multicultural offerings where available.