National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day is the one day a year when the office dress code is “the louder the better”. In 2026 it lands on Friday, December 18, 2026, which is also when most workplaces hold their holiday party, so it books up fast.
Here’s how to make it fun for everyone (including the colleague who swears they don’t do this sort of thing), and when to order so your sweater turns up before the party, not after it.
Order in time
Knitted
By Nov 24
Printed all over
By Dec 6
Printed in Canada
By Dec 13
Knitted sweaters are knitted to order, so they take a few weeks. If the party is sooner, our printed sweatshirts are made in Canada and usually arrive in about a week.
Ugly sweater party ideas that work
Run it like a real contest
Pick categories so more than one person wins: Ugliest Overall, Most Canadian, Best Pun, Best Matching Duo, Best Dog. Paper ballots in a toque, results announced by the person with the loudest sweater.
Theme the office
Give each team a theme (hockey, cottage, Canadiana, classic Fair Isle) and judge the team as a whole. Team pricing means 3+ of one design are 10% off, so matching is cheaper than it sounds.
Make it the group photo
Line everyone up shortest to tallest, sweaters forward. If someone brings a dog in a matching sweater, they win. That’s just the rule.
Hot chocolate, not hot takes
A hot chocolate bar with candy canes and marshmallows works at 10 a.m. or 4 p.m., and nobody has to drive home from it.
Give back
Lots of offices pair the day with a toy drive or a food bank donation: everyone in a sweater chips in a few dollars. Pick a local charity and post the total.
Do it at home, too
Family video call in sweaters, a kids’ sweater for the little ones, a toque for grandpa. Matching sets get their own discount when it’s the same design on different pieces.
DIY or buy?
A DIY ugly Christmas sweater (thrift-store sweater, tinsel, a glue gun) is a fine tradition, but it rarely survives the party. If you want one that lasts, and that you can wear every December, a knitted sweater is the way: the design is part of the knit, not glued on. Want something nobody else will have? Design your own, with your team’s logo and everyone’s name on the back.
Questions
When is National Ugly Christmas Sweater Day 2026?
Friday, December 18, 2026. It’s held on the third Friday of December every year.
When should I order an ugly Christmas sweater for the office party?
Knitted sweaters are made to order and take the longest: order by Nov 24 for Christmas. Printed sweatshirts made in Canada are the last-minute option, by Dec 13.
What are good ugly Christmas sweater contest categories?
Ugliest Overall, Most Canadian, Best Pun, Best Matching Duo or Team, Best Homemade Addition and Best Dog in a Sweater.