AA Founders’ Day

AA Founders’ Day is observed every year on June 10. In 2026, this date falls on a Wednesday. The day marks the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous and honors the meeting of Bill W. and Dr. Bob S., whose shared experience became the beginning of the fellowship. It is a respectful observance for people in recovery, their families, and others who recognize the role of mutual support in sobriety. Many related gatherings focus on gratitude, history, service, and the continuing work of carrying the message to people affected by alcoholism. ^{1 2 3 4}

See also: Hug an Addict or Alcoholic Day, National Alcohol Screening Day, National Name Your Poison Day, Day Without Alcohol in Poland

History of AA Founders’ Day

Alcoholics Anonymous began in 1935 in Akron, Ohio, after Bill W., a New York stockbroker, met Dr. Bob S., an Akron surgeon. Both men had struggled with alcoholism, and their conversation gave Dr. Bob a kind of understanding he had not found elsewhere. June 10, 1935, is widely recognized in A.A. history as the date of Dr. Bob’s last drink and the founding date of Alcoholics Anonymous. After that beginning, the two men worked with other alcoholics at Akron’s City Hospital, where another patient achieved sobriety and became part of the small group that formed the early nucleus of A.A.

Founders’ Day later developed as a way to remember those beginnings and the people connected with them. Early anniversary gatherings included talks by Bill W., Dr. Bob, and other early members, along with meals, meetings, open houses, and memorial events. The modern Akron observance grew into a Friday-through-Sunday weekend, with meetings, speaker events, historical tours, and fellowship centered near the birthplace of A.A. Although June 10 remains the fixed anniversary date, large Founders’ Day events are often scheduled on the weekend closest to the anniversary.

Why is AA Founders’ Day important?

AA Founders’ Day is important because it connects recovery to a real historical moment: one alcoholic talking honestly with another and finding a practical path forward. The story behind the day helps explain why fellowship, sponsorship, meetings, and shared experience are central to A.A. It also honors the people who kept working with others when the movement was still small, uncertain, and not yet widely understood. For many members, the date is less about ceremony and more about remembering the help they received and the responsibility to pass it on.

The day also has value beyond the fellowship itself. Alcoholism has affected families, workplaces, communities, hospitals, and public health systems for generations. A.A.’s history shows how peer support became one widely known model for recovery, built around anonymity, service, and day-by-day sobriety. AA Founders’ Day gives people a focused moment to learn that history with care, without turning recovery into spectacle or treating addiction lightly.

• It honors the beginning of Alcoholics Anonymous.
• It recognizes the value of one person helping another.
• It gives members a reason to revisit A.A. history.
• It supports gratitude for sobriety and fellowship.
• It keeps attention on service to people still struggling.

How to Observe AA Founders’ Day

Attend an open meeting, listen to a speaker, or read about the early history of Alcoholics Anonymous. People who are part of the fellowship may use the day to reflect on their own sobriety date, thank a sponsor, call another member, or take part in a local Founders’ Day event. In Akron, the larger weekend gathering traditionally includes meetings, historical activities, and visits connected with A.A.’s early years. Anyone outside the fellowship should approach the day with respect for anonymity and the personal nature of recovery.

The day can also be used for quiet education. Reading about Bill W., Dr. Bob, the first A.A. group, and the development of the Twelve Steps gives useful context for a movement that became known far beyond Akron. Families and friends can learn more about what A.A. is and what it is not, especially if they are trying to support someone with a drinking problem. For members, the most fitting observance may be simple service: welcoming a newcomer, making coffee, setting up chairs, or being available for someone who needs to talk.

• Read a short history of Alcoholics Anonymous.
• Attend an open A.A. meeting if appropriate.
• Thank someone who helped your recovery.
• Visit a local A.A. archive or history display.
• Reach out to someone who may need support.

AA Founders’ Day Dates

1. https://www.aa.org/the-start-and-growth-of-aa[↩]
2. https://www.aa.org/aa-timeline[↩]
3. https://foundersday.org/[↩]
4. https://foundersday.org/history-of-founders-day/[↩]