Crate Day in New Zealand is celebrated on the first Saturday of December each year.

Quick Scoop: What day is Crate Day NZ?

  • Crate Day is an unofficial “semi-holiday” where Kiwis mark the start of summer by sharing a crate of beer with mates.
  • It is held annually on the first Saturday in December, so the exact calendar date changes year to year.
  • Recent and upcoming dates include:
    • 2024: Saturday 7 December
* 2025: Saturday 6 December

* 2026: Saturday 5 December

A bit of context

Crate Day kicked off around 2010, originally pushed by rock radio as a start‑of‑summer ritual: barbecue, backyard cricket, and a crate of beer shared (or sometimes over‑shared) among friends. Over time it has become a widely recognised Kiwi tradition, even prompting commentary about binge drinking culture and calls to celebrate more safely.

While many see it as a fun way to welcome summer, health groups regularly remind people to pace themselves, eat, hydrate, and look out for mates on the day.

TL;DR: Crate Day NZ = first Saturday of December, every year.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.