Towel Day is an annual celebration on the 25th of May, as a tribute to the late author Douglas Adams (1952-2001).
On that day, fans around the universe carry a towel in his honour.
Tell us about events you organize on Towel Day, and we will announce them here.
On Towel Day, carry a towel. Where? Everywhere!
Proudly show the world you've observed Towel Day! Post for example a photo or video with your towel on the Towel Day Facebook page and enjoy other people's. Some alternatives are the Flickr group for pictures and of course YouTube for videos.
What is happening on Towel Day 2025?
This list is just starting and very incomplete. Know about any Towel Day events we should add? Please mail us!
ONLINE
Nitin Goel has been elected Towel Day Ambassador 2025! You may know Nitin from Project Bibliotherapy, which he and Nandini run in India to promote reading.
Here's the video in which he presented himself.
To help him with his enormous responsibility, Nemo Thorx will assume the role of regional TDA for Europe, Asia and Africa, and Ed Hunter will care for North and South America, Australia, and Antartica.
Congratulations Nitin and thank you for your contributions to Towel Day over the years! Thanks to the other contestants for making great videos and bringing awareness to Towel Day. And thanks to the organizers and all the people who voted!
From 14 April until Towel Day, Towel Day Ambassador Nitin and Nandini from Project Bibliotherapy will be sharing one link related to Douglas Noel Adams every day for 42 days, for your reading / viewing / listening pleasure, via the following platforms:
Hit those follow buttons and join him on this wild ride from April 14 until May 25!
ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha, the official Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy fan club, is running a Towel Day competition!
Roll up! Roll up! ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha have on offer not one, not two, but FIVE memberships, across five rounds in the lead-up to Towel Day 2025.
So, how is your Vogon poetry? Is there someone you hate so much you want them to endure the most EXCRUTIATING of verses? Now is your chance! Send us your best / worst / thing you wrote in the style of those beings we know… we just know. Winners will be selected once the ZZ9 committee has recovered. Trust me, we know all about Vogon poetry (don’t ask) and are willing to brave whatever is sent our way! And if you are happy for us to do so, we will gladly share your creative prose!
One winner per round wins a year of ZZ9 membership, courtesy of Curious King (publisher of limited run Fine Press editions of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and contemporary fiction).
Full contest details are here and entries must be submitted at by email to publicity@zz9.org on the 1st through 4th May inclusive for round one
And you'll want to be a member so you can enter our second contest, after Towel Day, for the at prize of an edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, as donated by Curious King.
So get creating!
On May 29 at 6pm EDT, from John Hopkins University, the Office of Alumni Relations Lifelong Learning and Alumni in Technology are celebration of Towel Day with a lively virtual panel discussion exploring the enduring relevance of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in our rapidly evolving digital world.
Moderated by artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity expert Alex Sharpe, Engr '95, this conversation will bring together digital transformation and AI experts.
Together, the panel will dive into how Douglas Adams' iconic sci-fi satire anticipated many of the questions we face today around technology, information, and disruption. Towel Day honors the legacy of Douglas Adams. Fans worldwide carry a towel - a nod to the book's beloved guide - to show their appreciation for his wit, imagination, and insight into the human (and technological) condition.
Registered attendees are entered into a drawing to win a Hopkins Alumni beach towel.
Please attend the event by using the Hopkins at Home link.
The general public can attend, but registration is necessary.
Details here
Every year on Towel Day Lego and Legal publishes Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy themed Lego builds. Their stuf is seriously over the top, we love it! Here's what they published for Towel Day 2024! For Towel Day 2025 they will add many improvements and additional builds, including a proper Marvin. It will appear here. Normally the theme of their Lego builds is legal subjects, not kidding! Kudos to Zarfster and his kids for roughly a decade of highly original tributes to Douglas Adams.
Some very hoopy frood, on Towel Day, is releasing a multiplayer remake of the classic Atari 2600 game Adventure. It's browser based, so no need to dig up your old 2600! Enjoy!
Carole "tall tales from a short person" will be dropping a Towel Day podcast. She'll walk people through Pan Galactic Gargle Blasters recipes and there will be a towel to win (specially designed, with Don't Panic in friendly letters on the front, 42 on the back, and it's black "so you can use it as a cape for the Universal Day of the Jedi which falls on the same day".
Check out her Substack
On radio show The Witching Hour, host Nyx Fullmoon celebrates Towel Day on 4ZZZ.fm in Australia on Sunday from 10pm until midnight. Nyx is a big Douglas Adams fan, does this every year. Also available to listen as a podcast on demand afterwards or stream live from anywhere in the world. If you’ve done six impossible things this morning, why not round it off with The Witching Hour!
SOWL, a European brand dedicated to creating high-quality home decor and textiles, is organizing multiple giveaways in honour of Towel Day, in collaboration with various influencers in their Instagram account. They are open to any collaborations and ready to support any initiatives connected with Towel Day.
The international programming contest Proggy-Buggy will take place on Towel Day. Participants from all over the world will tackle 13 algorithmic problems in just 42 minutes! They can choose between a number of programming languages. "And don't forget your towel - it might just bring you luck (and it's Towel Day, after all)!". The Proggy-Buggy Contest is a programming event organized by DataArt. It has been running since 2013, attracting over 10,000 participants from 60 countries. Details here.
On radio show The Witching Hour, host Nyx Fullmoon celebrates Towel Day on 4ZZZ.fm in Australia on Sunday from 10pm until midnight. Nyx is a big Douglas Adams fan, does this every year. Also available to listen as a podcast on demand afterwards or stream live from anywhere in the world. If you’ve done six impossible things this morning, why not round it off with The Witching Hour!
AUSTRIA
On Saturday, May 24th, there will be a Meet & Greet with Arthur Dent (galactic hitchhiker) at the NöRD Shop in Bludenz from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Meet Philipp Horatschek, European Towel Day Ambassador 2015, and find out everything you need to know about Towel Day on May 25th.
Details and RSVP on Facebook
On Sunday, May 25th, there will be a Meet & Drink at the Seeanlage Bregenz. Philipp Horatschek will be out and about as Arthur Dent at 5:00 PM. Come by for a beer.
Details and RSVP on Facebook
Some frood in Austria has the idea to gather near the place where Douglas Adams had the idea for the guide. Join the discussioni on Reddit here.
BRAZIL
In Recife, PE, on 23, 24 and 25 May, the 13th edition of the Power-Kon Convention takes place and as usual Towel Day and Nerd Pride day will be celebrated. The three day event features more than 30 Attractions on both Floors of Paulista North Way Shopping BRAZIL.
The convention was created in 2013 by producer Kelmer Luciano, and grew over the years from a simple meeting of fans to a large multigenerational pop culture event where also Nerd Pride Day and Towel Day are celebrated with all kinds of entertainment.
Towel and Nerd Pride Day, as it is known, and celebrated worldwide on May 25 as a tribute to the premiere date of Star Wars and Douglas Adams, author of the book series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, will be celebrated.
The event is free, but the production thanks those who can participate in the donation campaign by bringing 1kg of non-perishable food.
You can also expect great attractions, such as Geek booths from all over Brazil, already established special guests, themed Geek environments and exhibitions for the participating public, Cosplay parade, Nerd Gourmet food court, shows, new talents, digital influencers, voice actors, Kpop contest, Talk-show lectures with special guests, Japanese cuisine, dance contest, booths, video game championships, Nerd Festival with musical attraction, among other attractions.
Date: May 23, 24 and 25, 2025, from 11 am to 9 pm.
Location: Paulista North Way Shopping (Rodovia 15 - KM 16,5, nº242 - Centro, Paulista - PE, 53401-445).
Free admission for everyone. Help by donating 1 kg of non-perishable food.
Information: By phone/whatsapp 81-98704.5450 (Kelmer Luciano-Producer) or on the event's Instagram: @powerkonrecife
CZECH REPUBLIC
In Prague at 20:15 you can see the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy movie (2005) in Kino Aero! Details
DENMARK
In Aarhus, intergalactic froods are gathering for a short but delightful encounter on at 19:00 at Bispetorvet, in front of Aarhus Theatre.
There will be towel measuring, Vogon poetry reading and a creative photo session. Don't forget to bring your towel!
Details and RSVP on Facebook
In Copenhagen, The Social Geek CPH again hosts a picnic (if weather allows, otherwise an indoor meetup).
The idea is to meet for a Sunday Picnic Lunch, so be careful with your Saturday hangover.
Bring your picnic blankets, some sunscreen and most importantly DON'T PANIC!
This will be a special edition PRE Fantasticon.dk where they will have a panel discussing Douglas Adams' life, work and jokes
Details and RSVP on Meetup.com
FINLAND
In Turku, Towel Day will be celebrated as usual at the Cosmic Comic Cafe (Kauppiaskatu 4, Turku)
This year the programme starts on Saturday, on Towel Day Eve, around 6 o'clock if there are enough froods at the premises. Later, if not.
They'll continue til midnight, when the traditional destruction of the planet and/or the return of Zarquon is expected to happen.
The programme is simple: Every hour they recite poetry so horrible that it actually transmits brain-eating disease to all the listeners.
Unlike almost everywhere else, this is not a competition.
The idea is that you write whatever your mind blurts out, and they read it, immediately, without any filtering.
Theirs may be the oldest ongoing bad poetry night on Towel Day; they started already in 2006.
While waiting for Towel Day, they publish last year’s poems from the archive on their website.
You can already send your own poems to be read at the event by mailing them to pyyhepaiva@pyyhepaiva.fi
Cosmic Comic Cafe offers a discount on Pan-Galactic Gargle Blasters for anyone carrying a towel.
GERMANY
In Berlin, at 20:15, under the starry sky of the Zeiss Planetarium, come celebrate Towel Day with a reading from Douglas Adams' cult classic "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", by Dr. Monika Staesche.
You need a ticket, but they are affordable and reduced price tickets are available for those who come with a towel.
Details and tickets here
Also in Berlin, Towel Day is celebrated at C-base, a non-profit association for learning about software, hardware and networks. This tradition has been going on for over a decade now.
With the traditional Space Drinc contest!
In Hamburg, at 17:00, in the Monkeys Music Club, froods from Back on stage present an interactive multimedia reading for Towel Day.
Beside reading from the book, they'll have videos, music ("The Blessed Acceleration" a. k. a. the 2nd loudest band in the universe) and a bar at the end of the universe serving Pan galactic gargle blasters.
Due to the lack of Babelfish in this area of Germany the language spoken will be German. But they're sure it will be a lot of fun!
Details and RSVP on Facebook
Also in Hamburg, at 17:42, the traditional Towel Day celebration starts at PON - Platz ohne Namen.
Every life form is welcome to share some Pangalactic Gargle Blasters, listen to readings, get scientific enlightments, eat 42 peanuts & all the rest. If you want to contribute in form of more Adams readings, vogon poems, towel origami, intergalactic lectures & planetary workshops, please contact us via their webpage.
Things are going to happen if you make them happen. Bring your towel, a lawn chair and don't panic!
In Lüneburg, at 16:00, actor and director Thomas Ney will continue his public reading of Douglas Adams' work (in German).
Several years in a row now, Thomas Ney has read from the works of Douglas Adams on Towel Day.
He's now on the second volume "The Restaurant at the End of the Universe". Please don't forget your towel and bathrobe!
Club Fahrenheit - the live audiobook experience at mosaique with Thomas Ney. Where: mosaique - Haus der Kulturen, Katzenstr. 1, D-21335 Lüneburg.
Details here
Somewhere in Niedersachsen geocachers are meeting up for Towel Day. They look forward to talk. No dress code, but towel is recommended! The logbook has its own requirements, but don't worry! No one has to embroider, weld, or dance their name!
Details and RSVP on Geocaching.com
And also in Nordrhein-Westfalen geocachers are getting together, at 16:42.
Details and RSVP on Geocaching.com
INDIA
In Kunzum GK2, Delhi, from 5-7pm, Project Bibliotherapy presents Towel Day 2025!
Calling all Douglas Adams fans and curious readers!
Grab your towels and join us for a Guided Reading Meditation from "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy".
Reading, banter, goodies and a ton of fun await you!
Purchase a Kunzum Rs 500 gift voucher to RSVP.
Plus: Afterparty at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe.
From 14 April until Towel Day, Towel Day Ambassador Nitin and Nandini from Project Bibliotherapy will be sharing one link related to Douglas Noel Adams every day for 42 days, for your reading / viewing / listening pleasure, via the following platforms:
Hit those follow buttons and join him on this wild ride from April 14 until May 25!
LUXEMBURG
In Steinsel, froods are doing a Towel Day hike! Everyone has to bring a towel! Size doesn't matter, but they want to see towels!
They will do a Gutland Trail this time and have their usual picnic break.
They start at the bus stop "Steinsel Bourgass". It is the last stop of Number 10 direction Steinsel.
Details and RSVP on Meetup.com
NETHERLANDS
In Rotterdam, from 17:40-23:40, fans of Douglas Adams and/or Terry Pratchett are welcome at Cafe Pardoen, Spaansekade 62. Bring a towel, wear the lilac. In honour of Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett. Rotterdam Editie The 10th Edition will feature: Pangalactic Gargleblasters, Vogon Poetry Contest, Dwarfish Battle Bread Battle, Elvish Impersonation Contest, Dirk Gently's Holistic Treasure Hunt and much, much more! Prizes galore!"
FOR TRUTH, JUSTICE, FREEDOM, REASONABLY PRICED LOVE, AND A HARD BOILED EGG!
Adress: Cafe Pardoen, Spaansekade 62
Details and RSVP on Facebook
NEW ZEALAND
In Hastings, from 1:30pm to 3:30pm, the NERDVANA25 programme of the Hastings district Libraries does a Towel Day book pop-up book club,
with a focus on sci-fi, fantasy and speculative fiction. No set text; just let them know what you've been reading lately, hear what others have loved or hated, and connect with like-minded book geeks.
Books and spot prizes! It's three weeks after Nerdvana to give you a chance to read those books you got in the Geek Box. (You can still join if you didn't get a Geek Box.)
Registration required. Register through the Hastings Libraries website. Limited numbers. 18+ only!
SLOVENIA
In Ljubljana, Matej Pirih organizes a Towel Day hike to Mount Saint Mary. Read up on the details, so you come prepared. Towels encouraged!
Details and RSVP on Facebook
SLOWAKIA
In Ostrov geocachers are meeting up for Towel Day! They will read a few passages from the book. Don't forget your towel!
Details and RSVP on Geocaching.com
UNITED KINGDOM
In Cambridge at 13:00 David Haddock of ZZ9 fame will be your guide on another Towel Day Cambridge tour.
"Start at Cambridge Railway Station. We will walk into Cambridge passing various Douglas Adams related places, e.g. where he was born, lived, studied and drank plus Dirk Gently and Shada locations. We take a roundabout route so there is nearly three miles of walking and end about two and a half hours later or thereabouts in central Cambridge."
Details and RSVP on Facebook
USA
In Boise, ID, Re-POP Gifts celebrates Towel Day from 11am until 5pm, with FREE Hitchhikers towels! Towels are free with a minimum $25 purchase, one per customer, for the first 42 customers. Available in-store and on-line!
Spend $42 and get an additional bonus gift! Don't panic! Details
In Chicago, IL, the Dirk Gently play is being put on by Theatre-on-the-Hill, from May 23rd - 25th at Roger C Claar Performing Arts Center, 375 West Briarcliff, Bolingbrook, IL. And if you can't wait until Towel Day,
they also perform it from April 11th - 13th at Warrenville Community Building, 3S240 Warren Ave, Warrenville, IL.
Get your tickets here
In Columbia, IL, on the 1st of May, DONUT PANIC is opening! They will be doing a Towel Day giveaway on the 25th!
The first 200 customers to spend $10 or more get a free Towel Day 2025 towel! They look awesome!
Find them on 1005 S Main St, Ste B, Columbia, IL.
In La Porte, TX, on Towel Day the Adoption Center & Animal Shelter welcomes gifts of gently used towels. They will be greatly appreciated by a dog or cat here at the shelter. Details
In Lincoln, NE, from 12-25 May, software engineering company Don't Panic Labs runs their annual towel drive. They collect new and used towels for the People's City Mission, that has a constant need for towels. Towels are collected in numerous locations, and financial contributions for towels are also accepted.
The company's name was inspired by Adams' best-known novel, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, where the words Don't Panic are printed on the cover of the Guide.
Details here
In Asheville NC the Hash Hound Harriers are doing a trail run with a Towel Day theme on Monday 26 May. It's unclear how serious they are about it (it's a weekly activity, a "drinking club with a running problem". Props for acknowledging Towel Day and for the humour!
Details and RSVP on Meetup.com
In Canton NC the Haywood County Walking Meetup Group is doing a National Towel Day: 5 KM/3 mile Walk at 8pm.
Details and RSVP on Meetup.com
This list is incomplete. Know about any Towel Day events we should add? Please mail us!
Want to organize a Towel Day event? Inspiration can be found in the Archives
NASA Astronaut Dan Tani speaking about Towel Day and towels on space missions
Thank you for being part of this & always remember: DON'T PANIC
This site is not endorsed by or associated with the Douglas Adams Estate, systemtoolbox.com, kojv.net, ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha, Pan MacMillan, Penguin Group, Hyperion Books, Flickr, YouTube or any other organisation.
It is run by a bunch of Douglas Adams loving ape descendants who thought it was a shame that this domain was parked, and bought it. They are not liable for any incorrect information - the information on this site is provided in good faith, but may be inaccurate. Don't panic.
info at towelday dot org
