First Contact Day

First Contact Day is an informal commemorative day observed annually on April 5 to celebrate the Star Trek media franchise.

First Contact Day
Observed by	Star Trek fans
Type	Secular
Significance	Celebrating Star Trek
Date	April 5
Next time	April 5, 2026 (2026-04-05)
Frequency	Annual
First time	1997
Related to	Star Trek Day

Fictional depiction

In the fictional Star Trek universe, as depicted in the 1996 film Star Trek: First Contact, April 5, 2063, is the day of first contact between humans and aliens, specifically the Vulcans.^[1][2] The date was chosen by screenwriter Ronald D. Moore, and was based on his eldest son's birthday.^[3]

Celebrations

Paramount, the owners of the Star Trek franchise, hosts a number of celebratory initiatives including virtual events and panels annually on First Contact Day.^[4] Fans, or Trekkies as they are termed, take to social media and use the hashtag #FirstContactDay, generally causing it to trend each year.^[5]

The keel of the USS Enterprise (CVN-80), a Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier, was laid on 5 April 2022.^[6]

See also

• Star Trek Day on September 8^[7]