Is February 29 the only date that doesn't occur every year?

Yes — February 29 is the only calendar date in the Gregorian calendar that does not occur in every year. All other dates (January 1 through December 31 except Feb 29) occur exactly once per calendar year.

What year is the next February 29?

The next February 29 after 2024 is February 29, 2028. After that: 2032, 2036, 2040, 2044, 2048, 2052, 2056, 2060, 2064, 2068, 2072, 2076, 2080, 2084, 2088, 2092, 2096, then skipping 2100, resuming 2104.

Leap Year Anniversary: February 29 Wedding Date Guide

A couple married on February 29 (a leap day) has a wedding anniversary that technically occurs only in leap years — every 4 years (with century-year exceptions). In the intervening non-leap years, the anniversary is observed by convention on either February 28 or March 1, with no universal etiquette standard. See the Date Calculation for the complete year-by-year breakdown.

Calculate Your Anniversary Anniversary Calculator

The February 29 Anniversary Problem

February 29 exists in a year only if that year is a leap year. The Gregorian calendar leap year rule: a year is a leap year if divisible by 4, EXCEPT centuries (divisible by 100) which are only leap years if also divisible by 400. As a result: 2000 = leap year (divisible by 400). 1900 = not a leap year (divisible by 100, not by 400). 2100 = not a leap year.

When to Celebrate a Feb 29 Anniversary in Non-Leap Years

Three conventions exist for non-leap year Feb 29 anniversary observance: (1) February 28: Observe on the last day of February, maintaining the February placement. (2) March 1: Observe on March 1, following the 'missing day' to the start of March. (3) Both dates: Some couples observe both Feb 28 and Mar 1 in non-leap years. No etiquette standard governs this choice — it is entirely the couple's preference. For comparison, explore Next Anniversary Date.

How Many Leap Year Anniversaries Does a Couple Have?

A couple married February 29, 2000: Leap year anniversaries occur in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024, 2028, etc. (every 4 years, skipping 2100, 2200, 2300, then resuming at 2400). At 50 years of marriage (2050): 12 actual February 29 anniversaries (2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020, 2024, 2028, 2032, 2036, 2040, 2044, 2048). At 60 years (2060): 15 actual Feb 29 anniversaries. Related reading: Anniversary Countdown.

Leap Year — Technical Reference

▸Leap year rule: divisible by 4, EXCEPT centuries unless divisible by 400
▸2000: leap year (÷400). 1900: not leap year. 2100: not leap year
▸Feb 29 anniversary frequency: every 4 years (with century exceptions)
▸JavaScript: isLeapYear() from date-fns
▸Convention for non-leap years: Feb 28 or Mar 1 (couple's choice)

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