One or two Friday the 13ths are common in most years, however, three in a single year is an uncommon alignment that happens only under specific calendar conditions.
Here’s the simple mechanics behind it. In the Gregorian calendar, any month that begins on a Sunday will have a Friday the 13th. The year 2026 is a common year that starts on a Thursday (January 1, 2026 is a Thursday). That starting point lines up the months so that February 1, March 1, and November 1 all fall on Sundays. Result: Friday the 13th appears in each of those months.
The February–March pairing is the part people tend to find most surprising. It only happens when February has exactly 28 days, which is the case in a common (non‑leap) year. With 28 days, February’s weekdays “reset” perfectly, so March 1 lands on the same day of the week as February 1—this time, both Sundays—delivering back‑to‑back Friday the 13ths in late winter. It’s a tidy bit of arithmetic, nothing more mysterious than that. If you enjoy planning ahead, the next year after 2026 to feature three Friday the 13ths will be 2037, which shares the same starting weekday pattern.
Of course, Friday 13th has a long cultural history woven through folklore, film, and fun superstition. For many, it’s a nudge to be a touch more cautious; for others, it’s an excuse to enjoy a themed story or two. The date’s reputation isn’t driven by fate or numerology—just by the calendar—but the tales it has inspired are part of what make days like this memorable.
With that spirit in mind, on Friday 13th March 2026 we’ll be adding a new episode of Can You Imagine That, and leading off with the origin of one of the most enduring beliefs of them all: the superstition about a black cat crossing your path. Lindsay McHarrie takes us on a journey through fascinating tales, including a car ride with a black cat that ends in misfortune. It’s a vivid, engaging listen for anyone who’s ever paused at the sight of a sleek feline darting across the pavement.
How do you react to all the old superstitions that have been kicking around our world for centuries? Are you uneasy walking under a ladder? Do you find yourself knocking on wood after sharing good news? Do you hesitate when a black cat steps in front of you? Do you consider Friday 13th an unlucky day? If you’ve ever wondered where these ideas came from—and how they took hold so firmly—the old‑time radio series The Origins of Superstition is a perfect companion. Across 39 episodes on RUSC, it explores the stories, symbols, and social history behind familiar beliefs, showing how practical concerns, historical events, or simple coincidences often crystalized into customs we still recognize today.
Taken together, the calendar’s quirks and our cultural stories make a fine pairing. The three Friday the 13ths of 2026 are a reminder that even the most “mysterious” moments can have straightforward explanations. Yet the human impulse to weave meaning, humor, and cautionary wisdom around those moments is part of what makes them fun to revisit.
Mark your diary for Friday 13th March 2026 to catch Can You Imagine That with Lindsay McHarrie, and then dip into The Origins of Superstition on RUSC to explore the ladders, the wood‑knocking, and, yes, the black cats that have walked through our imaginations for generations.
I have also added a special episode of Suspense entitled Friday, which is a tale of seafaring superstition.
Happy Listening,
