India marks Friendship Day 2026 with wishes, songs and celebrity tributes

Friendship Day 2026 is observed on Sunday, 2 August, the first Sunday of August, and is widely celebrated across India. Millions exchange heartfelt wishes, quotes, images and status updates on platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook, and many still give the traditional friendship bands that became popular in the 1990s.

A large number of articles compiled collections of wishes, quotes, greetings and ready‑to‑share messages, as well as playlists of classic Bollywood friendship songs such as “Yaaron Dosti Badi Hi Haseen Hai” and “Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Todenge”.

Several Indian celebrities used the occasion to share personal posts. Actress Jennifer Winget posted unseen haldi‑ceremony photos and thanked her friends, while veteran actor Anil Kapoor posted an emotional tribute to his late friend Satish Kaushik. Actress Kajol celebrated the day with a self‑love message dedicated to the women in her life, and actress Bhagyashree posted a nostalgic dance video to a classic Lata Mangeshkar song.

The United Nations also recognises an International Day of Friendship on 30 July, but India’s observance remains on the first Sunday of August, making the day a major cultural moment each year.