National Night Out: 5 things to know about annual celebration

National Night Out, celebrated on August 4, 2026, is an annual community event promoting unity between neighbors and law enforcement. Founded in 1981 by Matt Peskin, it began as a newsletter-sharing initiative and expanded to the first National Night Out in 1984 with 2.5 million participants. The event now reaches 17,000 communities and 38 million people annually, featuring block parties and civic engagement.