How to Wear a Poppy for Remembrance 2026: Which Side, How to Keep It On, and What to Wear

Last updated: October 2026

Quick answer: The red poppy is traditionally worn on the left side, over the heart, and the Royal Canadian Legion asks for exactly that. The Royal British Legion says there is no right or wrong way to wear one, as long as it is worn respectfully. In 2026, Remembrance Sunday is 8 November and Armistice Day, with the Two Minute Silence at 11am, is Wednesday 11 November. To stop a paper poppy falling off, use a dedicated poppy pin, fix it through a lapel buttonhole or a dense knit, and never pin it through a puffer jacket's down-filled panels or a waterproof membrane.

Every November, people across the UK, Canada and other Commonwealth countries wear a poppy to remember those who served and died in war. It is a small piece of paper, and it raises surprisingly practical questions: which side, how to keep it on a windy commute, what to do with it on a puffer jacket, and what to wear if you are standing outside at a war memorial for an hour in November. This guide answers those, using guidance from the Royal British Legion, the Royal Canadian Legion and Poppyscotland.

Remembrance 2026: the key dates

• Remembrance period in Canada: the Royal Canadian Legion says the lapel poppy should be worn from 24 October until 11 November.
• Remembrance Sunday (UK): Sunday 8 November 2026, according to Poppyscotland, with services and parades at war memorials and cenotaphs across the country.
• Armistice Day: Wednesday 11 November 2026. Poppyscotland asks the nation to observe the Two Minute Silence at 11am. In Canada, 11 November is Remembrance Day.
• In the US: 11 November is Veterans Day. American poppies are mostly worn in May instead: the American Legion Auxiliary marks National Poppy Day on the Friday before Memorial Day, to honour those who died serving in the nation's wars.

If you are attending a service, check your local council, church or Legion branch for timings. Many start before 11am so the silence can be held at the memorial.

Which side do you wear a poppy on?

The two big Legions say slightly different things, and both are worth knowing.

The Royal Canadian Legion is specific: the poppy should be worn on the left side, over the heart, and worn with respect. It also says the lapel poppy should not be fastened with any pin that obstructs it.

The Royal British Legion takes a looser line. Its own guidance says "there is no right or wrong way to wear a poppy" and that it is "a matter of personal choice" whether and how someone wears one. What it asks is that the poppy is displayed respectfully.

In practice, the left side, over the heart, is the traditional placement in both countries and the one you will see at most services. If you want a simple rule, follow the Canadian one. If you prefer a poppy on a bag strap or scarf, the British Legion's guidance makes room for that.

How to keep a paper poppy on (by fabric)

The classic paper poppy comes with a straight pin, and anyone who has worn one knows the problem: it falls off. Here is what works on the coats and knits you are actually wearing in November.

• Tailored wool coat or blazer: put the stem through the lapel buttonhole if there is one (many coats have a functional or stitched one on the left lapel), then secure the pin behind the lapel. The buttonhole holds the stem; the pin stops it rotating.
• Chunky knit or cardigan: push the pin in and back out through a cable or rib so it is anchored in two places. Loose, open knits will not hold a single pin.
• Puffer or quilted down jacket: do not pin through the stitched panels. Each hole in a down-filled baffle can let feathers work out over the season. Pin the poppy to a scarf, a knit collar underneath, or the fabric strip beside the zip instead.
• Waterproof shell: avoid pinning through the main fabric. A pin hole in a waterproof membrane is a permanent leak point. Wear it on a scarf or a bag strap close to the left shoulder.
• Suit jacket for a service: the lapel buttonhole on the left lapel is designed for exactly this kind of small flower or pin.

A reusable poppy pin solves most of this. The Royal Canadian Legion says a "reusable black centre Poppy pin" is available through some of its branches, and both Legions sell enamel poppy pins and brooches whose proceeds support their work. If you buy one, you can still donate for and wear a paper poppy alongside it. Whatever you use, the Canadian Legion asks that nothing pinned over the poppy hides it.

What to wear to a Remembrance Sunday service

Most Remembrance Sunday events in the UK take place outdoors, at a war memorial or cenotaph, and involve standing still for a long stretch in November weather. There is no formal dress code for the public, but a few principles make it comfortable and appropriate.

• Lean dark and plain. Navy, charcoal, black, forest green and camel all read as respectful. This is about quiet clothes, not mourning dress, so a neat coat matters more than an all-black outfit. Your red poppy will also show up best against a dark coat.
• Dress for standing, not walking. You will lose heat faster standing still than you would on a walk. A thin thermal or merino base layer under a shirt or knit, and a wool coat on top, keeps you warm without bulk.
• Mind your footing. Memorials are often on grass, gravel or old paving. Waterproof leather boots or smart trainers with grip beat thin-soled shoes.

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• Hat, gloves and scarf in calm colours. A scarf in a solid colour gives you a second place to pin a poppy if your coat is a puffer.
• Bring something for the rain that is not loud. A dark umbrella or a plain waterproof is fine; a neon cycling jacket over your coat draws the eye at a quiet moment.
• Children: a poppy on a child's coat is best pinned to a scarf or a pocket flap rather than near the face.

Three easy outfit formulas

If you would rather not think about it on the morning, any of these works from a typical autumn wardrobe, and each gives the poppy a dark, plain background on the left side.

• The classic: charcoal wool overcoat, navy roll-neck, dark trousers or dark jeans, and brown leather boots. Pin the poppy through the coat's lapel buttonhole.
• The soft neutral: long camel coat over a cream knit, a forest-green wool scarf, black tights or trousers and black ankle boots. The green scarf doubles as a secure place for the poppy.
• The wet-weather version: navy peacoat, grey merino jumper, plain grey trousers, waterproof Chelsea boots and a dark umbrella. A dense wool coat copes with light drizzle, and the umbrella covers anything heavier, so there is no need for a bright shell on top.

Our guide to staying warm while standing still at an outdoor market uses the same layering logic in more detail, and if you are commuting home in the dark afterwards, see how to dress to be seen on dark walks.

Red, white, purple and black poppies: what they mean

You may see more than one colour of poppy in November.

• Red is the poppy distributed by the Royal British Legion and the Royal Canadian Legion. The RBL adopted it as a symbol of Remembrance in 1921, and says wearing one "shows the Armed Forces community their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten."
• White poppies are distributed by the Peace Pledge Union, which says they stand for "remembrance of all victims of war," "challenging militarism" and "a commitment to peace." They were created in 1933 by members of the Women's Co-operative Guild.
• Purple poppies remember the animals, such as horses, dogs and pigeons, harmed in war. The charity Animal Aid, which offered a purple poppy for several years, described these animals as "victims, not heroes."
• Black poppies are associated with BlackPoppyRose, founded in 2010 by historian Selena Carty. The National Army Museum describes it as highlighting "the contributions of African, Black, West Indian, Pacific Island and indigenous communities" to war.

In Scotland, the poppy looks different: it has four petals and no leaf. Poppyscotland explains that Lady Haig designed it that way when she set up the Edinburgh poppy factory in 1926, and the factory still makes the poppies for the Scottish Poppy Appeal, staffed by disabled veterans.

What to do with your poppy after 11 November

The Royal Canadian Legion says poppies may be worn through the evening of Remembrance Day. Some people remove them at the end of 11 November, while others place them on a cenotaph or wreath after the ceremony. If you remove yours, the Legion asks that it is stored appropriately or disposed of respectfully, and if you see a fallen poppy, that you pick it up.

In the UK, there is now a recycling option: the Royal British Legion says its plastic-free poppy, available since October 2023, is made entirely from paper and can go in ordinary paper recycling. An enamel pin, of course, simply goes back in a drawer for next year.

FAQ

Which side should a poppy be worn on?
Traditionally the left side, over the heart. The Royal Canadian Legion asks for the left side; the Royal British Legion says there is no right or wrong way, as long as it is worn respectfully.

When should you start wearing a poppy in 2026?
In Canada, the Royal Canadian Legion says from 24 October until 11 November. In the UK, poppies are typically worn in the weeks leading up to Remembrance Sunday (8 November 2026) and Armistice Day (11 November 2026).

How do I stop my poppy falling off?
Put the stem through a lapel buttonhole and secure the pin behind it, anchor the pin twice through a dense knit, or use a reusable poppy pin. On a puffer, pin it to a scarf instead of the down-filled panels.

Can I wear a poppy on a puffer jacket?
Yes, but avoid pinning through the stitched down panels or a waterproof membrane, because the holes can leak feathers or water. A scarf, knit collar or the fabric strip beside the zip works better.

What should I wear to a Remembrance Sunday service?
Warm, plain, darker clothes: a wool coat, a thin base layer, a solid scarf, gloves and grippy waterproof shoes. You will be standing outdoors for a while, often on grass.

Why does the Scottish poppy have four petals?
Lady Haig designed it with four petals and no leaf when she set up the Edinburgh poppy factory in 1926, according to Poppyscotland. The design has stayed the same since.

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