Short answer. 48 of the 62 countries compared publish when they test their sirens or phone alerts, or when they hold a national drill or preparedness week. 10 test on a fixed day every month. The next scheduled one is "A Terra Treme" national earthquake awareness exercise in Portugal on Thu 5 Nov 2026 45. A test needs no action unless the authorities say otherwise; always follow your authorities' instructions.
What is coming up in the next 60 days?
- Thu 5 Nov 2026: Portugal, "A Terra Treme" national earthquake awareness exercise. 5 November, 11:05 (one minute: drop, cover, hold on) 45
- Wed 11 Nov 2026: Japan, Nationwide J-Alert test. Four times a year; remaining tests of fiscal 2026 at 11:00 28
- Tue 17 Nov 2026: United States, Nationwide EAS test (TV and radio only, not phones). Tuesday 17 November 2026, 14:20 Eastern (back-up date 3 December) 60
- Wed 18 Nov 2026: Canada, Alert Ready public test (phones, TV, radio). Wednesday 18 November 2026, 13:55 local time in most provinces 6
- Mon 7 Dec 2026: Netherlands, NL-Alert test message (controlebericht). Twice a year, first Monday of June and December, about 12:00 37
- Mon 7 Dec 2026: Sweden, First nationwide SE-Alert test. 7 December 2026, 15:00, with the quarterly siren test 54
- Mon 7 Dec 2026: Sweden, Quarterly VMA siren test ("Hesa Fredrik"). First non-holiday Monday of March, June, September and December, 15:00 55
Monthly tests also run in Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, Indonesia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia (see the table).
When does each country test its alerts?
Times are local. "Expected" means the official sources give a habit or a past date, not a confirmed date for that year. Each country links to its full alerts page.
| Country | Test or drill | When | Next date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Start of the tropical cyclone season (northern Australia) | 1 November to 30 April 1 | Mon 1 Nov 2027 |
| Austria | Nationwide siren test (Zivilschutz-Probealarm) | First Saturday of October, 12:00–13:00 2 | Sat 2 Oct 2027 |
| Belgium | Quarterly BE-Alert test | First Thursday of January, April, July and October 3 | Thu 7 Jan 2027 |
| Brazil | Santa Catarina state disaster drill, opened by a Cell Broadcast alert | 7 March 2027 (state of Santa Catarina only) 4 | Sun 7 Mar 2027 |
| Bulgaria | Twice-yearly siren test (alarm and all-clear) | First working day of April and October, 13:00 5 | Thu 1 Apr 2027 |
| Canada | Alert Ready public test (phones, TV, radio) | Wednesday 18 November 2026, 13:55 local time in most provinces 6 | Wed 18 Nov 2026 |
| Canada | Alert Ready public tests, 2027 | Usually the Wednesday of Emergency Preparedness Week in May and the third Wednesday of November 7 | Wed 5 May 2027 (expected) |
| Canada | Emergency Preparedness Week | First full week of May, Sunday to Saturday 8 | Sun 2 May 2027 (expected) |
| Chile | Critical air-pollution episode season (GEC) | 1 April–30 September; Metropolitana and O'Higgins: 1 May–31 August 9 | Thu 1 Apr 2027 |
| Colombia | National emergency response drill | Every year on a date set by UNGRD (21 October in 2026) 10 | Not yet published |
| Costa Rica | National evacuation drill (Día Nacional del Simulacro) | Second Wednesday of August, 10:00 (Executive Decree 41828-MP) 11 | Wed 11 Aug 2027 |
| Croatia | Monthly siren test (all-clear signal) | First Saturday of each month, 12:00, unless a public holiday 12 | Sat 7 Nov 2026 |
| Czech Republic | Monthly siren test (140-second steady tone) | First Wednesday of each month, 12:00 13 | Wed 2 Dec 2026 |
| Denmark | Annual siren and S!RENEN test | First Wednesday of May, 12:00 14 | Wed 5 May 2027 |
| Estonia | National EE-ALARM test (sirens and apps) | Three to four national tests a year; next on 10 February 2027 15 | Wed 10 Feb 2027 |
| Finland | Monthly siren test (7-second steady tone) | First Monday of each month, 12:00, except public holidays 16 | Mon 7 Dec 2026 |
| Finland | Emergency warning system test (TV, teletext, 112 Suomi) | February (112 Day), June and October 17 | Thu 11 Feb 2027 (expected) |
| France | Monthly siren test (one 1 min 41 s cycle) | First Wednesday of each month, 12:00 18 | Wed 2 Dec 2026 |
| France | National Resilience Day | 13 October every year 19 | Wed 13 Oct 2027 |
| Germany | Bundesweiter Warntag (national warning day) | Second Thursday of September, alert about 11:00, all-clear about 11:45 20 | Thu 9 Sep 2027 |
| Greece | "Parmenion" exercise: test of all civil-defence sirens | During the Parmenion exercise, late September or early October, not every year 21 | Not yet published |
| Hungary | Monthly MoLaRi siren test | First Monday of each month, about 11:00 (next Monday if a holiday) 22 | Mon 7 Dec 2026 |
| Iceland | 112 Day | 11 February every year 23 | Thu 11 Feb 2027 |
| Indonesia | National Disaster Preparedness Day (simultaneous drills) | 26 April every year 24 | Mon 26 Apr 2027 |
| Indonesia | Monthly tsunami siren test (InaTEWS) | 26th of each month, 10:00 Western Indonesia Time 25 | Thu 26 Nov 2026 |
| Israel | Memorial Day siren (fallen soldiers and victims of terror) | 4 Iyar, 11:00 26 | Tue 11 May 2027 |
| Israel | Memorial Day eve siren | Eve of 4 Iyar, 20:00 (one minute) 26 | Mon 10 May 2027 |
| Italy | National Civil Protection Week | The week that includes 13 October 27 | Wed 13 Oct 2027 (expected) |
| Japan | Nationwide J-Alert test | Four times a year; remaining tests of fiscal 2026 at 11:00 28 | Wed 11 Nov 2026 |
| Kazakhstan | National winter exercise "Kys" with warning system check | Late November, announced two days before 29 | Not yet published |
| Latvia | National siren and cell broadcast test | At least twice a year, usually late May/early June and late November, 10:00 30 | Not yet published |
| Lithuania | National public warning system test (sirens and phone messages) | No fixed date; about twice a year, sirens 11:52–11:55 31 | Not yet published |
| Luxembourg | Monthly siren and LU-Alert test | First Monday of each month, about 12:00 32 | Mon 7 Dec 2026 |
| Malaysia | Start of the northeast monsoon (flood season) | Announced each year by MetMalaysia, late October to November 33 | Not yet published |
| Mexico | First National Drill of the year (with phone alert) | Spring, date set each year (6 May 2026) 34 | Not yet published |
| Mexico | 19 September National Drill (with phone alert and loudspeakers) | 19 September (National Civil Protection Day) 35 | Sun 19 Sep 2027 (expected) |
| Netherlands | Start of the drought season | 1 April every year 36 | Thu 1 Apr 2027 |
| Netherlands | NL-Alert test message (controlebericht) | Twice a year, first Monday of June and December, about 12:00 37 | Mon 7 Dec 2026 |
| Netherlands | Monthly siren test (1 min 26 s) | First Monday of each month, 12:00, except national and religious holidays and 4 May 38 | Mon 7 Dec 2026 |
| New Zealand | Nationwide Emergency Mobile Alert test | Once a year, a Sunday evening between 18:00 and 19:00 39 | Not yet published |
| Norway | Egenberedskapsuka (self-preparedness week) | Week 44 every year 40 | Mon 1 Nov 2027 |
| Norway | Siren ("Important notice") and Nødvarsel test | Twice a year, usually 12:00 on the second Wednesday of January and June 41 | Wed 13 Jan 2027 |
| Peru | National multi-hazard drill No. 1 | Monday 31 May 2027, 10:00 42 | Mon 31 May 2027 |
| Peru | National multi-hazard drill No. 2 | Monday 16 August 2027, 15:00 42 | Mon 16 Aug 2027 |
| Peru | National multi-hazard drill No. 3 (night drill) | Wednesday 13 October 2027, 20:00 42 | Wed 13 Oct 2027 |
| Peru | Earthquake-and-tsunami drill (coastal districts) | Thursday 4 November 2027, 10:00 42 | Thu 4 Nov 2027 |
| Philippines | National Disaster Resilience Month | All of July 43 | Thu 1 Jul 2027 |
| Poland | 1 August sirens (Warsaw Uprising anniversary) | 1 August, 17:00, one-minute steady tone, ordered by each voivode 44 | Sun 1 Aug 2027 (expected) |
| Portugal | "A Terra Treme" national earthquake awareness exercise | 5 November, 11:05 (one minute: drop, cover, hold on) 45 | Thu 5 Nov 2026 |
| Romania | "Siren Wednesday" national public alarm exercise (suspended) | Usually first Wednesday of the month, 10:00–11:00; suspended since 3 March 2026 46 | Not yet published |
| Romania | Civil Protection Week | Around 28 February 47 | Sun 28 Feb 2027 (expected) |
| Serbia | Siren checks (by city or district) | No national rule; announced locally, 12:00 48 | Not yet published |
| Singapore | "Important Message" public warning siren test | 15 February and 15 September, 18:20 49 | Mon 15 Feb 2027 |
| Singapore | Total Defence Day | 15 February every year 49 | Mon 15 Feb 2027 |
| Slovakia | Monthly siren test | Second Friday of each month, 12:00 50 | Fri 13 Nov 2026 |
| Slovenia | Monthly siren test (all-clear signal) | First Saturday of each month, 12:00 51 | Sat 7 Nov 2026 |
| South Africa | International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction | 13 October every year 52 | Wed 13 Oct 2027 |
| South Korea | National air-raid civil defence drill (with the Ulji exercise) | In August, 14:00–14:20; 2027 date not yet published 53 | Not yet published |
| Sweden | First nationwide SE-Alert test | 7 December 2026, 15:00, with the quarterly siren test 54 | Mon 7 Dec 2026 |
| Sweden | Quarterly VMA siren test ("Hesa Fredrik") | First non-holiday Monday of March, June, September and December, 15:00 55 | Mon 7 Dec 2026 |
| Switzerland | Annual siren test (Sirenentest) | First Wednesday of February; general alarm 13:30, water alarm 14:00–16:30 56 | Wed 3 Feb 2027 |
| Taiwan | National Disaster Prevention Day: phone, tsunami and siren tests | Around 21 September: phone alert 09:21, tsunami alert and sirens 09:30 57 | Tue 21 Sep 2027 (expected) |
| Taiwan | "Urban Resilience" air-defence exercise (sirens and sheltering) | Every summer, by region on different days; 2027 dates not yet published 58 | Not yet published |
| Turkey | Earthquake Week (evacuation drills) | 1–7 March every year 59 | Mon 1 Mar 2027 |
| United States | Nationwide EAS test (TV and radio only, not phones) | Tuesday 17 November 2026, 14:20 Eastern (back-up date 3 December) 60 | Tue 17 Nov 2026 |
Countries with no recurring national test found
The official sources reviewed give no recurring national siren test, phone-alert test or national drill for: Argentina, Cyprus, Georgia, India, Ireland, Kuwait, Malta, Moldova, Qatar, Spain, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom. Some test locally, near a dam or a power plant, or held a one-off test.
Frequently asked questions
Which countries test their sirens every month?
10 of the 62 countries compared: Croatia, first Saturday of each month, 12:00, unless a public holiday 12; Czech Republic, first Wednesday of each month, 12:00 13; Finland, first Monday of each month, 12:00, except public holidays 16; France, first Wednesday of each month, 12:00 18; Hungary, first Monday of each month, about 11:00 (next Monday if a holiday) 22; Indonesia, 26th of each month, 10:00 Western Indonesia Time 25; Luxembourg, first Monday of each month, about 12:00 32; Netherlands, first Monday of each month, 12:00, except national and religious holidays and 4 May 38; Slovakia, second Friday of each month, 12:00 50; Slovenia, first Saturday of each month, 12:00 51.
When is the next national alert test or drill?
"A Terra Treme" national earthquake awareness exercise in Portugal, on Thu 5 Nov 2026: 5 November, 11:05 (one minute: drop, cover, hold on) 45.
What should I do during a test?
Nothing, unless the authorities say otherwise: a test message or siren is an exercise, not a real warning. Each country's alerts page explains what the signal sounds like and what a real alert asks you to do.
Sources · 60
- Bureau of Meteorology · Australian tropical cyclone season checked 2026-11-04
- Bundesministerium für Inneres (BMI) · Warn- und Alarmsignale im Katastrophenfall checked 2026-10-20
- Centre de crise national (SPF Intérieur) · Stratégie de test d'alertes de la population (PDF, 2019) checked 2026-11-04
- Secretaria de Estado da Proteção e Defesa Civil de Santa Catarina (SPDC) · Com adesão recorde, Santa Catarina encerra maior simulado de desastres do Brasil checked 2026-11-04
- MVR – GDPBZN · Сигнали за ранно предупреждение и оповестяване на населението на територията на Република България checked 2026-10-20
- Alert Ready / En alerte (Pelmorex Corp., exploitant du système national sous licence CRTC) · Testing Schedule checked 2026-11-04
- Alert Ready (Pelmorex Corp.) · Emergency Alert Test in Canada: Alert Ready to Issue Nationwide Test on May 6, 2026 checked 2026-11-04
- Sécurité publique Canada · Emergency Preparedness Week 2026 checked 2026-11-04
- Ministerio del Medio Ambiente · Aire Chile – Preguntas frecuentes checked 2026-10-27
- Unidad Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (UNGRD) · Más de 1.000 municipios del país se preparan para el Simulacro Nacional de Respuesta a Emergencias 2026 checked 2026-11-04
- Universidad Estatal a Distancia (UNED), Consejo Superior · Declaratoria de interés institucional Simulacro Nacional de Evacuación 2025 (CSO-30-2025) checked 2026-11-04
- Narodne novine (Pravilnik o postupku uzbunjivanja stanovništva, NN 69/16) · Pravilnik o postupku uzbunjivanja stanovništva checked 2026-11-04
- Hasičský záchranný sbor ČR (HZS ČR) · Varování obyvatelstva checked 2026-11-04
- Beredskabsstyrelsen · Den årlige test af varslingskanalerne checked 2026-10-20
- Päästeamet – Ole valmis! · Input from nationwide public warning system test collected on siren networks in nine cities checked 2026-10-20
- Ministry of the Interior / Suomi.fi · General instructions on preparedness, home emergency supplies and on what to do in different situations - Preparing for Incidents and Crises checked 2026-10-20
- Hätäkeskuslaitos (Emergency Response Centre Agency) · Emergency warning transmission system to be tested on 5 June checked 2026-11-04
- Secrétariat général de la défense et de la sécurité nationale (SGDSN) · Tous responsables. Face aux risques, agissons : bien préparés, bien protégés, tous engagés checked 2026-10-20
- Ministère de la Transition écologique · Guide « Tous responsables » : comment se préparer aux risques majeurs ? checked 2026-10-20
- Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe (BBK) · Bundesweiter Warntag checked 2026-10-20
- Δήμος Δυτικής Σάμου (reprend l'annonce nationale) · ΑΝΑΚΟΙΝΩΣΗ ΑΣΚΗΣΗ ΤΑΜΣ «ΠΑΡΜΕΝΙΩΝ-25» - ΤΕΤΑΡΤΗ 1 ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΥ 2025 checked 2026-11-04
- BM Országos Katasztrófavédelmi Főigazgatóság · MoLaRi-rendszer checked 2026-11-04
- Embætti landlæknis (Directorate of Health) – Ísland.is · The 112-Day 2026 checked 2026-11-04
- Pemerintah Kabupaten Rembang (narasi tunggal BNPB) · BNPB Menginisiasi Pencanangan Hari Kesiapsiagaan Bencana (24 April 2017) checked 2026-11-04
- BMKG · Berikan Hibah Sirine Tsunami, BMKG dan Pemprov Jabar Perkuat Sistem Peringatan Dini (6 November 2025) checked 2026-11-04
- Ministère de la Défense d'Israël, département des familles endeuillées · Memorial Day | Bereaved families, commemoration and heritage department checked 2026-11-04
- Dipartimento della Protezione Civile · National Civil Protection Week checked 2026-11-04
- 総務省消防庁 (FDMA) · 令和4年版 消防白書 2．Jアラートによる迅速な情報伝達 checked 2026-10-20
- Министерство по чрезвычайным ситуациям Республики Казахстан · МЧС сообщает о проверке системы оповещения checked 2026-11-04
- Ministru kabinets (likumi.lv), noteikumi Nr. 440 · Valsts agrīnās brīdināšanas sistēmas izveidošanas, darbības un finansēšanas kārtība checked 2026-11-04
- Priešgaisrinės apsaugos ir gelbėjimo departamentas prie VRM (PAGD) · Šalyje buvo tikrinama Gyventojų perspėjimo ir informavimo sistema (2024-11-12) checked 2026-11-04
- Gouvernement du Luxembourg – LU-Alert (ministère des Affaires intérieures / CTIE) · What is the testing strategy for the “LU-Alert” warning and information system? checked 2026-11-04
- Berita RTM (Jabatan Penyiaran Malaysia) · MTL: Hujan lebat hingga Januari bawa risiko banjir (23/10/2026) checked 2026-11-04
- SSPC / Coordinación Nacional de Protección Civil · CNPC CONVOCA AL PUEBLO DE MÉXICO A PARTICIPAR EN EL PRIMER SIMULACRO NACIONAL 2026 QUE SE REALIZARÁ EL 6 DE MAYO checked 2026-11-04
- Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana (SSPC) / Coordinación Nacional de Protección Civil · GOBIERNO DE MÉXICO CONVOCA AL SEGUNDO SIMULACRO NACIONAL 2026 checked 2026-11-04
- Rijkswaterstaat · Droogte en watertekort Nederland checked 2026-10-27
- NL-Alert (Rijksoverheid) · Home | NL Alert checked 2026-10-20
- Rijksoverheid · Wanneer wordt de sirene getest? checked 2026-10-20
- NEMA / Get Ready (copie archive.org du 17 juin 2026) · Nationwide test of Emergency Mobile Alert checked 2026-11-04
- Direktoratet for samfunnssikkerhet og beredskap (DSB) · Self-preparedness (Egenberedskapsuka) checked 2026-10-20
- Sivilforsvaret · Varsling av befolkningen checked 2026-10-20
- Presidencia del Consejo de Ministros, Secretaría de Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (El Peruano) · Resolución de Secretaría de Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres N° 001-2025-PCM/SGRD — Aprueban la ejecución de simulacros y simulaciones para los años 2025-2027 checked 2026-11-04
- PTV News (relaying an Office of Civil Defense Facebook post of 24 July 2021) · What's in a 'go bag'? checked 2026-10-20
- Starostwo Powiatowe w Gorlicach (samorzad.gov.pl) · Syreny alarmowe w dniu 1 sierpnia 2026 r., godzina 17:00 checked 2026-11-04
- Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Proteção Civil (ANEPC) · O Exercício – A Terra Treme checked 2026-11-04
- Inspectoratul General pentru Situații de Urgență (IGSU) · Înștiințarea, avertizarea și alarmarea populației checked 2026-11-04
- Primăria Comunei Căpleni · Începerea Săptămânii Protecției Civile în Comuna Căpleni checked 2026-11-04
- Grad Novi Sad · Obaveštenje o proveri ispravnosti i oglašavanju sirena za javno uzbunjivanje checked 2026-11-04
- Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) · Public Warning System checked 2026-10-29
- Ministerstvo vnútra SR · Čo robiť v prípade krízy alebo ozbrojeného konfliktu checked 2026-11-04
- Uprava RS za zaščito in reševanje (URSZR), GOV.SI · Opazovanje, obveščanje in alarmiranje checked 2026-11-04
- Gouvernement d'Afrique du Sud (gov.za) · Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa leads commemoration of International Day for Disaster Reduction in Polokwane, 10 to 11 Oct checked 2026-11-04
- 행정안전부 (민방위과) · 보도자료 목록 : 8월 20일 오후 2시, 전국 민방위 훈련 실시 (2026.08.19.) checked 2026-11-04
- Myndigheten för civilt försvar (MCF) · SE-Alert – viktigt meddelande direkt i mobilen checked 2026-11-04
- Myndigheten för civilt försvar (MCF) · Utomhusvarning – Hesa Fredrik checked 2026-11-04
- Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz BABS · Der jährliche Sirenentest checked 2026-10-20
- 內政部（消防署） · 115年國家防災日系列活動起跑 防災士走進百工百業 共築全社會防衛韌性（115-09-03） checked 2026-11-04
- 國防部全民防衛動員署 · 2026城鎮韌性(防空)演習 checked 2026-11-04
- Ministère de la Famille et des Services sociaux, direction de Kırklareli · Deprem Haftası Kapsamında Personelimize Afet Farkındalık Eğitimi Verildi checked 2026-11-04
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau · DA 26-989 — Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau Announces Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) on November 17, 2026 checked 2026-11-04