diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/all.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/all.scala
index d750b9b454..18068be967 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/all.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/all.scala
@@ -18,3 +18,4 @@ trait AllInstances
   with    TryInstances
   with    TupleInstances
   with    UUIDInstances
+  with    SymbolInstances
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/symbol.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/symbol.scala
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d55d0942d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/symbol.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+package cats
+package instances
+
+package object symbol extends SymbolInstances
+
+trait SymbolInstances extends cats.kernel.instances.SymbolInstances {
+  implicit val catsStdShowForSymbol: Show[Symbol] =
+    Show.fromToString[Symbol]
+}