When is Columbus Day?
Second Monday in October. Here is the date, the background and what to know before you make plans.
Next Columbus Day
Monday, October 11, 2027Columbus Day dates, 2026–2031
Rule: Second Monday in October. When it falls on a weekend, federal offices observe it on the Friday before (Saturday) or the Monday after (Sunday).
What’s open on Columbus Day
| Service | Typical status |
|---|---|
| Banks | Closed Closed at most national banks; some regional and community banks stay open |
| Post Office / Mail delivery | Closed |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Open Open (regular trading day — one of two federal holidays the market ignores) |
| Federal government offices | Closed |
| Public schools | Varies Mixed — many remain open; a growing number of states and cities observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead or in addition |
Columbus Day is a federal holiday, so federal offices, the post office and most banks close, but it’s one of only two federal holidays (with Veterans Day) when the stock market stays open for regular trading. Individual banks, school districts and employers can still make their own call, so confirm directly if a closure affects an important errand or appointment. Check any date with the holiday status checker.
Among the 49 states with full holiday lists on Daymark, these don’t give state employees Columbus Day off: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Hawaiʻi, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
The story behind Columbus Day
Columbus Day commemorates Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492. Italian-American communities pushed for its recognition starting in the late 1800s, partly to counter anti-Italian discrimination, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt made it a federal holiday in 1937. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved it to the second Monday in October in 1971.
In recent decades, the holiday has become the most contested on the federal calendar. Critics point to the violence and colonization that followed Columbus’s voyages toward Indigenous peoples, and a growing number of states, cities and universities have renamed or replaced the observance with Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which honors Native American history and culture instead.
Check the local name and schedule
That variation makes the local calendar especially important. Federal offices follow the federal holiday, while state offices, schools, courts and private employers may use different names and schedules.
How it’s celebrated
Where it’s still observed as Columbus Day, Italian-American heritage parades remain common, notably in New York City and other cities with large Italian-American communities. Where Indigenous Peoples’ Day has replaced it, observances typically focus on Native history, culture and ongoing issues facing Indigenous communities.
There is no single national rule here: the date is federally recognized as Columbus Day, but individual states, cities and employers each decide independently what to call it and how (or whether) to close for it.
Planning around the day
Columbus Day planning checklist
- Before the date: Check the federal schedule separately from your state or city calendar.
- Check locally: Confirm school, court and library hours locally.
- For travel: Look for both “Columbus Day” and “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” on event calendars.
- Final check: Complete time-sensitive federal business before the three-day weekend.
Frequently asked questions
Is Columbus Day a federal holiday?
Yes. It is the federal holiday on the second Monday in October.
Is Indigenous Peoples’ Day a federal holiday?
It is not a separate federal holiday, although many state and local governments observe it.
Are all state offices closed?
No. State names and closure policies vary.
Are banks and USPS closed?
Many banks and regular USPS operations follow a holiday schedule, but verify the specific service.
When is Columbus Day in 2027?
It is Monday, October 11, 2027.
Sources and how we check
Federal holiday dates and observed-day rules follow the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Market dates follow the NYSE holiday calendar; bank dates follow the Federal Reserve. Read our editorial policy or report a correction.