When is Memorial Day?
Last Monday in May. Here is the date, the background and what to know before you make plans.
Next Memorial Day
Monday, May 31, 2027Memorial Day dates, 2026–2031
Rule: Last Monday in May. When it falls on a weekend, federal offices observe it on the Friday before (Saturday) or the Monday after (Sunday).
What’s open on Memorial Day
| Service | Typical status |
|---|---|
| Banks | Closed |
| Post Office / Mail delivery | Closed |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Closed |
| Federal & most state government offices | Closed |
| Public schools | Closed Closed (most schools are already finishing the year or on summer break) |
Memorial Day is a federal holiday, so banks, the stock market, the post office and most government offices close nationwide. 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.
The story behind Memorial Day
Memorial Day grew out of Decoration Day, first widely observed in 1868 to honor Union and Confederate soldiers killed in the Civil War by decorating their graves with flowers. Many towns claim to be the holiday’s birthplace, but Waterloo, New York was officially recognized by the federal government in 1966 as its origin.
The holiday expanded after World War I to honor all Americans who died in military service, and Congress made “Memorial Day” the official name in 1967. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved it to the last Monday in May starting in 1971.
Remembrance and the long weekend
The last-Monday rule makes a three-day federal weekend, but the day’s central purpose remains remembrance. Cemeteries, memorials and community groups often share ceremony schedules well before May.
How it’s celebrated
Memorial Day is widely treated as the unofficial start of summer in the U.S., marked by parades, cemetery visits, the National Memorial Day Concert in Washington, D.C., and a moment of remembrance observed nationally at 3 p.m. local time under the National Moment of Remembrance Act of 2000.
Memorial Day is often confused with Veterans Day; Memorial Day honors service members who died, while Veterans Day honors all who served, living and deceased.
A respectful plan
If visiting a cemetery, check its posted visiting hours and guidance for flowers or flags. For a local ceremony, verify the location, accessibility and weather plan. A gathering can include a moment to learn a name or story connected to service.
Travelers should expect busy routes and variable park hours. Federal offices close on Monday, but businesses and local services choose their own schedules.
Memorial Day weekend checklist
- Two to four weeks ahead: reserve travel, campsites or timed-entry attractions.
- One week ahead: check ceremony times, road restrictions and local weather.
- Before the weekend: handle bank, postal and government errands that require an open office.
- At 3 p.m. local time: consider observing the National Moment of Remembrance.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Memorial Day move each year?
It is the last Monday in May.
Are Memorial Day and Veterans Day the same?
No. Memorial Day remembers those who died in service; Veterans Day honors all U.S. veterans.
Is Memorial Day a federal holiday?
Yes, although private and local schedules vary.
When is Memorial Day in 2027?
Memorial Day is Monday, May 31, 2027.
Is Memorial Day always a three-day weekend?
For workplaces following the federal Monday holiday, yes. Private employers set their own paid-holiday policies.
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.