What and when is Presidents Day 2026, and what will be open or closed on the day? Presidents Day 2026 is a federal holiday observed across the United States. It falls on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. The holiday follows a fixed federal schedule and always occurs on the third Monday of February. It honors George Washington and later came to recognize other U.S. presidents. On this day, federal offices do not operate. Banks and post offices remain closed. Many schools pause classes. Retail stores usually stay open. Work schedules depend on employer policies.
What and when is Presidents Day 2026, and what will be open or closed on the day?
Presidents Day 2026 will be observed on Monday, Feb. 16. The holiday always falls on the third Monday of February. It is a federal holiday in the United States. Federal offices will remain closed. Federal employees will get the day off. Private businesses may follow different schedules. Banks, post offices, and the stock market will not operate. Many schools will also close. Retail stores and grocery outlets usually stay open.
What and when is Presidents Day 2026?
Presidents Day 2026 takes place on Monday, Feb. 16. The holiday is officially known as Washington’s Birthday. It was created to honor George Washington. Over time, it came to recognize other U.S. presidents. The date was fixed under the Uniform Monday Holiday Law. This law moved the holiday to the third Monday of February. The change helped avoid midweek closures and created long weekends on the federal calendar.
What will be open or closed on Presidents Day 2026?
On Presidents Day 2026, federal government offices will be closed. Post offices will not deliver mail. Banks will remain closed. The stock market will not trade. Many public schools will suspend classes, though local schedules may differ. Most retail stores will remain open. Grocery stores and restaurants will operate as usual. Private companies decide whether to close or stay open on the holiday.
Open on Presidents Day 2026:
May be open or closed depending on location:
Is Presidents Day 2026 a federal holiday?
Presidents Day 2026 will be observed on Monday, Feb. 16. The holiday always falls on the third Monday of February. It is a federal holiday in the United States. Federal offices close. Federal workers get a day off. Private workers may still work.
Presidents Day honors George Washington. It also recognizes other United States Presidents. The holiday is officially called Washington’s Birthday. Over time, it became known as Presidents Day due to its placement between Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays.
Presidents Day 2026 date and calendar placement
Presidents Day 2026 takes place on Monday, Feb. 16. The federal holiday follows a fixed rule. It always occurs on the third Monday of February. This rule was set under the Uniform Monday Holiday Law. The law moved several holidays to Mondays. The goal was to avoid midweek closures and create long weekends.
Presidents Day 2026 meaning and history
The holiday began as a celebration of George Washington’s birthday. Washington was born on Feb. 11, 1731, under the Julian calendar. After the switch to the Gregorian calendar, his birthday moved to Feb. 22, 1732.
In 1879, Congress made Feb. 22 a legal holiday for federal workers in Washington, D.C. In 1885, it became a paid federal holiday nationwide. In 1971, the date changed to the third Monday of February. The holiday later included recognition of Abraham Lincoln, born Feb. 12. This led to the name Presidents Day.
Why the United States observes Presidents Day?
The country honored Washington long before the holiday became law. In 1832, Congress marked his 100th birthday. Lawmakers read his farewell address. This practice continues in the Senate today. Presidents Day now serves as a time to reflect on the role of presidents in U.S. history.
Who gets the day off on Presidents Day?
Federal government employees generally get the day off. State and local workers may also have time off. Private-sector workers are not guaranteed leave. Federal law does not require private companies to observe federal holidays.
Federal holidays list for 2026
The federal holidays in 2026 include:
FAQs
What and when is Presidents Day 2026, and what will be open or closed on the day?
Presidents Day 2026 is on Monday, Feb. 16. Federal offices, banks, and post offices close. Most stores and restaurants stay open.
Is Presidents Day 2026 a federal holiday for all workers?
Presidents Day 2026 is a federal holiday. Federal workers get time off. Private workers may still work depending on employer policy.
What and when is Presidents Day 2026, and what will be open or closed on the day?
Presidents Day 2026 will be observed on Monday, Feb. 16. The holiday always falls on the third Monday of February. It is a federal holiday in the United States. Federal offices will remain closed. Federal employees will get the day off. Private businesses may follow different schedules. Banks, post offices, and the stock market will not operate. Many schools will also close. Retail stores and grocery outlets usually stay open.What and when is Presidents Day 2026?
Presidents Day 2026 takes place on Monday, Feb. 16. The holiday is officially known as Washington’s Birthday. It was created to honor George Washington. Over time, it came to recognize other U.S. presidents. The date was fixed under the Uniform Monday Holiday Law. This law moved the holiday to the third Monday of February. The change helped avoid midweek closures and created long weekends on the federal calendar.What will be open or closed on Presidents Day 2026?
On Presidents Day 2026, federal government offices will be closed. Post offices will not deliver mail. Banks will remain closed. The stock market will not trade. Many public schools will suspend classes, though local schedules may differ. Most retail stores will remain open. Grocery stores and restaurants will operate as usual. Private companies decide whether to close or stay open on the holiday.Presidents Day 2026: What's open or closed list
Closed on Presidents Day 2026 (Monday, Feb. 16):- Federal government offices
- Post offices and mail delivery services
- Banks and most credit unions
- Stock market and bond markets
- Many public schools, depending on district schedules
Open on Presidents Day 2026:
- Most retail stores
- Grocery stores and supermarkets
- Restaurants and food chains
- Shopping malls and online stores
- Gas stations and convenience stores
May be open or closed depending on location:
- State and local government offices
- Public libraries
- Private offices and workplaces
- Colleges and universities
Is Presidents Day 2026 a federal holiday?
Presidents Day 2026 will be observed on Monday, Feb. 16. The holiday always falls on the third Monday of February. It is a federal holiday in the United States. Federal offices close. Federal workers get a day off. Private workers may still work.Presidents Day honors George Washington. It also recognizes other United States Presidents. The holiday is officially called Washington’s Birthday. Over time, it became known as Presidents Day due to its placement between Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays.
Presidents Day 2026 date and calendar placement
Presidents Day 2026 takes place on Monday, Feb. 16. The federal holiday follows a fixed rule. It always occurs on the third Monday of February. This rule was set under the Uniform Monday Holiday Law. The law moved several holidays to Mondays. The goal was to avoid midweek closures and create long weekends.Presidents Day 2026 meaning and history
The holiday began as a celebration of George Washington’s birthday. Washington was born on Feb. 11, 1731, under the Julian calendar. After the switch to the Gregorian calendar, his birthday moved to Feb. 22, 1732.In 1879, Congress made Feb. 22 a legal holiday for federal workers in Washington, D.C. In 1885, it became a paid federal holiday nationwide. In 1971, the date changed to the third Monday of February. The holiday later included recognition of Abraham Lincoln, born Feb. 12. This led to the name Presidents Day.
Why the United States observes Presidents Day?
The country honored Washington long before the holiday became law. In 1832, Congress marked his 100th birthday. Lawmakers read his farewell address. This practice continues in the Senate today. Presidents Day now serves as a time to reflect on the role of presidents in U.S. history.Who gets the day off on Presidents Day?
Federal government employees generally get the day off. State and local workers may also have time off. Private-sector workers are not guaranteed leave. Federal law does not require private companies to observe federal holidays.Federal holidays list for 2026
The federal holidays in 2026 include:- New Year’s Day on Jan. 1
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 19
- Washington’s Birthday or Presidents Day on Feb. 16
- Memorial Day on May 25
- Juneteenth on June 19
- Independence Day observed on July 3
- Labor Day on Sept. 7
- Columbus Day on Oct. 12
- Veterans Day on Nov. 11
- Thanksgiving Day on Nov. 26
- Christmas Day on Dec. 25
FAQs
What and when is Presidents Day 2026, and what will be open or closed on the day?
Presidents Day 2026 is on Monday, Feb. 16. Federal offices, banks, and post offices close. Most stores and restaurants stay open.
Is Presidents Day 2026 a federal holiday for all workers?
Presidents Day 2026 is a federal holiday. Federal workers get time off. Private workers may still work depending on employer policy.
