When is Presidents Day 2026? Date, closures, and what’s open

Presidents Day 2026 falls on Monday, February 16, 2026. The holiday creates a long winter weekend for many Americans, and it also triggers a familiar set of closures and schedule changes across government offices, schools, banks, and financial markets.

Even though it’s widely called “Presidents Day,” the federal holiday’s official name is Washington’s Birthday—and it is always observed on the third Monday in February, which lands on February 16 this year.

The date you need for 2026

Presidents Day is observed on Monday, February 16, 2026. If you’re planning travel, appointments, or deliveries, that Monday is the day most service disruptions and closures will apply.

It’s also worth noting that Washington’s actual birthday is February 22, and Abraham Lincoln’s birthday is February 12. The modern holiday date is designed to create a Monday observance rather than to match a specific birthdate.

Why the holiday moves around the calendar

Presidents Day is part of the pattern created by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which shifted several federal holidays to Mondays to create more three-day weekends. That’s why the holiday can land anywhere from mid-February to the third week of the month depending on the year.

In 2026, the third Monday arrives relatively early, on February 16.

What’s typically closed on Presidents Day

Because it is a federal holiday, many public services close for the day. In most places, you can expect:

• Federal government offices to be closed

• Courts to be closed

• Most banks to be closed (though online banking and ATMs still function)

• U.S. stock and bond markets to be closed

• Many schools to be closed or on a break schedule (varies by district and state)

Local and state government closures vary widely. Some states treat the day as a full closure, some treat it as a partial holiday, and some keep many services running.

What’s usually open, and what changes

Retailers and restaurants typically stay open, and Presidents Day is often a major sales weekend for furniture, appliances, and winter clearance promotions. Grocery stores are usually open, though hours can vary.

Delivery and logistics are more mixed. Many private carriers continue operations, while some services run on modified schedules. If you’re expecting time-sensitive shipments, the safest move is to check the carrier’s holiday calendar, because cutoff times and pickup availability can change by location.

Public transit generally runs, but some commuter and municipal schedules may shift slightly. If you’re traveling that Monday, check for holiday timetables, especially for suburban commuter lines.

A quick planning checklist for the long weekend

Here are the practical “do this before Monday” items that tend to save people headaches:

• Need a bank branch? Go before Monday, February 16.

• Trading or settling a transaction? Plan for markets to be closed Monday.

• Shipping something time-sensitive? Confirm pickup and delivery windows.

• School or childcare? Double-check your local calendar—many districts close, but not all.

• Government paperwork or in-person appointments? Expect rescheduling.

What Presidents Day is called, and what it commemorates

In federal law and on many official calendars, the holiday is still labeled Washington’s Birthday. In everyday life, “Presidents Day” is the more common term, and many states use it to recognize Washington plus other U.S. presidents (often with a special nod to Lincoln).

That naming split is why you may see different wording depending on where you look—yet the observed date remains the same: the third Monday in February.

The bottom line

Presidents Day 2026 is Monday, February 16, 2026. Expect the usual federal holiday pattern: government offices closed, most banks closed, and financial markets closed—while retail and many private businesses remain open.

Sources consulted: U.S. Office of Personnel Management, NYSE holiday calendar, Nasdaq Trader holiday schedule, U.S. Courts federal holiday calendar