Memorial Day 2027 is Monday, May 31, 2027. It falls on the last Monday in May, so the long weekend runs from Saturday, May 29 to Monday, May 31. That is the latest date Memorial Day can fall on.
Memorial Day is the federal holiday for remembering the men and women who died while serving in the US military. It’s also widely treated as the unofficial start of summer. This guide covers the date rule, what’s open and closed, the holiday’s history, how it differs from Veterans Day, and the dates through 2031.
Memorial Day 2027 at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Date | Monday, May 31, 2027 |
| Rule | Last Monday in May (possible dates: May 25–31) |
| Long weekend | Saturday, May 29 – Monday, May 31 |
| Original date (Decoration Day) | May 30, which is Sunday, May 30 in 2027 |
| National Moment of Remembrance | 3:00 p.m. local time on Monday, May 31 |
| Federal holiday? | Yes |
Count down with our Memorial Day countdown, or plan the week in the May 2027 calendar.
How the Memorial Day date is set
Federal law, 5 U.S.C. 6103, sets Memorial Day on the last Monday in May. Because May has 31 days, the last Monday is always between May 25 and May 31. In 2027, May 31 is a Monday, so the holiday lands on the last possible day, and the long weekend ends the month.
The Monday rule dates from the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, signed on June 28, 1968. It moved Memorial Day from its traditional fixed date of May 30 to the last Monday in May, starting in 1971. In 2027 the traditional date, May 30, falls on the Sunday of the holiday weekend.
Memorial Day dates, 2026 to 2031
| Year | Memorial Day | Long weekend |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday, May 25, 2026 | May 23–25 (earliest possible date) |
| 2027 | Monday, May 31, 2027 | May 29–31 (latest possible date) |
| 2028 | Monday, May 29, 2028 | May 27–29 |
| 2029 | Monday, May 28, 2029 | May 26–28 |
| 2030 | Monday, May 27, 2030 | May 25–27 |
| 2031 | Monday, May 26, 2031 | May 24–26 |
Every other federal and popular holiday of the year is listed in the 2027 holiday calendar.
What’s open and closed on Memorial Day 2027
- Federal offices: closed.
- Post offices: closed, with no regular mail delivery.
- Banks: the Federal Reserve Banks are closed on May 31, 2027, so most banks close and transfers settle on Tuesday, June 1.
- Stock market: the New York Stock Exchange is closed on Monday, May 31, 2027.
- Schools: public schools that are still in session generally close. Check your district’s calendar for any make-up days.
- Stores and restaurants: most open, sometimes with holiday hours. Check before you go.
Private employers choose whether to give the day off; federal law doesn’t require it.
A short history: from Decoration Day to Memorial Day
According to the VA’s National Cemetery Administration, the holiday grew out of the years after the Civil War:
- May 5, 1868: the Grand Army of the Republic, a Union veterans’ group led by General John A. Logan, issued General Orders No. 11, setting aside May 30 as a day to decorate the graves of the war dead.
- May 30, 1868: the first national Decoration Day ceremony was held at Arlington National Cemetery.
- 1888: Congress made Decoration Day a federal holiday, according to the Congressional Research Service.
- After World War I: the day came to honor Americans who died in all of the nation’s wars, and the name Memorial Day became common.
- 1971: the Uniform Monday Holiday Act took effect, moving the holiday to the last Monday in May.
- December 2000: the National Moment of Remembrance Act asked Americans to pause for one minute at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day.
Federal flag rules in 4 U.S.C. 7 also set a Memorial Day custom: the flag is flown at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff for the rest of the day.
Memorial Day vs. Veterans Day
The two holidays are often confused. The Department of Veterans Affairs draws the line this way: Memorial Day honors the military personnel who died in service, and Veterans Day honors everyone who served, and especially thanks living veterans.
| Memorial Day | Veterans Day | |
|---|---|---|
| Honors | Those who died in military service | All who served, living or dead |
| Date rule | Last Monday in May | November 11, any weekday |
| 2027 date | Monday, May 31 | Thursday, November 11 |
For more on the November holiday, see our Veterans Day guide.
The unofficial start of summer
For many people, Memorial Day weekend opens the summer season, with the first trips, cookouts and pool days of the year. A few things to plan for in 2027:
- Book travel early. Flights, hotels and campsites fill up on holiday weekends, so reserve well ahead if you plan to leave on Friday, May 28.
- Make it four days. One day of leave on Friday, May 28 or Tuesday, June 1 gives you four days off.
- The next holiday is close. Juneteenth is observed on Friday, June 18, 2027, just 18 days later, giving another three-day weekend. See our long weekends in 2027 guide.
- Abroad: the UK’s Spring Bank Holiday falls on the same Monday, May 31, 2027, so many offices in both countries are closed that day. See the UK’s 2027 bank holidays.
Astronomical summer starts later, with the June solstice on Monday, June 21, 2027; the countdown to summer tracks it.
Frequently asked questions
What date is Memorial Day 2027?
Monday, May 31, 2027. It’s the last Monday in May, and 2027 is a year when that falls on the very last day of the month.
Is Memorial Day a federal holiday?
Yes. It’s one of the 11 federal holidays listed in 5 U.S.C. 6103. Federal offices, post offices, most banks and the stock market are closed.
Why is Memorial Day on a Monday?
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 moved it from May 30 to the last Monday in May, starting in 1971, so it always falls on a Monday and creates a three-day weekend.
What is the National Moment of Remembrance?
A one-minute pause at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day to remember those who died in military service. Congress set it in law in December 2000.
Is Memorial Day the same as Veterans Day?
No. Memorial Day honors those who died while serving. Veterans Day, on November 11, honors all who served, especially living veterans.