Yes. Veterans Day is a federal holiday, and in 2026 it falls on Wednesday, November 11. Unlike most federal holidays, it keeps its fixed date every year instead of moving to a Monday.
Because the date is fixed, Veterans Day lands on a different weekday each year. In 2026 it is midweek, so it doesn’t create a long weekend, and many private businesses and schools stay open. This guide covers the dates through 2032, why the day is November 11, the brief period when it moved to October, what is open and closed, and how it differs from Memorial Day.
Veterans Day dates, 2026 to 2032
| Year | Veterans Day | Federal day off |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | Same day |
| 2027 | Thursday, November 11, 2027 | Same day |
| 2028 | Saturday, November 11, 2028 | Friday, November 10, 2028 |
| 2029 | Sunday, November 11, 2029 | Monday, November 12, 2029 |
| 2030 | Monday, November 11, 2030 | Same day |
| 2031 | Tuesday, November 11, 2031 | Same day |
| 2032 | Thursday, November 11, 2032 | Same day |
The ceremonies and moments of silence stay on November 11 even in the years when the federal day off moves. For the live count, see days until Veterans Day.
Why Veterans Day is on November 11
Fighting in the First World War stopped when an armistice took effect at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918. The war officially ended later, with the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, but November 11 became the day people remembered. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs:
- 1919: President Wilson proclaimed the first commemoration of Armistice Day.
- 1938: an act of Congress made November 11 a legal holiday, Armistice Day, dedicated to the cause of world peace.
- 1954: after the Second World War and the Korean War, Congress replaced the word “Armistice” with “Veterans,” so the day honors American veterans of all wars.
The Monday experiment, 1971 to 1977
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 moved Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October, along with Monday dates for Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day and Columbus Day. The first Veterans Day under the new rule was Monday, October 25, 1971, and the VA describes it as observed “with much confusion.”
The change never took hold. The Congressional Research Service notes that 46 states either never changed their observance or went back to November 11. In 1975, Congress passed Public Law 94-97, which returned the federal holiday to November 11 beginning in 1978. Veterans Day has kept its fixed date ever since, which is why it is the only federal holiday from that 1968 law that is not on a Monday.
When Veterans Day falls on a weekend
Federal employees get the nearest weekday off:
- Saturday: observed the Friday before. Next: Friday, November 10, 2028.
- Sunday: observed the Monday after. Next: Monday, November 12, 2029.
The Sunday rule is in 5 U.S.C. 6103(b), and the Saturday rule comes from Executive Order 11582. Banks follow the Federal Reserve, which closes the following Monday when a holiday falls on Sunday but stays open on the Friday before a Saturday holiday. So in 2028, expect federal offices to be closed on Friday, November 10 while many banks open as usual. The federal holidays 2027 guide explains the observed-day rules in more detail.
Is Veterans Day a federal holiday? What’s open and closed
| Service | Wednesday, November 11, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Federal offices | Closed |
| U.S. Postal Service | Post offices closed; no regular delivery (Priority Mail Express only) |
| Federal Reserve and most banks | Closed |
| New York Stock Exchange | Open |
| State and local government | Varies by state and city |
| Public schools | Varies by district |
| Most stores, restaurants and private offices | Open |
The postal closure follows the USPS holiday notice, bank closures follow the Federal Reserve holiday schedule, and stock trading follows the NYSE calendar, which doesn’t list Veterans Day.
A Wednesday holiday splits the week. Payments due on November 11 typically clear on Thursday, November 12, and anything counted in business days shifts by one. Use the business days calculator to check a deadline. With Election Day eight days earlier on November 3 (not a federal holiday; see our Election Day 2026 guide) and Thanksgiving on November 26, November 2026 has 19 federal working days out of 21 weekdays.
How the day is marked
The main national event is the Veterans Day National Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. According to the VA, it begins at 11:00 a.m. on November 11 with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, followed by a program in the Memorial Amphitheater. Towns and cities across the country hold their own parades and ceremonies. In 2026 November 11 is a Wednesday, so check local listings for times and dates before you go, since a local event may be scheduled for a nearby weekend instead.
Veterans Day vs. Memorial Day
The two are often confused, but they honor different people. The VA puts it simply: Memorial Day remembers those who died in military service, while Veterans Day thanks everyone who served, living or dead, in wartime or peacetime.
| Veterans Day | Memorial Day | |
|---|---|---|
| Honors | All who served honorably, especially living veterans | Service members who died in service |
| Date | November 11, fixed | Last Monday in May |
| Next date | Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | Monday, May 31, 2027 |
| Origin | Armistice Day, 1919 | Decoration Day, a federal holiday since 1888 |
The name in federal law is “Veterans Day,” with no apostrophe. Count down to the spring holiday with days until Memorial Day, or see the whole year on the 2026 holiday calendar.
Frequently asked questions
Is Veterans Day a federal holiday in 2026?
Yes. It falls on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, and federal offices, post offices and the Federal Reserve are closed.
Is Veterans Day always on November 11?
Yes, since 1978. From 1971 to 1977 it was held on the fourth Monday in October. When November 11 falls on a weekend, federal workers get the nearest Friday or Monday off.
Are banks open on Veterans Day?
Most banks close because the Federal Reserve is closed, though some branches open. The stock market is open.
Is there mail on Veterans Day?
No regular mail is delivered and post offices are closed. Only Priority Mail Express is delivered.
Are schools closed on Veterans Day?
It depends on the state and district. Some close for the day, while others stay open and hold assemblies or other events.
Is Veterans Day the same as Remembrance Day?
They share a date and an origin. Both mark the armistice of November 11, 1918. Canada observes Remembrance Day on November 11, while the US holiday honors all American veterans, living and dead.