Columbus Day 2026 date
The federal holiday always falls on the second Monday of October. In 2026, that Monday is October 12.
DateOctober 12, 2026
Day of weekMonday
Federal rule2nd Monday
Federal Holiday · Second Monday in October · Monday, October 12, 2026
Columbus Day 2026
Columbus Day 2026 is Monday, October 12, 2026. It is a U.S. federal holiday. Federal offices, Federal Reserve Banks and USPS observe the holiday, while the U.S. stock market generally remains open and local school, state and business schedules vary.
When is Columbus Day 2026?
Columbus Day 2026 is Monday, October 12, 2026. Federal law sets Columbus Day on the second Monday in October, so the date changes each year while the weekday remains Monday.
Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day in 2026
Federal law and the federal employee holiday calendar use the name Columbus Day. Some states, cities, schools and communities recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day or another local observance on the same Monday, so names and local closures can vary.
What’s open and closed on Columbus Day 2026?
Columbus Day has one of the more unusual U.S. holiday schedules: federal offices, Federal Reserve Banks and USPS close, while stock exchanges and many private businesses remain open. Fixed-income markets can follow a different schedule from stocks.
| Service | Columbus Day 2026 Status | Practical Note | Best Related Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal offices | Closed | Columbus Day is a federal legal public holiday observed on Monday, October 12, 2026. | Federal Holidays 2026 |
| Federal Reserve Banks | Closed | The Federal Reserve holiday schedule lists Columbus Day on Monday, October 12, 2026. | Federal Reserve Holidays |
| Retail bank branches | Many closed | Many banks close or reduce branch service because the Federal Reserve is closed. Online banking remains available, but transaction timing can shift. | Bank Holidays |
| USPS | Closed | USPS lists Monday, October 12, 2026 as Columbus Day. Post Office retail locations are closed and regular mail delivery does not run on the postal holiday. | USPS Holidays |
| Post Offices | Closed | Post Office retail windows follow USPS holiday policy; online tools and some self-service kiosks may still be available. | Post Office Holidays |
| NYSE equity market | Open | NYSE does not list Columbus Day among its equity-market holidays for this year, so regular stock-market trading is scheduled. | U.S. Holidays |
| U.S. fixed-income markets | Closed | SIFMA's 2026 schedule recommends a full close for U.S. dollar-denominated fixed-income markets on Monday, October 12. | Financial Market Hours |
| State & local offices | Varies | States and cities can use Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples’ Day or another local designation and may set different closure policies. | State Holidays |
| Schools | Varies | Districts and colleges set their own calendars. Some close, some observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and some hold normal classes. | School Holidays |
| Retail stores | Many open | Most major retailers are not required to close for Columbus Day and many operate regular or promotional holiday hours. | Retail Store Hours |
| Grocery stores | Usually open / varies | Most grocery chains remain open, but local hours can differ. | Grocery Store Hours |
| Restaurants | Usually open / varies | Restaurants generally remain open, with hours determined by each chain, franchise or location. | Restaurant Hours |
Last reviewed: September 5, 2026. Federal, Federal Reserve and exchange rules were checked against official sources. Future USPS and fixed-income schedules are labeled when the year-specific calendar has not yet been published.
Columbus Day 2026 planning guides
Use these pages to plan federal services, banking, postal errands, October dates and local holiday schedules.
Federal holidays 2026
See the complete federal holiday schedule, including Columbus Day and the next federal closure.
Federal2026Closures
Federal Reserve holidays
Check when Federal Reserve Banks close and how payment and settlement timing can be affected.
FedBanksPayments
USPS holiday schedule
Plan Post Office visits, regular mail delivery and postal errands around Columbus Day.
USPSMailPost Office
October 2026 calendar
View Columbus Day, Halloween and the rest of October in a printable monthly calendar.
OctoberCalendar2026
Store hours today
Check local retail, grocery, pharmacy and restaurant hours before a Columbus Day trip.
StoresOpenHours
State holiday rules
State and local governments may use different holiday names, schedules and office-closure rules.
StatesLocalSchedules
October 2026 Calendar
Columbus Day 2026 is Monday, October 12. Halloween falls on Saturday, October 31.
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Nearby holiday dates
Move through the annual Columbus Day series and the major October and fall holidays around it.
What is Columbus Day?
Columbus Day is a U.S. federal holiday whose federal legal name remains Columbus Day. It is observed on the second Monday in October. The holiday historically commemorates Christopher Columbus’s 1492 voyage and the arrival of his expedition in the Caribbean.
The history associated with Columbus is also contested. Indigenous communities and historians emphasize the violence, enslavement, disease, dispossession and colonization that followed European contact. Many state and local governments, schools and communities therefore recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day or another observance on the same Monday.
Federal legal nameColumbus Day.
Federal calendar ruleSecond Monday in October.
Local variationState, city and school calendars may use Indigenous Peoples’ Day or another local observance.
Columbus Day dates from 2025 to 2030
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus Day 2025 | October 13, 2025 | Monday |
| Columbus Day 2026 | October 12, 2026 | Monday |
| Columbus Day 2027 | October 11, 2027 | Monday |
| Columbus Day 2028 | October 9, 2028 | Monday |
| Columbus Day 2029 | October 8, 2029 | Monday |
| Columbus Day 2030 | October 14, 2030 | Monday |
Why Columbus Day is the second Monday in October
Federal law added Columbus Day to the list of legal public holidays in 1968. The modern Monday schedule took effect in 1971, placing Columbus Day on the second Monday in October rather than fixing the federal day off to October 12.
That Monday rule means the federal holiday can fall from October 8 through October 14. In 2026, the second Monday is October 12.
1492Columbus’s expedition reached the Caribbean in October 1492.
1968Federal law added Columbus Day as a legal public holiday and established the Monday schedule.
1971The second-Monday federal observance took effect.
Stocks open, bonds closed: why schedules differ
Columbus Day is a useful example of why “Is the market open?” needs a specific answer. NYSE equity markets generally remain open because Columbus Day is not on the exchange’s equity-holiday list, while SIFMA recommends a Columbus Day closure for many U.S. fixed-income markets.
NYSE equitiesOpen
Fixed incomeClosed
Federal ReserveClosed
Related Columbus Day pages
Use the evergreen guide and adjacent annual pages for year-to-year planning.
U.S. holiday planning
Connect Columbus Day with federal schedules, state variation, postal services and practical business-hour planning.
Official sources and verification
Federal, banking, postal and market details are checked against government or official institutional sources. State, school, store and restaurant schedules can still vary locally.
What can vary?
Holiday nameFederal calendars use Columbus Day; some state and local calendars use Indigenous Peoples’ Day or another designation.
Schools and state officesClosures depend on the state, city, school district or institution.
Private businessesRetailers, restaurants, pharmacies and private employers choose their own Columbus Day schedules.
Columbus Day 2026 FAQ
When is Columbus Day 2026?
Columbus Day 2026 is Monday, October 12, 2026.
What day is Columbus Day 2026?
Columbus Day 2026 falls on Monday, October 12, 2026.
Is Columbus Day 2026 a federal holiday?
Yes. Columbus Day is a U.S. legal public holiday under 5 U.S.C. § 6103 and is observed on the second Monday in October.
Are federal offices closed on Columbus Day 2026?
Yes. Most federal offices are closed on Monday, October 12, 2026 for Columbus Day.
Are banks closed on Columbus Day 2026?
Many bank branches close because Federal Reserve Banks observe Columbus Day, but bank policies and local branch schedules can vary.
Is the Federal Reserve closed on Columbus Day 2026?
Yes. The Federal Reserve holiday schedule lists Columbus Day on Monday, October 12, 2026.
Is USPS open on Columbus Day 2026?
USPS lists Monday, October 12, 2026 as Columbus Day. Post Office retail locations are closed and regular mail delivery does not run on the postal holiday.
More questions
Is the Post Office open on Columbus Day 2026?
USPS lists Monday, October 12, 2026 as Columbus Day. Post Office retail locations are closed and regular mail delivery does not run on the postal holiday.
Is the stock market open on Columbus Day 2026?
NYSE does not list Columbus Day among its equity-market holidays for this year, so regular stock-market trading is scheduled.
Is the bond market open on Columbus Day 2026?
SIFMA's 2026 schedule recommends a full close for U.S. dollar-denominated fixed-income markets on Monday, October 12.
Are schools closed on Columbus Day 2026?
School calendars vary widely by state and district. Some schools close for Columbus Day, some observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and others remain open.
Are stores open on Columbus Day 2026?
Many retailers, grocery stores, pharmacies and restaurants remain open on Columbus Day, often on normal or locally modified hours.
Is Columbus Day the same as Indigenous Peoples’ Day?
They can fall on the same date, but they are not the same legal designation everywhere. Federal law uses Columbus Day, while some state and local governments recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day or another local observance.
Why is Columbus Day on a Monday?
Federal law sets Columbus Day on the second Monday in October. The Monday observance has been used for the federal holiday since 1971.