Veterans Day 2026 is Wednesday, Nov. 11. It is one of the 11 permanent federal holidays, and unlike most of them it does not move to a Monday. Whatever day of the week Nov. 11 lands on, that is the holiday.
Here is what is open and closed, how the date came to be fixed, and what the holiday means for service members and federal workers.
Is Veterans Day a federal holiday?
Yes. Veterans Day is a legal public holiday under 5 U.S.C. § 6103, and the Office of Personnel Management lists Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, on its federal holiday schedule. Most federal employees have the day off. Because the date falls midweek this year, there is no observed Friday or Monday and no long weekend.
What is closed on Veterans Day 2026
| Service | Status on Nov. 11 | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Federal offices | Closed | Nonessential federal offices follow the OPM schedule. |
| U.S. Postal Service | Closed | No regular mail delivery; post offices reopen Thursday, Nov. 12. |
| Federal Reserve | Closed | The Fed’s payment services follow its holiday schedule, so transfers may settle a day later. |
| Most banks | Usually closed | Branches typically follow the Fed. ATMs and online banking keep working. |
| Bond market | Closed | The industry group SIFMA recommends a full close. |
| Stock market | Open | Veterans Day is not on the NYSE holiday calendar; Nasdaq also trades. |
| State and local offices, schools | Varies | Many close, many do not. Check your state, county or school district. |
| UPS and FedEx | Generally operating | Private carriers set their own schedules; check before shipping. |
Most stores, restaurants and other private businesses stay open, and many offer discounts or free meals to veterans and service members that day. Offers change every year and often require proof of service, so it is worth confirming with the business before you go.
Why Nov. 11?
The date comes from the end of World War I. The armistice between the Allies and Germany took effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
A year later, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day. Congress made Nov. 11 a legal federal holiday in 1938, dedicated to world peace and to honoring veterans of the Great War.
After World War II and the Korean War, veterans groups pushed to honor everyone who had served, not only those from World War I. In 1954, Congress changed the name to Veterans Day, and President Dwight Eisenhower signed the change into law.
The brief experiment with a Monday holiday
For a few years, Veterans Day did move. The Uniform Holiday Bill of 1968 shifted several holidays to Mondays to create three-day weekends, and starting in 1971, Veterans Day fell on the fourth Monday in October.
The change was unpopular with veterans and many states, which kept marking Nov. 11 anyway. In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed a law returning the holiday to its original date, effective in 1978, the VA says. It has stayed on Nov. 11 since.
Veterans Day vs. Memorial Day
The two holidays are often confused. Memorial Day, in late May, honors service members who died while serving. Veterans Day honors everyone who has served in the U.S. armed forces, living or dead, in war or in peacetime. The VA notes that Veterans Day is largely intended to thank living veterans for their service.
How the national ceremony works
Each year, the national Veterans Day observance is held at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. It traditionally begins at 11 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, followed by a ceremony in the cemetery’s Memorial Amphitheater. Arlington National Cemetery posts visitor information and any schedule changes in advance.
Communities across the country hold their own parades and ceremonies, often timed to the 11 a.m. moment of the 1918 armistice.
What it means for military pay and federal workers
Veterans Day does not move a military payday this year, because Nov. 11 is not the 1st or the 15th of the month. Mid-month pay is still affected by the calendar, though: Nov. 15, 2026, falls on a Sunday, so active-duty pay for that date is normally deposited on the preceding business day, Friday, Nov. 13. Service members can confirm their pay dates with the Defense Finance and Accounting Service.
Federal employees who are required to work on a holiday generally receive holiday premium pay under OPM rules. Those who are off are paid as usual.
For veterans, the holiday is also a common time for VA medical centers to run outreach events. Most VA facilities still provide emergency care on federal holidays, while routine clinic appointments are usually rescheduled.
The day can also be hard for some veterans. Any veteran, service member or family member who needs support can reach the Veterans Crisis Line around the clock by dialing 988 and pressing 1, or by texting 838255.
How to mark the day
- Attend a local parade or ceremony; many start at 11 a.m. local time.
- Fly the U.S. flag at full staff. Unlike Memorial Day, there is no half-staff period on Veterans Day.
- Help a veteran connect with benefits through the VA or an accredited veterans service organization.
- Visit a national cemetery or a local memorial.
Quick answers
- Is mail delivered on Veterans Day 2026? No regular USPS mail. Delivery resumes Thursday, Nov. 12.
- Are banks open? Most branches are closed. ATMs and online banking work.
- Is the stock market open? Yes. The NYSE and Nasdaq trade normal hours.
- Is it a long weekend? No. Nov. 11 is a Wednesday this year.
- When is Veterans Day 2027? Thursday, Nov. 11, 2027.
Official links
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Federal holidays
- 5 U.S.C. § 6103: Legal public holidays
- Department of Veterans Affairs: History of Veterans Day
- Federal Reserve Financial Services: Holiday schedules
- New York Stock Exchange: Holidays and trading hours
- SIFMA: Holiday schedule
- Arlington National Cemetery
- Defense Finance and Accounting Service
Photo: Arlington National Cemetery (public domain), file photo.
