When is Memorial Day?
Memorial Day is the last Monday of May. In 2026 it falls on Monday, May 25, 2026, and in 2027 it's on Monday, May 31, 2027. When this page was last updated, on October 12, 2026, there were 231 days to go, which is about 33 weeks and 0 days. The counter at the top keeps ticking down in real time on your device, so it's always current.
| Year | Date | Day of the week |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | May 25 | Monday |
| 2027 | May 31 | Monday |
A little history
Memorial Day honors US military members who died in service. It grew out of 'Decoration Day' after the Civil War, when families decorated soldiers' graves with flowers. It became a federal holiday under its current name in 1971.
How people celebrate
For a lot of Americans it's also the unofficial start of summer: pools open, the first big barbecue of the year gets fired up and beach traffic is brutal. There's also a National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. local time, and many towns hold parades and ceremonies at cemeteries.
Closures and practical notes
Banks, post offices, government offices and the stock market are closed. Expect heavy traffic on Friday evening and Monday afternoon, plus a wave of mattress and appliance sales.
Planning tips
It's an official US federal holiday, so plan around closures: banks, post offices and government offices shut, and mail doesn't go out. If you need to send a package or sort out paperwork, do it a couple of days before.
Long weekends mean busy roads. If you're driving, leaving early in the morning or late at night beats sitting in holiday traffic, and booking hotels two or three weeks out usually gets better prices.
How the countdown works
We count full calendar days from today's date to the holiday, using the clock on your own phone or computer, so it matches your local time zone. On the day itself the counter switches to the next year's date. Want to count to a birthday or deadline instead? Our days until any date page does that in one tap.
Frequently asked questions
When is Memorial Day 2027?
Monday, May 31, 2027.
What day of the week is Memorial Day in 2027?
It's a Monday (May 31, 2027).
What's the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?
Memorial Day honors those who died in military service; Veterans Day, on November 11, thanks everyone who has served.