When Is Memorial Day 2027: Date, Countdown, What's Closed & Traditions
Table of Contents (8 sections)
Memorial Day is the federal holiday for remembering the men and women who died while serving in the US military. For many families it also opens the summer with a three-day weekend, which is why the date gets looked up so often. Here is the date for 2027 and the years ahead, where the holiday came from, and what is open and closed.
Memorial Day 2027 is on Monday, May 31.
It is always the last Monday in May, which gives federal workers a three-day weekend from Saturday, May 29 to Monday, May 31. That is 208 days from today.
Next year, Memorial Day 2028 is on Monday, May 29, 2028.
Quick summary
- Date: the last Monday in May, so always between May 25 and May 31.
- Who it honors: service members who died while serving. Veterans Day in November thanks all veterans.
- Federal holiday: yes, one of the 11 set by law.
- Closed: federal offices, post offices, most banks and the stock market.
- At 3 p.m.: the National Moment of Remembrance, a minute of silence in your own time zone.
How Many Days Until Memorial Day?
Memorial Day 2027 is on Monday, May 31, 2027. That is 208 days from today.
The countdown uses the clock on your own device and switches to next year's date by itself once the holiday has passed.
Memorial Day Dates from 2026 to 2036
| Year | Memorial Day | Long weekend |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday, May 25 (past) | May 23 to May 25 |
| 2027 | Monday, May 31 (next) | May 29 to May 31 |
| 2028 | Monday, May 29 | May 27 to May 29 |
| 2029 | Monday, May 28 | May 26 to May 28 |
| 2030 | Monday, May 27 | May 25 to May 27 |
| 2031 | Monday, May 26 | May 24 to May 26 |
| 2032 | Monday, May 31 | May 29 to May 31 |
| 2033 | Monday, May 30 | May 28 to May 30 |
| 2034 | Monday, May 29 | May 27 to May 29 |
| 2035 | Monday, May 28 | May 26 to May 28 |
| 2036 | Monday, May 26 | May 24 to May 26 |
The last Monday of May can only fall between May 25 and May 31. The next time it lands on the earliest date, May 25, is 2037, and on the latest date, May 31, is 2027. The next time it lands on May 30, the original Decoration Day date, is 2033.
What Is Memorial Day For?
Memorial Day honors the members of the US armed forces who died while serving. It is a day of remembrance more than celebration, even though it also marks the start of the summer season for many people.
It is easy to mix it up with Veterans Day. Veterans Day, on November 11, thanks everyone who has served, living or dead. Memorial Day is for those who gave their lives. Our guide to Veterans Day has a side-by-side comparison.
How Memorial Day Began
The holiday started after the Civil War, which killed more Americans than any war before it. Families began decorating the graves of soldiers with flowers each spring, so the day was first known as Decoration Day.
Several towns say they held the first one. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, early observances include Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, in October 1864, Charleston, South Carolina, on May 1, 1865, and Columbus, Mississippi, and Columbus, Georgia, in April 1866. In 1966, Congress and President Lyndon Johnson recognized Waterloo, New York, as the birthplace of Memorial Day, for a century of observances there.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1868 | On May 5, General John A. Logan, head of a group of Union veterans called the Grand Army of the Republic, issues General Orders No. 11, setting May 30 as a day to decorate the graves of the war dead. |
| 1868 | The first large observance is held at Arlington National Cemetery on May 30. |
| 1966 | Waterloo, New York, is recognized as the birthplace of the holiday. |
| 1968 | The Uniform Monday Holiday Act moves Memorial Day from May 30 to the last Monday in May. |
| 1971 | The Monday date takes effect, giving the holiday its three-day weekend. |
| 2000 | The National Moment of Remembrance Act asks Americans to pause for a minute at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. |
Memorial Day Traditions
- Flags at half-staff until noon: the US Flag Code says the flag should fly at half-staff until noon only on Memorial Day, then be raised to the top of the staff.
- The National Moment of Remembrance: at 3 p.m. local time, people are asked to stop for one minute of silence.
- Flags on graves: every year since 1948, soldiers of the Army's Old Guard have placed a small US flag at every headstone at Arlington National Cemetery before the holiday, more than 280,000 of them. Many local cemeteries hold similar events.
- Parades and ceremonies: many towns hold parades and services at war memorials and veterans' cemeteries.
- Red poppies: a symbol of remembrance that comes from the World War I poem "In Flanders Fields."
Is Memorial Day a Federal Holiday?
Yes. Memorial Day is one of the 11 federal holidays set by law (5 U.S.C. 6103), so federal employees get a paid day off. Private employers decide for themselves, but many close for the day.
What's Open and Closed on Memorial Day
| Place or service | On Memorial Day |
|---|---|
| Federal offices | Closed |
| Post offices (USPS) | Closed, with no regular mail delivery |
| Banks | Most are closed, because the Federal Reserve is closed. ATMs and online banking still work. |
| Stock market (NYSE and Nasdaq) | Closed |
| Bond market | Closed. SIFMA usually also recommends an early close at 2 p.m. Eastern on the Friday before, which is Friday, May 28, 2027. |
| Public schools | Mostly closed, but check your district calendar |
| Stores and malls | Open, and many run Memorial Day sales |
See Memorial Day on Your Calendar
Print the May 2027 calendar with Memorial Day already marked, or see every holiday of the year on the USA holidays 2027 page. Any other month is on our printable monthly calendar. The next federal holiday after Memorial Day is Juneteenth on June 19.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Memorial Day 2027?
Memorial Day 2027 is on Monday, May 31, 2027. It is always the last Monday in May.
When is Memorial Day 2028?
Memorial Day 2028 is on Monday, May 29, 2028.
What is the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?
Memorial Day honors service members who died while serving. Veterans Day, on November 11, thanks everyone who has served in the US military.
Is Memorial Day a federal holiday?
Yes. It is one of the 11 federal holidays, so federal offices, post offices and most banks close, and the stock market is closed.
What was Memorial Day originally called?
Decoration Day, because families decorated the graves of Civil War soldiers with flowers. It was held on May 30 until 1971, when it moved to the last Monday in May.
What time is the National Moment of Remembrance?
At 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. Americans are asked to pause for one minute to remember those who died in service.
Why is the flag at half-staff on Memorial Day?
The US Flag Code says the flag should fly at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day to honor the fallen, then be raised to the top of the staff for the rest of the day.
Is mail delivered on Memorial Day?
No. Post offices are closed and there is no regular mail delivery.
