When Is Presidents' Day 2027: Date, Real Name, What's Closed & History
Table of Contents (9 sections)
- How Many Days Until Presidents' Day?
- Presidents' Day Dates from 2026 to 2036
- Is It Presidents' Day or Washington's Birthday?
- Why Presidents' Day Is Never on Washington's Birthday
- Washington Had Two Birthdays
- A Short History of the Holiday
- Is Presidents' Day a Federal Holiday?
- What's Open and Closed on Presidents' Day
- See Presidents' Day on Your Calendar
Presidents' Day is a holiday many Americans know by a name that is not in the law. Under federal law it is still Washington's Birthday, yet it can never fall on February 22, Washington's actual birthday. Here is the date, what the holiday is really called, why the date moves, and what is open and closed.
Presidents' Day 2027 is on Monday, February 15.
It is always the third Monday in February, which gives federal workers a three-day weekend from Saturday, February 13 to Monday, February 15. That is 103 days from today.
Next year, Presidents' Day 2028 is on Monday, February 21, 2028.
Quick summary
- Date: the third Monday in February, so always between February 15 and February 21.
- Official name: Washington's Birthday. "Presidents' Day" is a popular name, not the legal one.
- Federal holiday: yes, one of the 11 set by law.
- Closed: federal offices, post offices, most banks and the stock market.
- Odd fact: Washington was born on February 11, 1731, by the calendar used at the time.
How Many Days Until Presidents' Day?
Presidents' Day 2027 is on Monday, February 15, 2027. That is 103 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.
Presidents' Day Dates from 2026 to 2036
| Year | Presidents' Day | Long weekend |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday, February 16 (past) | Feb 14 to Feb 16 |
| 2027 | Monday, February 15 (next) | Feb 13 to Feb 15 |
| 2028 | Monday, February 21 | Feb 19 to Feb 21 |
| 2029 | Monday, February 19 | Feb 17 to Feb 19 |
| 2030 | Monday, February 18 | Feb 16 to Feb 18 |
| 2031 | Monday, February 17 | Feb 15 to Feb 17 |
| 2032 | Monday, February 16 | Feb 14 to Feb 16 |
| 2033 | Monday, February 21 | Feb 19 to Feb 21 |
| 2034 | Monday, February 20 | Feb 18 to Feb 20 |
| 2035 | Monday, February 19 | Feb 17 to Feb 19 |
| 2036 | Monday, February 18 | Feb 16 to Feb 18 |
The third Monday of February is always between February 15 and February 21. The next time it falls on February 15 is 2027, and the next time it falls on February 21 is 2028. In 2027, Washington's real birthday, February 22, comes 7 days after the holiday.
Is It Presidents' Day or Washington's Birthday?
Both, depending on who you ask. In federal law (5 U.S.C. 6103) and on the federal government's own holiday list, the day is called Washington's Birthday. According to the National Archives, neither Congress nor any President has ever changed that name to Presidents' Day.
"Presidents' Day" became widely used after 1971, when the holiday moved to a Monday between the birthdays of Washington (February 22) and Abraham Lincoln (February 12). Many states, schools, businesses and calendars now use it, and some states use the day to honor more than one president. You will also see it written as Presidents Day or President's Day. The federal name is still Washington's Birthday.
Why Presidents' Day Is Never on Washington's Birthday
The third Monday in February can only fall between February 15 and February 21. That means the holiday called Washington's Birthday can never land on February 22. Lincoln's birthday, February 12, is also always outside the range.
Washington Had Two Birthdays
There is a calendar twist too. When George Washington was born in Virginia, Britain and its American colonies still used the old Julian calendar. By that calendar, he was born on February 11, 1731.
In 1752, Britain and the colonies switched to the Gregorian calendar, the one we use today. To catch up with the seasons, 11 days were dropped: people went to bed on September 2, 1752 and woke up on September 14. The start of the year also moved from March 25 to January 1. After the change, Washington's birthday became February 22, 1732, the date we know today. Our leap year guide explains why the calendar needed fixing.
A Short History of the Holiday
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1732 | George Washington is born on February 22, by today's calendar. |
| 1879 | A law dated January 31 adds February 22 to the holidays of federal workers in Washington, DC. |
| 1885 | Federal holidays, including Washington's Birthday, are extended to all federal employees, with pay. |
| 1896 | The Senate begins its yearly custom of choosing one senator to read Washington's Farewell Address. |
| 1968 | Congress passes the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, moving the holiday to the third Monday in February. |
| 1971 | The Monday date takes effect. "Presidents' Day" soon becomes the popular name. |
The Farewell Address tradition is still going. Each year around Washington's birthday, the Senate picks one senator, alternating between the parties, to read the 7,641-word address aloud in the Senate chamber.
Is Presidents' Day a Federal Holiday?
Yes, under the name Washington's Birthday. Federal employees get a paid day off. Private employers decide for themselves, and many stay open. States and school districts set their own calendars.
What's Open and Closed on Presidents' Day
| Place or service | On Presidents' 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, following SIFMA's recommendation |
| Public schools | Depends on the school district |
| Stores and malls | Open, and many run Presidents' Day sales |
See Presidents' Day on Your Calendar
Print the February 2027 calendar with Presidents' 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 federal holiday before it is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and the next one after it is Memorial Day in May.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Presidents' Day 2027?
Presidents' Day 2027 is on Monday, February 15, 2027. It is always the third Monday in February.
When is Presidents' Day 2028?
Presidents' Day 2028 is on Monday, February 21, 2028.
What is the official name of Presidents' Day?
Washington's Birthday. That is the name in federal law and on the federal holiday list. Presidents' Day is a popular name that Congress never made official.
Is Presidents' Day a federal holiday?
Yes. Under the name Washington's Birthday, it is one of the 11 federal holidays, so federal offices, post offices and most banks close.
Is the stock market open on Presidents' Day?
No. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are closed for Washington's Birthday, and the bond market is closed too.
Why is Presidents' Day never on February 22?
Since 1971 the holiday has been the third Monday in February, which always falls between February 15 and February 21. So it can never land on Washington's birthday, February 22.
Was George Washington born on February 11 or February 22?
Both. He was born on February 11, 1731, under the Julian calendar then used in the colonies. When Britain and the colonies switched to the Gregorian calendar in 1752, that date became February 22, 1732.
Is mail delivered on Presidents' Day?
No. Post offices are closed and there is no regular mail delivery.
