Columbus Day 2026 & 2027: Dates, Closures, History

When Is Columbus Day? Dates for 2026–2035

Columbus Day 2026 is Monday, October 12. Columbus Day 2027 is Monday, October 11. The United States observes this federal holiday on the second Monday of October, so the date changes every year.

Is October 12, 2026 a federal holiday? Yes Federal offices, the Federal Reserve and USPS are closed on that Monday.

Columbus Day in the USA commemorates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas on October 12, 1492. People also search for it as Christopher Columbus Day. Italian-American heritage events, parades and school lessons mark the day, while many communities also use it to recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day. This guide covers the exact dates, closures, history and the debate around the holiday.

Quick Facts: Columbus Day 2026

Detail	Info
Date	Monday, October 12, 2026
Next date	Monday, October 11, 2027
Rule	Second Monday of October
Type	Federal holiday (United States)
Also known as	Indigenous Peoples’ Day (in many states and cities)
Long weekend	Saturday, October 10 to Monday, October 12, 2026
Banks & post offices	Generally closed

Is Today or Tomorrow Columbus Day?

Today is Columbus Day only if the date is the second Monday of October. To check any date, confirm that it is a Monday between October 8 and October 14. In 2026 the holiday is Monday, October 12, and in 2027 it is Monday, October 11. Any other day, including October 12 when it falls on a weekday other than Monday, is a regular working day for most people.

Is Columbus Day a Federal Holiday and a Day Off?

Yes, Columbus Day is a federal holiday, and federal employees receive a paid day off. Federal law (5 U.S.C. 6103) sets the holidays, and the Office of Personnel Management publishes the official schedule each year.

A federal holiday does not guarantee a day off for everyone. The U.S. Department of Labor states that the Fair Labor Standards Act does not require pay for holidays, federal or otherwise. Private employers therefore set their own policy. State governments, school districts and local employers also publish separate calendars, so a day off in one town can be a working day in the next.

What Is Open and Closed on Columbus Day 2026?

Here is what to expect on Monday, October 12, 2026:

Place	Status
Federal government offices	❌ Closed
Federal courts	❌ Closed
Post offices (USPS)	❌ Closed, no regular mail delivery
Banks	⚠️ Most branches closed; ATMs and online banking available
Schools	⚠️ Varies by district
State and local offices	⚠️ Varies by state and city
Public transit	⚠️ Check your local agency for holiday schedules
Retail stores & restaurants	✅ Generally open; sales are common
Stock market (NYSE/Nasdaq)	✅ Open

Columbus Day Weekend 2026: October 10–12

Columbus Day weekend 2026 runs from Saturday, October 10 to Monday, October 12. The holiday always falls on a Monday, so it always creates a three-day weekend for people who have the day off. Travel, retail sales and local festivals often cluster around this weekend.

Year	Columbus Day weekend	Holiday Monday
2026	October 10–12	October 12
2027	October 9–11	October 11
2028	October 7–9	October 9

Is October 12 or October 13 a Holiday? Columbus Day Dates in Past Years

October 12 is the traditional date, tied to the 1492 landing. The federal holiday follows the second Monday instead, so October 12 is the holiday only when it is that Monday, as in 2020 and 2026. In 2025 the holiday fell on October 13, and in 2024 it fell on October 14.

Year	Columbus Day date	Day
2025	October 13, 2025	Monday
2024	October 14, 2024	Monday
2023	October 9, 2023	Monday
2022	October 10, 2022	Monday
2021	October 11, 2021	Monday
2020	October 12, 2020	Monday
2019	October 14, 2019	Monday
2018	October 8, 2018	Monday
2017	October 9, 2017	Monday

Why Columbus Day Moves: Calendar Scheduling and Its Historical Shift

Columbus Day moves because federal law ties it to the second Monday of October, not to October 12. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act, passed in 1968 and effective in 1971, moved several federal holidays to Mondays to create three-day weekends. Before 1971, the holiday was observed on October 12 itself.

The second Monday of October can fall on any date from October 8 to October 14. The holiday therefore never arrives earlier than the 8th or later than the 14th. The table at the top of this page shows the exact date for every year through 2035.

History of Columbus Day: Key Dates

The United States has marked Columbus Day nationally since a 1937 presidential proclamation, and federal law has placed it on the second Monday since 1971. The holiday developed in several steps:

1. October 12, 1492: Christopher Columbus’s first voyage reaches the Bahamas.
2. 1792: The Tammany Society holds an early commemoration in New York City for the 300th anniversary of the landing.
3. 1892: President Benjamin Harrison calls for a nationwide celebration of the 400th anniversary.
4. 1907: Colorado becomes the first state to make Columbus Day a legal holiday.
5. 1937: President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaims October 12 as Columbus Day each year.
6. 1968–1971: Congress moves the federal holiday to the second Monday of October.
7. 2021: President Joe Biden issues the first presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, alongside Columbus Day.

Christopher Columbus and the First Voyage

Christopher Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451. After the Portuguese crown declined his plan, he won the backing of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain. He sailed west in 1492 to find a sea route to Asia, with three ships: the Santa María, the Pinta and the Niña.

His first voyage reached the Bahamas on October 12, 1492. He made four voyages between 1492 and 1504, reaching Caribbean islands and the coasts of Central and South America. He never reached mainland North America, and Indigenous peoples had lived across the continent for thousands of years before his arrival.

Columbus Day vs. Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day fall on the same Monday, but they are separate observances. Indigenous Peoples’ Day honors the histories, cultures and contributions of Native American, Alaska Native and Indigenous peoples. You can read the dates and background on our Indigenous Peoples’ Day page: October 12, 2026 and October 11, 2027.

Supporters of Columbus Day point to its place in history and to its role in Italian-American heritage. Critics point to the consequences of European colonization for Native peoples and argue that the day should honor Indigenous communities instead. Both views shape how communities observe the date today.

Many states and cities now observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of Columbus Day or alongside it. Examples include Maine, New Mexico, Vermont and Alaska, and South Dakota observes Native American Day. Federal law still lists the holiday as Columbus Day, and presidential proclamations differ from one administration to the next.

Columbus Day Around the World and Other Names

Other countries mark October 12 in their own ways. Spain holds its national day on October 12, known as Día de la Hispanidad. Parts of Latin America have used names such as Día de la Raza for the same date. Canada does not observe Columbus Day, and Canadian Thanksgiving falls on the same second Monday of October.

In the United States, New York City hosts one of the largest Columbus Day parades. Local rules vary widely, and people in California, New York, Texas and other states should check their own state holiday calendar and their employer’s policy.

Planning Tips for Columbus Day

• Banking: Complete in-branch errands and deposits before the weekend, because most branches and the Federal Reserve are closed.
• Mail and packages: USPS does not make regular deliveries, so expect a one-day delay.
• Schools and child care: Check your district calendar, since many schools stay open.
• Government services: Federal offices are closed, and state and local offices vary, so confirm hours before you go.
• Travel and shopping: Expect busier roads and retail sales over the three-day weekend.

Upcoming Holidays and Celebrations

Frequently Asked Questions About Columbus Day

Q: When is Columbus Day 2026?
A: Monday, October 12, 2026. It is the second Monday of October, so the date changes every year.

Q: When is Columbus Day 2027?
A: Monday, October 11, 2027. Columbus Day always falls on a Monday between October 8 and October 14.

Q: Is Columbus Day a federal holiday?
A: Yes. Federal law lists Columbus Day among the federal holidays, and federal offices, the Federal Reserve and USPS are closed.

Q: Is Columbus Day a day off?
A: It is a paid day off for federal employees. Private employers, schools and state offices set their own policies.

Q: When did Columbus Day become a holiday?
A: A 1937 presidential proclamation started annual national observance. Since 1971, federal law has placed the holiday on the second Monday of October.

Q: Is Columbus Day the same as Indigenous Peoples’ Day?
A: They fall on the same Monday but are different observances. Many states and cities observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of or alongside Columbus Day.

Q: Does Canada celebrate Columbus Day?
A: No. Canada does not observe it. Canadian Thanksgiving falls on the same second Monday of October.

Q: Is the stock market open on Columbus Day?
A: Yes. The NYSE and Nasdaq trade normally, while federal offices, USPS and most bank branches are closed.

Plan October and the Rest of the Year

Columbus Day 2026 is on Monday, October 12, and Columbus Day 2027 is on Monday, October 11. Use the links below to plan the month and the year around these dates, and see the full list of observances on USA public holidays.