Is Memorial Day a Federal Holiday? Yes — May 31, 2027
Yes, Memorial Day is a federal holiday: 5 U.S.C. 6103(a) lists “Memorial Day, the last Monday in May” among the 11 legal public holidays. In 2027 it is Monday, May 31. On Monday, May 31, 2027, federal offices, Federal Reserve Banks, NYSE and Post Offices (per USPS) are closed.
The number of days to Monday, May 31, 2027 appears here once the page loads in your browser.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Federal sources checked November 1, 2026 · Methodology & sources
Dates and what is open: Memorial Day 2027. All dates for the year: federal holidays 2027. To check any other day, use the federal holiday checker.
The law: what 5 U.S.C. 6103(a) says about Memorial Day
5 U.S.C. 6103(a) lists “Memorial Day, the last Monday in May” as a legal public holiday. The full list of legal public holidays is quoted below.
(a) The following are legal public holidays: New Year's Day, January 1. Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., the third Monday in January. Washington's Birthday, the third Monday in February. Memorial Day, the last Monday in May. Juneteenth National Independence Day, June 19. Independence Day, July 4. Labor Day, the first Monday in September. Columbus Day, the second Monday in October. Veterans Day, November 11. Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November. Christmas Day, December 25.
Source: 5 U.S.C. 6103: Holidays (GovInfo), OPM: Federal Holidays (2026 to 2030 tables)
Who gets the day off on Memorial Day 2027
Memorial Day falls on a Monday in 2027, so there is no weekend shift: OPM lists Monday, May 31, 2027. OPM's rule for a holiday that falls on a Saturday or Sunday is quoted below.
On Monday, May 31, 2027, federal offices, Federal Reserve Banks, NYSE and Post Offices (per USPS) are closed.
The table shows who else follows which calendar; each row names its source. Market times are Eastern Time.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday, for most Federal employees, the preceding Friday will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes. (See 5 U.S.C. 6103(b).) If a holiday falls on a Sunday, for most Federal employees, the following Monday will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes. (See Section 3(a) of Executive Order 11582, February 11, 1971.)
| Who | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Federal offices and agencies | Closed | OPM lists Monday, May 31, 2027 as the Memorial Day holiday, and 5 U.S.C. 6103(a) makes it a legal public holiday. Federal offices are closed for most federal employees; employees whose work is required that day are covered by the holiday pay rules on this page.Source: OPM: Federal Holidays (2026 to 2030 tables), 5 U.S.C. 6103: Holidays (GovInfo) |
| Federal Reserve Banks | Closed | Federal Reserve Banks are closed on Monday, May 31, 2027, which is on both the Federal Reserve Financial Services holiday schedule and the Board's K.8 table. Whether a bank or credit union branch is open is up to each bank: each bank sets its own hours, so check with yours.Source: Federal Reserve Financial Services: Holiday Schedules, Federal Reserve Board: Holidays Observed (K.8) |
| USPS Post Offices and delivery | Closed | USPS lists Memorial Day on Monday, May 31, 2027 on its 2027 holidays page. USPS says: "Regular mail delivery occurs Monday through Saturday, with the exception of postal holidays." Confirm local Post Office hours with USPS.Source: USPS: holidays and events, USPS FAQ: No mail delivery? |
| Stock market (NYSE) | Closed | NYSE's 2027 holiday list shows all NYSE markets closed on Monday, May 31, 2027. This page covers NYSE; check your exchange or broker for its own calendar.Source: NYSE: holidays and trading hours |
| Bond market (SIFMA recommendation) | Closed | SIFMA recommends a full close for the U.S. bond market on Monday, May 31, 2027. SIFMA also recommends an early close at 2:00 p.m. ET on Friday, May 28, 2027, ahead of Memorial Day.Source: SIFMA: U.S. holiday schedule |
Source: OPM: Federal Holidays (2026 to 2030 tables), Federal Reserve Financial Services: Holiday Schedules, Federal Reserve Board: Holidays Observed (K.8), USPS: holidays and events, NYSE: holidays and trading hours, SIFMA: U.S. holiday schedule
To check another day, use the bank holiday checker, Post Office holiday checker or the stock market holidays list. Related: Memorial Day: bank hours, Memorial Day: Post Office hours, Memorial Day: stock market hours.
Private employers and holiday pay
Federal holiday law covers federal employees. The U.S. Department of Labor says this about holiday pay, and about government contracts:
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations or holidays (federal or otherwise). These benefits are generally a matter of agreement between an employer and an employee (or the employee's representative).
On a government contract to which the labor standards of the McNamara O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) apply, holiday and/or vacation fringe benefit requirements are stated in the SCA wage determinations in contracts that exceed $2,500. On a government contract to which the labor standards of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts apply, holiday pay and/or vacation pay is required for specific classifications of workers only if the Davis-Bacon wage determination in the covered contract specifies such requirements for workers employed in those classifications.
For federal employees who work on a holiday, 5 U.S.C. 5546(b) sets the pay rule quoted below. Your agency and pay system decide how it applies, so ask your HR office.
(b) An employee who performs work on a holiday designated by Federal statute, Executive order, or with respect to an employee of the government of the District of Columbia, by order of the District of Columbia Council, is entitled to pay at the rate of his basic pay, plus premium pay at a rate equal to the rate of his basic pay, for that holiday work which is not— (1) in excess of 8 hours; or (2) overtime work as defined by section 5542(a) of this title.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor: Holiday Pay, 5 U.S.C. 5546: Pay for Sunday and holiday work (GovInfo)
Pay periods and pay dates: 2027 federal pay period calendar.
Memorial Day dates, 2027 to 2030
Memorial Day is the last Monday in May every year under 6103(a). The table matches OPM's published tables for 2027 through 2030.
| Year | Memorial Day | Observed for federal pay and leave (most federal employees) | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Monday, May 31, 2027 | Monday, May 31, 2027 | OPM federal holiday table (2026 to 2030), matched by the 5 U.S.C. 6103 rule |
| 2028 | Monday, May 29, 2028 | Monday, May 29, 2028 | OPM federal holiday table (2026 to 2030), matched by the 5 U.S.C. 6103 rule |
| 2029 | Monday, May 28, 2029 | Monday, May 28, 2029 | OPM federal holiday table (2026 to 2030), matched by the 5 U.S.C. 6103 rule |
| 2030 | Monday, May 27, 2030 | Monday, May 27, 2030 | OPM federal holiday table (2026 to 2030), matched by the 5 U.S.C. 6103 rule |
Source: OPM: Federal Holidays (2026 to 2030 tables), NYSE: holidays and trading hours
More federal holiday questions
- Is Labor Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is 4th of July a Federal Holiday?
- Is Christmas a Federal Holiday?
- Is New Year's Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is Halloween a Federal Holiday?
- Is Flag Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is St. Patrick's Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is César Chávez Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is Cinco de Mayo a Federal Holiday?
- Is Patriots' Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is New Year's Eve a Federal Holiday?
- Is the Day After Christmas a Federal Holiday?
- Is MLK Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is Presidents Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is Juneteenth a Federal Holiday?
- Is Columbus Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is Good Friday a Federal Holiday?
- Is Easter a Federal Holiday?
- Is Easter Monday a Federal Holiday?
- Is Veterans Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is Black Friday a Federal Holiday?
- Is Christmas Eve a Federal Holiday?
Questions
Do federal employees get Memorial Day off?
Yes. Memorial Day is a legal public holiday under 5 U.S.C. 6103(a), and OPM lists Monday, May 31, 2027. A covered employee who performs work on that holiday is entitled to holiday premium pay under 5 U.S.C. 5546(b), within that section's limits; ask your HR office how it applies.
Is the post office open on Memorial Day 2027?
USPS lists Memorial Day on Monday, May 31, 2027 on its 2027 holidays page. USPS says: "Regular mail delivery occurs Monday through Saturday, with the exception of postal holidays." Confirm local Post Office hours with USPS.
Is the stock market open on Memorial Day 2027?
No. NYSE's 2027 holiday list shows all NYSE markets closed on Monday, May 31, 2027. This page covers NYSE; check your exchange or broker for its own calendar. SIFMA recommends a full close for the U.S. bond market on Monday, May 31, 2027. SIFMA also recommends an early close at 2:00 p.m. ET on Friday, May 28, 2027, ahead of Memorial Day.
Are Federal Reserve Banks closed on Memorial Day 2027?
Federal Reserve Banks are closed on Monday, May 31, 2027, which is on both the Federal Reserve Financial Services holiday schedule and the Board's K.8 table. Whether a bank or credit union branch is open is up to each bank: each bank sets its own hours, so check with yours.
Do private employers have to give Memorial Day off?
Not under federal law for most private employers. Federal holidays bind federal employees, not private employers. The Department of Labor says: "The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations or holidays (federal or otherwise)." On government contracts the rules can differ, and DOL says: "On a government contract to which the labor standards of the McNamara O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) apply, holiday and/or vacation fringe benefit requirements are stated in the SCA wage determinations in contracts that exceed $2,500." The Davis-Bacon and Related Acts can require holiday pay the same way, for specific classifications of workers and only if the wage determination specifies it. Check your employer and state law.
When is Memorial Day 2028?
Memorial Day 2028 is Monday, May 29, 2028, and OPM's 2028 federal holidays table lists Monday, May 29, 2028.
Do federal employees get extra pay for working on Memorial Day?
A covered employee who performs work on a holiday designated by Federal statute or Executive order is entitled to basic pay plus premium pay equal to basic pay, for holiday work that is not in excess of 8 hours and is not overtime work (5 U.S.C. 5546(b)). Your agency and pay system decide how it applies, so ask your HR office.
Sources: 5 U.S.C. 6103: Holidays (GovInfo) · 5 U.S.C. 5546: Pay for Sunday and holiday work (GovInfo) · OPM: Federal Holidays (2026 to 2030 tables) · U.S. Department of Labor: Holiday Pay · Federal Reserve Financial Services: Holiday Schedules · Federal Reserve Board: Holidays Observed (K.8) · USPS: holidays and events · USPS FAQ: No mail delivery? · NYSE: holidays and trading hours · SIFMA: U.S. holiday schedule