When is President’s Day 2026? Are schools, banks, post offices open?

President’s Day is celebrated every year on the third Monday of February. It is a federal holiday in honor of George Washington’s birthday, as well as celebrating all other presidents of the United States. As a federal holiday, government and federal employees get one day off, but private sector workers are not guaranteed time off from work.

Federal law does not require private companies to observe any of the 11 federal holidays, although many businesses and schools offer vacation or holiday pay throughout the year.

President’s Day always falls on the third Monday in February. This year, it falls on 16 February.

Presidents Day began in the 1880s to honor George Washington’s February 22 birthday and later expanded to include Abraham Lincoln’s February 12 birthday. While the holiday is widely known as Presidents’ Day, the federal government continues to officially recognize this date as Washington’s Birthday.

Government agencies, federal employees, and most public schools, colleges, and universities typically take time off for Presidents’ Day. However, most private sector employees will continue business as usual.

Most major banks will be closed on Presidents Day, including Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Capital One, Citibank, PNC and Truist. Mail processed through the United States Postal Service (USPS) will not be delivered as public postal services are closed for Presidents Day, although UPS and FedEx will operate as normal.

Most American workers will next take the day off on Monday, May 25, Memorial Day.

There are 11 federal holidays in 2026.