Memorial Day 2026 is here. In what had long been celebrated every May 30 to honor America’s fallen soldiers, Memorial Day officially became a federal holiday in 1971, observed on the last Monday in May. Businesses increasingly have chosen to stay open, leading to what is now one of the biggest retail sales and travel weekends of the year. However, since Memorial Day is a federal holiday, a few entities will be closed.
Here’s what is open and closed this year on Memorial Day:
Government Offices
Government offices, post offices, courts and schools are closed.
Stock Markets, Banks
U.S. stock markets and banks are closed Monday.
Most FedEx and UPS pickup and delivery services will also not be available on Memorial Day, though some special services will be accessible.
Shops, Retailers
Warehouse membership club Costco will be closed on Memorial Day, but the vast majority of retailers will be open, with many trying to lure customers with big promotional sales. Hours may vary by location.
The holiday began after the American Civil War, which caused more American military deaths than any other conflict in U.S. history. Communities across the country started decorating soldiers’ graves with flowers and flags in the late 1860s.
One of the earliest known observances took place in 1865 in Charleston, where formerly enslaved people honored Union soldiers buried in a mass grave.
Originally, the holiday was called “Decoration Day” because people decorated the graves of fallen soldiers. In 1868, John A. Logan, leader of a Union veterans’ organization, officially called for a nationwide day of remembrance on May 30.
Over time, the observance expanded beyond Civil War soldiers to honor Americans who died in all wars.
