Memorial Day 2026 will be observed on Monday, May 25, marking the unofficial beginning of summer for many Americans. According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, the day is regarded as the nation's foremost annual occasion to mourn and honour military personnel who lost their lives in service to the country. Originally called 'Decoration Day', the observance dates back to the 1860s and was established to honour soldiers who died while serving in the US military. The holiday, which always falls on the last Monday of May, commemorates those who have died while serving in the U.S. military, providing a complete government holiday for the weekend. For many, the day also marks the unofficial beginning of summer, making the long weekend a popular time for backyard gatherings, gardening, home improvement projects, and shopping sales.
Since it is a federal holiday, most national banks, including Bank of America, will be closed. Customers should check with their local bank branch for specific holiday hours. The United States Postal Service will not deliver mail on Memorial Day, and post offices will be closed for retail services. Priority Mail Express remains available year-round, including holidays. Pickup and delivery services by UPS and FedEx will remain unavailable on Memorial Day, with UPS store locations staying closed according to the company's website. However, FedEx Office outlets are expected to operate on modified hours. The U.S. bond market closed early at 2 p.m. ET on Friday, May 22, and will remain closed on Memorial Day, according to the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.
Wall Street will be closed on Monday, with the Nasdaq Composite and New York Stock Exchange remaining closed. The trading session will resume on Tuesday, May 26. This closure affects all major stock exchanges and trading platforms, providing a complete market holiday for the Memorial Day weekend. The U.S. bond market closed early at 2 p.m. ET on Friday, May 22, and will remain closed on Memorial Day.
Most major retail stores across the US will remain open on May 25, with popular chains including Home Depot, Lowe's, Best Buy, IKEA, Target, TJ Maxx, and Bass Pro Shops expected to operate during regular hours. However, customers are advised to check the retailer's official app or contact their nearest store for exact holiday timings, as hours may vary by location. Among wholesale retailers, Sam's Club warehouses will open at 8 a.m. for Plus members and 9 a.m. for Club members, before closing at 8 p.m. BJ's warehouses will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Memorial Day, while Costco will be strictly closed nationwide, observing Memorial Day as one of its seven annual staff rest holidays. Most grocery chains will be open under regular operating hours, with Kroger, Walmart, and Food Lion confirming to USA TODAY that their stores will be open regular hours on the holiday. Other grocery chains, including Trader Joe's, Meijer, Publix, and Whole Foods Market, are also generally open on Memorial Day, though customers are advised to check local store timings.
Schools across the US will remain closed for the holiday, with government offices and courts also not operating in observance of Memorial Day. This closure affects all levels of government operations, including federal, state, and local government offices, providing a complete government holiday for the weekend. The closure provides a complete government holiday for the weekend, affecting all levels of government operations.
