Columbus Day 2026
Columbus Day 2026 is on Monday, October 12, 2026 (today). It is observed on the second Monday of October and is a U.S. federal holiday. Many states and cities mark Indigenous Peoples' Day on the same day.
- Date
- Monday, October 12, 2026
- Countdown
- Today
- Federal holiday
- Yes
- Date rule
- Second Monday of October
- Possible dates
- October 8 to October 14
- Next occurrence
- Monday, October 11, 2027
Columbus Day dates by year
| Year | Date | Weekday | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | October 13, 2025 | Monday | 364 days ago |
| 2026 | October 12, 2026 | Monday | today |
| 2027 | October 11, 2027 | Monday | in 364 days |
| 2028 | October 9, 2028 | Monday | in 23 months |
| 2029 | October 8, 2029 | Monday | in 2 years |
| 2030 | October 14, 2030 | Monday | in 4 years |
| 2031 | October 13, 2031 | Monday | in 5 years |
| 2032 | October 11, 2032 | Monday | in 5 years |
| 2033 | October 10, 2033 | Monday | in 6 years |
| 2034 | October 9, 2034 | Monday | in 7 years |
Dates are calculated from the rule shown above, not copied from a list, so they stay correct for any year. See everything else happening that month in the calendar for October 2026.
How the date of Columbus Day is set
Columbus Day is the second Monday in October (5 U.S.C. § 6103), so the date moves between October 8 and October 14 and is always a Monday. Christopher Columbus first sighted land in the Americas on October 12, 1492, and the holiday was held on October 12 until the Monday holiday law took effect in 1971.
In 2027 the holiday is on Monday, October 11, 2027.
History of the holiday
The first known Columbus celebration in the United States was held in New York City in 1792, for the 300th anniversary of the voyage. Colorado became the first state to make Columbus Day a legal holiday, in 1907, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed it a yearly national observance in 1937.
Indigenous Peoples' Day
South Dakota replaced Columbus Day with Native Americans' Day in 1990, and Berkeley, California, adopted Indigenous Peoples' Day in 1992. Since then many states and cities, including Maine, Vermont, New Mexico and Alaska, have recognized Indigenous Peoples' Day on the second Monday of October, either instead of Columbus Day or alongside it. In 2021 President Biden issued the first presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples' Day. Federal law still names the holiday Columbus Day.
The Italian American connection
The holiday has long been tied to Italian American heritage. After a mob lynched eleven Italian Americans in New Orleans in 1891, President Benjamin Harrison called for a national celebration of the 400th anniversary of the voyage in 1892, partly in an effort to repair relations with Italy and with Italian immigrants. The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization founded in 1882, lobbied for years to make the day a holiday, and the Columbus Day Parade in New York City is among the best known celebrations of Italian American heritage.
What is open and closed on Columbus Day
Federal government offices, federal courts, the Federal Reserve Banks and the U.S. Postal Service (no regular mail delivery) are closed. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq stay open, while the bond market is closed. State and local offices and public schools vary by state, because many states no longer observe Columbus Day.
Frequently asked questions about Columbus Day
When is Columbus Day 2026?
Columbus Day 2026 is on Monday, October 12, 2026.
When is Columbus Day 2027?
Columbus Day 2027 is on Monday, October 11, 2027.
Is Columbus Day a federal holiday?
Yes. 5 U.S.C. § 6103 lists Columbus Day, the second Monday in October, as a legal public holiday.
Is the stock market open on Columbus Day?
Yes. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are open, although banks, the Postal Service and the bond market are closed.
Is Columbus Day the same as Indigenous Peoples' Day?
They fall on the same Monday in many places, but they are different observances. Columbus Day is the federal holiday. Indigenous Peoples' Day is set by states and cities, and it honors Native American peoples and cultures.