Memorial Day 2027
Memorial Day 2027 is on Monday, May 31, 2027 (in 231 days). It is observed on the last Monday of May and is a U.S. federal holiday that honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.
- Date
- Monday, May 31, 2027
- Countdown
- In 231 days
- Federal holiday
- Yes
- Date rule
- Last Monday of May
- Possible dates
- May 25 to May 31
- Next occurrence
- Monday, May 29, 2028
Memorial Day dates by year
| Year | Date | Weekday | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | May 25, 2026 | Monday | 140 days ago |
| 2027 | May 31, 2027 | Monday | in 231 days |
| 2028 | May 29, 2028 | Monday | in 19 months |
| 2029 | May 28, 2029 | Monday | in 2 years |
| 2030 | May 27, 2030 | Monday | in 3 years |
| 2031 | May 26, 2031 | Monday | in 4 years |
| 2032 | May 31, 2032 | Monday | in 5 years |
| 2033 | May 30, 2033 | Monday | in 6 years |
| 2034 | May 29, 2034 | Monday | in 7 years |
| 2035 | May 28, 2035 | Monday | in 8 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 May 2027.
How the date of Memorial Day is set
Memorial Day is the last Monday in May (5 U.S.C. § 6103), so the date moves between May 25 and May 31 and is always a Monday. Until the Uniform Monday Holiday Act took effect in 1971, it was held on May 30 every year. Because the day is always a Monday, there is no weekend observed day.
In 2028 Memorial Day is on Monday, May 29, 2028.
From Decoration Day to Memorial Day
After the Civil War, communities across the country began decorating soldiers' graves. On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, issued General Order No. 11 calling for a "Decoration Day" on May 30, and the first large observance was held that day at Arlington National Cemetery. The name Memorial Day came into wider use after World War II and became the official name in federal law in 1967.
Traditions and the National Moment of Remembrance
By custom the U.S. flag is flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon and then raised to full staff. A law passed in 2000 asks Americans to pause for a National Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 p.m. local time. Memorial Day is not the same as Veterans Day: Memorial Day remembers those who died in service, while Veterans Day honors everyone who has served.
Poppies and Flags-In
The red poppy became a symbol of remembrance after John McCrae's 1915 poem "In Flanders Fields". Moina Michael, a teacher in Georgia, began wearing poppies in 1918 and campaigned for them, and veterans' groups such as the American Legion and the VFW hand them out around Memorial Day to raise money for veterans. Before the holiday, soldiers of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as the Old Guard, place a small American flag at each grave at Arlington National Cemetery in a tradition called Flags-In.
What is open and closed on Memorial 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 are closed. The long weekend is widely treated as the unofficial start of summer, and many pools, beaches and parks open for the season.
Frequently asked questions about Memorial Day
When is Memorial Day 2027?
Memorial Day 2027 is on Monday, May 31, 2027.
When is Memorial Day 2028?
Memorial Day 2028 is on Monday, May 29, 2028.
Why is Memorial Day on a Monday?
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved the holiday from the fixed date of May 30 to the last Monday of May, effective in 1971, to give federal employees a three-day weekend.
What is the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?
Memorial Day honors service members who died in military service. Veterans Day, on November 11, honors all U.S. military veterans, living and dead.
Can Memorial Day be on May 30?
Yes, but only when the last Monday of May is the 30th. The holiday is no longer tied to that date.