Some Americans have an extra day off to look forward to this weekend.
Presidents Day, originally created to celebrate George Washington's birthday, is a federal holiday that falls on the third Monday of February each year. Now seen as a day to honor every person who has held the United States' high office, the holiday gives government and some non-government workers alike a day off in the throes of winter.
Here's what to know ahead of Presidents Day this year, including the date, its origins and which businesses will be open or closed.
More:Shop the best Presidents Day sales 2026 happening this weekend
When is Presidents Day 2026?
This year, Presidents Day is on Monday, Feb. 16.
Is Presidents Day a federal holiday?
Yes, Presidents Day – the third Monday of February – is a federal holiday. It has been afederal holiday since 1879.
What will be closed on Presidents Day?
Presidents Day is a federal holiday, meaning some governmental entities and businesses will be closed.
Government offices will be closed on Monday, Feb. 16, as will U.S. Postal Service post offices. Mail will not be delivered that day.
The stock market and banks, including branches of Capital One, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, PNC, Chase, Truist and Citibank, among others, will also be closed.
Retailers, grocery stores, and pharmacies may be closed or have modified hours for the holiday. Check your nearest location for holiday hour information before stepping out to shop on Feb. 16.
Full schedule of 2026 federal holidays
Federal holidays will fall on the following days in 2026, according to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM):
New Year's Day: Thursday, Jan. 1
Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.: Monday, Jan. 19
Washington's Birthday/Presidents Day: Monday, Feb. 16
Memorial Day: Monday, May 25
Juneteenth National Independence Day: Friday, June 19
Independence Day/Fourth of July: Observed Friday, July 3 (Because the Fourth of July falls on a Saturday, the day before is considered a federal holiday.)
Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 7
Columbus Day: Monday, Oct. 12
Veterans Day: Wednesday, Nov. 11
Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 26
Christmas Day: Friday, Dec. 25
What is the history of Presidents Day?
Presidents Day was created by Congress in 1879 to celebrate the birthday of George Washington, the first president of the United States, according to theLibrary of Congress. In 1968, theUniform Holidays Actchanged the date of celebration from Washington's actual birthday, Feb. 22, to the third Monday of February.
With Abraham Lincoln's birthday falling on Feb. 12, the holiday soon evolved to be known colloquially as Presidents Day in honor of all U.S. presidents. However, no law or act was ever passed to change the holiday's official name, which is still formally designated as Washington's Birthday by theOPM.
As for the long weekend, Presidents Day affords many Americans a day off from work, thanks to PresidentLyndon B. Johnson, who mandated that it, along with Memorial Day and Veterans Day, occur on Mondays to avoid mid-week shutdowns. Through the signing of the Uniform Holidays Act, Johnson created longer weekends to enable Americans "to travel farther and see more of this beautiful land of ours," according toThe American Presidency Project.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Is Presidents Day 2026 a federal holiday? See the full schedule
