Presidents' Day: A Confusing Holiday

Presidents' Day is a confusing holiday for several reasons:

• Some people think it is an observance for all former presidents of the United States.
• Some people refer to the day as Washington's Birthday because he was the first president, according to the National Archives.
• People call the day by different names: “Washington’s Birthday” or “George Washington Day.”
• The observance is not on any president's birthday.
• Some people are unsure if Presidents' Day is a federal, national, or state holiday.
• Some states do not observe the holiday.

Another factor contributing to the confusion is how the date is written.

• 11 states write “Presidents' Day” (plural possessive), which is correct.
• 10 states write “President's Day” (singular possessive)
• 3 states simply write “Presidents Day.”

Presidents' Day in 2026 is on Monday, February 16.

Presidents' Day Is Not Always on the Same Date Every Year

Confusion about the date of Presidents' Day arises because neither of the two presidents honored was born on the celebrated date.

• Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12.
• George Washington was born on February 22.

The federal holiday is observed on a date between the two birthdays to give workers a three-day weekend under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which Congress passed in 1968. The law moved several federal holidays to Mondays rather than midweek.

Presidents' Day is always on the third Monday in February, but the date does not fall on the same date every year.

• 2025: February 17 (last year)
• 2026: February 16 (third year)
• 2027: February 21 (next year)

What Type of Holiday Is Presidents' Day?

Another confusion about Presidents' Day exists because some people might not know whether it is a federal holiday, national holiday, or a state holiday.

• A federal holiday is a day when the U.S. government observes it by closing all federal offices and giving all federal employees the day off.
• A national holiday is observed nationwide.
• A state holiday is one that individual states decide to honor.
• States that do not observe Presidents' Day include Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Rhode Island.

What Is Open On Presidents' Day?

• UPS pickup and delivery services will be available.
• UPS stores will be open, according to the company's website.
• Most FedEx pickup and delivery services will be available on the day.
• FedEx Office locations will be open, according to the company's website.
• UPS will have delivery service.
• Amazon will have delivery service.
• Restaurants will be open.
• Retail stores will be open with sales.
• Grocery stores will have their usual opening hours.
• Service will be available through DoorDash, Grubhub, and other food delivery services.

What Is Closed On Presidents' Day?

Because Presidents' Day is a federal holiday, the following organizations are closed.

• The U.S. Postal Service will be closed with no mail delivery.
• All banks will be closed.
• The Stock Market will be closed.
• Most schools will be closed on Presidents' Day. However, parents and school children should check in their own state to be sure.

Best Sales On Presidents' Day

Over the years, some of the best sales have been on Presidents' Day or the days leading up to the holiday. Some shoppers haven't made any major purchases since the Christmas holiday in December. Therefore, they have been waiting for the first major sales date in the new year.

The Presidents' Day sales come at an ideal time between the last ones in December and the upcoming ones in May.

Retailers are capitalizing on shoppers, and shoppers are capitalizing on the sales for big-ticket items they want for their homes. There are significant sales on major appliances, such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, furniture, and mattresses.

Some stores offer big discounts of up to 70% off many items. They won't have other big sales like that until the Memorial Day weekend in May.