Veterans Day 2026 is on Wednesday, November 11. It is a federal holiday, so post offices are closed with no regular mail delivery, most banks are closed because the Federal Reserve is shut, and the bond market does not trade. The stock market is open as normal, and UPS and FedEx keep running. Schools, state offices and trash pickup depend on where you live.[1][2][3][4]
 | |
| Date | Wednesday, November 11, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Type | US federal holiday |
| Honours | Everyone who served in the US armed forces |
| Mail (USPS) | No delivery, post offices closed |
| Banks | Most closed (Federal Reserve closed) |
| Stock market | Open (NYSE, Nasdaq) |
| Bond market | Closed (SIFMA) |
| National ceremony | Arlington National Cemetery, 11:00 a.m. ET (16:00 GMT) |
| Same day abroad | Remembrance Day (Canada, Australia), Armistice Day (UK) |
| Next federal holiday | Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26 |
Is Veterans Day a federal holiday?
Yes. The US Office of Personnel Management lists Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11, 2026 among the 11 federal holidays for this year, so federal offices close and federal workers get the day off.[1] Unlike Memorial Day or Labor Day, it is not moved to a Monday. It stays on November 11 whatever day of the week that is, which is why this year it falls in the middle of the week.[8][6]
The federal list only covers federal employees. Private companies decide for themselves, and many stay open, so a lot of people will be working as usual on Wednesday.[7]
What's open and what's closed
Mail. The US Postal Service lists Wednesday, November 11 as one of its 2026 holidays. Retail post offices are closed and regular mail and packages are not delivered.[2][6][7] Anything due on Wednesday will usually move to Thursday.
Banks. The Federal Reserve's holiday schedule shows the Fed closed on November 11, 2026. Most banks follow the Fed calendar, so expect branches to be closed and transfers that need the Fed to wait until Thursday. ATMs, card payments and banking apps keep working.[3][6] Some banks, especially in-store branches, do open, so check your own bank.
Stock and bond markets. Veterans Day is not on the NYSE holiday calendar, and NBC Chicago confirmed that neither the NYSE nor Nasdaq closes for it, so stocks trade normal hours.[4][6] The bond market is different. SIFMA, which sets the calendar for US bond trading, lists Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11, 2026 as a holiday.[5][7] That split matters this week because the October inflation report comes out on Tuesday, a day before; see our US CPI October 2026 page.
UPS and FedEx. Both private carriers keep working. UPS pickup and delivery runs as normal, and FedEx says it is open with modified service, so check its site if you need a specific product.[6][7]
Shops and restaurants. Big retailers such as Walmart, Target and Home Depot are expected to keep normal hours, though each store can vary. Most restaurants are open, and many chains run free meals or discounts for veterans and service members on the day, usually with proof of service.[7]
Schools and local services. These are decided locally. In Illinois, for example, the state counts Veterans Day as a legal school holiday but still allows classes. Chicago Public Schools is closed to students, while some suburban districts stay open.[6] Trash pickup, libraries and state offices such as the DMV also vary by city and state.
Ceremonies and times
The Veterans Day National Ceremony takes place every November 11 at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, it "commences precisely at 11:00 a.m." with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns, then moves into the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colours by veterans' groups.[9] The US switched back to standard time on November 1, so 11:00 a.m. Eastern is 16:00 GMT, 21:00 in Pakistan and 21:30 in India.
The same date is marked across the Commonwealth. In the UK, Armistice Day is observed with a two-minute silence at 11am on November 11, the hour the guns stopped in 1918.[10] The bigger national service at the Cenotaph in London already took place on Remembrance Sunday, November 8, when the two-minute silence was marked by guns fired from Horse Guards Parade.[11]
In Canada, the national ceremony at the National War Memorial in Ottawa begins at about 10:30 a.m., with fighter jets due to fly over at about 11 a.m.[12] Australians are asked to stop for one minute's silence at 11am local time.[15][16]
Why November 11?
The date comes from the armistice that ended the fighting of World War I at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.[7][10] President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day in 1919. An Act of Congress approved on May 13, 1938 made November 11 a legal holiday "dedicated to the cause of world peace".[8]
After World War II and Korea, Congress replaced the word "Armistice" with "Veterans", and the change was signed on June 1, 1954, making it a day to honour American veterans of all wars.[8] The Uniform Holiday Bill of 1968 then moved it to a Monday, and the first Monday version, on October 25, 1971, was "observed with much confusion", in the VA's words. A 1975 law signed by Gerald Ford returned it to November 11 from 1978, and it has stayed there since.[8]
Is November 11 a holiday in the UK, Canada and Australia?
Only partly. In Canada, Remembrance Day is a federal holiday. The Canada Revenue Agency lists it on Wednesday, November 11, 2026 among its public holidays, and federal offices, banks and Canada Post close.[14][13] But Ontario and Quebec have not made it a provincial holiday, so many people there still go to work.[12]
In the UK, November 11 is a normal working day. The only bank holidays left in England and Wales in 2026 are Christmas Day and the Boxing Day substitute on December 28.[17] Australia also keeps working and stops for the minute's silence.[16]
What to watch
- Your bank's own branch hours, since a few banks open even when the Fed is closed.
- Any mail or bill that was due on Wednesday: plan for Thursday instead.
- The next big US holiday is Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26.[1] Pump prices are falling ahead of the travel rush; see gas prices below $4 a gallon.
Frequently asked questions
Is there mail on Veterans Day 2026?
No. USPS does not deliver regular mail or packages on Wednesday, November 11, and post offices are closed.[2][7]
Are banks open on Veterans Day?
Most are closed because the Federal Reserve is closed. ATMs, cards and online banking still work.[3][6]
Is the stock market open on Veterans Day 2026?
Yes. The NYSE and Nasdaq trade normal hours. The bond market is closed.[4][5]
Do UPS and FedEx deliver on Veterans Day?
Yes. UPS runs as normal and FedEx is open with modified service.[6]
Do I get Veterans Day off work?
Federal employees do. Private employers decide for themselves, and state and school rules differ.[1][7]
What time is the two-minute silence in the UK?
11am GMT on Wednesday, November 11.[10]
References
- "Federal Holidays". US Office of Personnel Management. Checked November 10, 2026.
- "Holidays & events: 2026 holidays". United States Postal Service. Checked November 10, 2026.
- "Federal Reserve Holidays". Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Checked November 10, 2026.
- "Holidays & Trading Hours". New York Stock Exchange. Checked November 10, 2026.
- "Holiday Schedule: U.S. Holiday Recommendations 2026". SIFMA. Checked November 10, 2026.
- "Are schools in Illinois open on Veterans Day? What's open and closed this week". NBC 5 Chicago. November 9, 2026.
- "What's Open and Closed on Veterans Day 2026: Banks, Post Offices, Stores and More". WOWO. November 10, 2026.
- "History of Veterans Day". US Department of Veterans Affairs. Checked November 10, 2026.
- "Veterans Day: National Veterans Day Ceremony". US Department of Veterans Affairs. Checked November 10, 2026.
- "Armistice Day". The Royal British Legion. Checked November 10, 2026.
- "National Service of Remembrance: Sunday 8 November 2026". Department for Culture, Media and Sport, GOV.UK.
- "What's open and closed in Ottawa for Remembrance Day". CBC News. November 8, 2026.
- "Federal offices, banks and Canada Post to close for holiday". The Hamilton Spectator. November 9, 2026.
- "Public holidays". Canada Revenue Agency. Checked November 10, 2026.
- "Tasmania To Pause For Remembrance Day". Tasmanian Times. November 2026.
- "Coast to pause for Remembrance Day". Sunshine Coast News. November 10, 2026.
- "UK bank holidays". GOV.UK. Checked November 10, 2026.