Veterans Day falls on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, and the federal holiday will close post offices, federal offices and most bank branches across the United States, while the stock market trades as normal and most shops and restaurants stay open.
The holiday honours the roughly 15.7 million living Americans who have served in the armed forces. It is observed every year on November 11, the anniversary of the armistice that ended fighting in World War I, and unlike most federal holidays it never shifts to a Monday or Friday.
What closes and what stays open
| Service | Status on November 11 | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| USPS post offices and regular mail | Closed | No regular delivery; service resumes Thursday, November 12 |
| Federal offices | Closed | Non-essential offices shut for the holiday |
| Banks and the Federal Reserve | Mostly closed | Branches shut; ATMs and banking apps keep working |
| Bond market | Closed | Reopens Thursday, November 12 |
| NYSE and Nasdaq | Open | Regular hours, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET |
| UPS | Open | Regular pickup and delivery |
| FedEx | Open | Modified service; check local schedules |
| Retailers and restaurants | Mostly open | Many run Veterans Day offers for service members |
| Schools | Varies | Closures depend on the school district |
Mail, parcels and benefit payments
The Postal Service lists Veterans Day among its 2026 holidays with no mail service, so post office counters close and regular letters and packages will not arrive on Wednesday. Priority Mail Express deliveries have typically continued on past federal holidays, and regular service resumes on Thursday, November 12.
Private couriers keep moving. UPS runs its regular pickup and delivery service, while FedEx operates on a modified schedule, so anyone shipping on the day should check local cut-off times before heading out.
Social Security payments that were due on Wednesday, November 11, were sent out on Tuesday, November 10, instead, so recipients should already have them.
Banks, markets and money
Most bank branches close because the Federal Reserve is closed for the holiday, including the largest national banks, though ATMs, mobile banking and online services all keep running. Anyone needing a branch in person will have to wait until Thursday.
The split between the two parts of the market catches people out every year. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are open for regular trading, since Veterans Day is not on either exchange’s holiday list, but the bond market is closed for the day. Stocks enter the holiday on a high after Monday’s 1,100-point surge in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
The Federal Reserve itself is closed for the holiday, even as it weighs a December rate decision after the October inflation report showed consumer prices rising 0.4%.
Why November 11 never moves
The date is fixed by history. Fighting in World War I stopped on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, and President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the first Armistice Day a year later, on November 11, 1919. Congress made it a legal holiday in 1938, and in 1954, after World War II and the Korean War, it was renamed Veterans Day to honour American veterans of all wars, as the Department of Veterans Affairs records in its history of Veterans Day.
The date has not always held. A 1968 law moved Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October, and the first observance under that law fell on October 25, 1971, to widespread confusion. President Gerald Ford signed legislation in 1975 returning the holiday to November 11, starting in 1978, and it has stayed there ever since.
How the day is marked
The national observance takes place at Arlington National Cemetery, where a wreath is laid at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This year carries an extra milestone: the Tomb was dedicated on November 11, 1921, making 2026 its 105th anniversary.
Parades and ceremonies are held in towns and cities across the country, and the original 1919 idea was for business to pause briefly at 11 a.m., the hour the guns fell silent. Many restaurants and retailers also offer free meals or discounts to veterans and active-duty service members, though offers vary by location and proof of service is usually required.
Frequently asked questions
Is there mail delivery on Veterans Day 2026?
No. Post offices are closed and there is no regular USPS mail delivery on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. Regular service resumes on Thursday, November 12, while UPS delivers as normal and FedEx runs a modified service.
Is the stock market open on Veterans Day?
Yes. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq trade normal hours, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET, because Veterans Day is not on either exchange’s holiday list. The bond market, however, is closed for the day.
Are banks open on Veterans Day 2026?
Most bank branches are closed because the Federal Reserve is closed. ATMs, mobile apps and online banking keep working, and branches reopen on Thursday, November 12.
Why is Veterans Day always on November 11?
It marks the armistice that ended fighting in World War I at 11 a.m. on November 11, 1918. Congress moved it to a Monday in 1971, but the change proved unpopular and President Gerald Ford restored the November 11 date in 1978.
What is the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day?
Veterans Day honours everyone who has served in the armed forces, with a focus on living veterans. Memorial Day, on the last Monday in May, honours those who died while serving.
