When is Memorial Day 2026?

Memorial Day honours the men and women of the United States Armed Forces who died while serving their country. It is observed on the last Monday of May and is one of the most solemn American holidays. The holiday evolved from "Decoration Day", a tradition that emerged in the aftermath of the Civil War: communities across the country began decorating soldiers' graves with flowers as an act of remembrance and reconciliation.

General John A. Logan, commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, officially proclaimed Decoration Day on 5 May 1868, setting 30 May as the date for decorating the graves of Civil War soldiers. After World War I the observance expanded to honour all American war dead. Congress declared Memorial Day a federal holiday and moved it to the last Monday of May in 1971 through the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.

Traditional Memorial Day observances include the placing of flags on soldiers' graves at the Arlington National Cemetery, the National Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 PM local time, and military parades. The holiday also marks the unofficial start of summer in the United States, and is widely associated with outdoor gatherings, barbecues, and beach trips — a duality that sometimes prompts reflection on the holiday's solemn original purpose.