Presidents’ Day 2027 falls on Monday, February 15, 2027 — the third Monday in February. It is a federal holiday, officially named Washington’s Birthday in federal law, and it gives most Americans a three-day weekend from Saturday, February 13, through Monday, February 15.
Most people know the day as a long weekend, a day off school, and one of the biggest sale weekends of the year. Fewer know that “Presidents’ Day” is not the holiday’s legal name, that it started as a birthday celebration for one man, and that Abraham Lincoln’s birthday was never a federal holiday at all. This guide covers the date, the two names, the history, what’s open and closed, and meaningful ways to spend the day.
Presidents’ Day 2027 at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | Monday, February 15, 2027 |
| Date rule | Third Monday in February |
| Official federal name | Washington’s Birthday |
| Status | Federal holiday (one of 11) |
| Long weekend | Saturday, February 13 – Monday, February 15, 2027 |
| Honours | George Washington, and by tradition all U.S. presidents |
| Next occurrence after 2027 | Monday, February 21, 2028 |
When Is Presidents’ Day? Dates 2026–2030
Because the holiday always falls on the third Monday in February, its calendar date moves between February 15 and February 21:
| Year | Weekday | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday | February 16 |
| 2027 | Monday | February 15 |
| 2028 | Monday | February 21 |
| 2029 | Monday | February 19 |
| 2030 | Monday | February 18 |
Why Does the Holiday Have Two Names?
The short answer: the law says one thing, and everyday America says another.
Federal law (5 U.S.C. § 6103) lists the holiday as “Washington’s Birthday, the third Monday in February.” Congress has never changed that name. Neither Congress nor any president has ever officially renamed it “Presidents’ Day.”
So where did “Presidents’ Day” come from? Two forces pushed the name into everyday use:
- Lincoln’s birthday falls in the same month. Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, and George Washington on February 22, 1732. Once the holiday moved to a Monday between the two birthdays, many states began using the day to honour both men, and some states officially call it Presidents’ Day or Lincoln’s and Washington’s Birthdays.
- Retailers loved the broader name. In the 1980s, advertisers and stores began promoting “Presidents’ Day sales,” and the catchier, more general name stuck with the public.
Today the result is a split: the federal government, the Office of Personnel Management, and the law say “Washington’s Birthday,” while most calendars, schools, and shops say “Presidents’ Day.” Both names describe the same day, and both are correct in their own context.
A Short History of Presidents’ Day
1732 — Washington is born. George Washington is born on February 22, 1732, in Virginia. He later leads the Continental Army and becomes the first President of the United States in 1789, serving until 1797.
1809 — Lincoln is born. Abraham Lincoln is born on February 12, 1809, in Kentucky. He leads the nation through the Civil War and issues the Emancipation Proclamation before his assassination in 1865.
1879 — Washington’s Birthday becomes a federal holiday. Congress makes February 22 a federal holiday for government employees in the District of Columbia, honouring Washington. In 1885, the holiday is extended to all federal employees nationwide.
1968 — The Uniform Monday Holiday Act. Congress passes the act to create more three-day weekends for federal workers. It moves Washington’s Birthday — along with Memorial Day and Columbus Day — to Mondays. Veterans Day is moved too, but later moved back to November 11.
1971 — The first Monday observance. The third-Monday rule takes effect, and Washington’s Birthday is first celebrated on the third Monday in February. The date now always falls between February 15 and 21, which means it almost never lands on Washington’s actual birthday of February 22.
1980s — “Presidents’ Day” takes over. Retailers popularise the broader name through holiday sales, and states adopt a patchwork of official names — Presidents’ Day in most, Washington’s Birthday in others, and combined names such as “Lincoln’s and Washington’s Birthdays” in Montana and “George Washington and Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday” in Alabama.
What Does Presidents’ Day Actually Honour?
At its core, the day honours George Washington — the general who won American independence and the president who set the example every successor has followed, including the tradition of stepping down after two terms.
By tradition and popular use, it also honours Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday shares the month, and by extension all 45 men who have held the office across 47 presidencies. That is why the day works as both a birthday celebration and a broader moment to reflect on the presidency itself — its powers, its limits, and the people who have shaped it.
It is worth remembering that the presidency was not designed as a monarchy in disguise: Washington refused a third term, and the two-term limit he established by example later became the 22nd Amendment. Presidents’ Day is, in that sense, a celebration of an office that was built to be handed over.
What’s Open and What’s Closed on Presidents’ Day 2027
Because it is a federal holiday, government services pause while most private businesses carry on. Here is the practical picture for Monday, February 15, 2027:
| Place or service | Status |
|---|---|
| Federal government offices | Closed |
| U.S. Postal Service / post offices | Closed — no regular mail delivery |
| Most banks and credit unions | Closed (ATMs and online banking still work) |
| Federal Reserve Banks | Closed |
| New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq | Closed — no trading |
| State and local government offices (DMV, city hall) | Mostly closed |
| Public schools | Closed in most districts (varies — check your district) |
| Colleges and universities | Many closed, some open |
| Retail stores, malls and big-box stores | Open — major sales day |
| Grocery stores and pharmacies | Open |
| Restaurants and bars | Open |
| National parks | Open (most charge normal entry fees) |
| Public transit | Runs, often on a holiday schedule |
A note on schools: the holiday falls in mid-winter break season for many districts, so some schools are closed for the whole week rather than just the Monday. Always confirm with your local district calendar.
Presidents’ Day Sales 2027
Presidents’ Day weekend is one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year, second in the winter season mainly to Black Friday. Cars, furniture, mattresses, and large appliances are the traditional headline categories, with retailers running multi-day sales across the Saturday-to-Monday weekend.
No specific 2027 deals or offers are listed here, because none have been verified from official retailer sources at the time of writing (November 6, 2026). Sale details for February 2027 will be published by retailers closer to the date — check the store’s own website before travelling or buying, and treat any “deal” quoted without a retailer source as unverified.
How to Celebrate Presidents’ Day 2027
The long weekend lends itself to more than shopping. A few ideas that fit the day:
- Visit a presidential site. Mount Vernon in Virginia, the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., or the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota — where Washington, Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Lincoln are carved into the mountain — are the classic choices. Many presidential libraries run special programs over the weekend.
- Learn something new as a family. Read the Gettysburg Address aloud together (it takes about two minutes), or compare Washington’s Farewell Address with a modern State of the Union. Both are short, free to read online, and surprisingly readable.
- Make it a classroom moment. Teachers and parents can use the day for a simple exercise: each child picks a president, finds one decision that president made, and explains whether they agree with it. The point is not memorising dates — it is understanding that presidents make choices with consequences.
- Watch a presidential film. Lincoln (2012), Frost/Nixon (2008), and the documentary series on the American presidency are all good long-weekend viewing, and each pairs well with the history above.
- Use the day off well. For many people the best use of a February Monday is simple: rest, cook a family meal, and start the short week refreshed. The holiday was designed to create a long weekend — using it as one is entirely in the spirit of the law.
Quotes for Presidents’ Day
A few words from the two men the day most often honours:
- “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in.” — Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865
- “…government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” — Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, November 19, 1863
- “I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.” — George Washington, letter to Alexander Hamilton, 1788
- “Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth.” — George Washington, letter to James Madison, 1788
Presidents’ Day Wishes and Messages
Short, original messages for cards, texts, and social media:
- Happy Presidents’ Day! Here’s to the leaders who shaped America — and to the ideals that outlast them all.
- Wishing you a restful Presidents’ Day weekend and a reminder of what the office, and the country, stand for.
- On Presidents’ Day, we honour Washington, Lincoln, and every president who took the oath — and the citizens who hold them to it.
- Happy Presidents’ Day 2027! May your long weekend be restful and your history lesson be a good one.
- Today we remember that leadership is a duty, not a prize. Happy Presidents’ Day.
- To the teachers, students, and history lovers spending today learning: happy Presidents’ Day!
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Presidents’ Day 2027?
Monday, February 15, 2027 — the third Monday in February.
Is Presidents’ Day a federal holiday?
Yes. It is one of the 11 federal holidays listed in 5 U.S.C. § 6103, officially named Washington’s Birthday.
Is Presidents’ Day the same as Washington’s Birthday?
Yes, federally. Washington’s Birthday is the legal name; Presidents’ Day is the common name used by states, schools, and retailers.
Is mail delivered on Presidents’ Day?
No. The U.S. Postal Service is closed on Presidents’ Day and there is no regular mail delivery.
Are banks open on Presidents’ Day 2027?
Most bank branches are closed, because the Federal Reserve is closed. ATMs and online banking remain available.
Is school closed on Presidents’ Day?
Most public schools close, but schedules vary by district — some districts build a full mid-winter break around the day. Check your district’s official calendar.
Is Presidents’ Day a paid day off?
For federal employees, yes. For private-sector workers, it depends on the employer — there is no federal law requiring private employers to close or pay for the holiday.
Why is Presidents’ Day on a Monday?
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 moved the holiday to the third Monday in February, effective 1971, to give federal employees a three-day weekend.
When is Presidents’ Day 2028?
Monday, February 21, 2028.
What is the difference between Presidents’ Day and Lincoln’s Birthday?
Lincoln’s Birthday (February 12) is observed as a holiday in some states, but it was never a federal holiday. Presidents’ Day is the federal holiday, and many states use it to honour Lincoln as well as Washington.
More February Days to Explore
February 2027 packs a lot into one short month. Valentine’s Day 2027 falls on Sunday, February 14 — the day before Presidents’ Day — and the Super Bowl LXI 2027 is played the same Sunday at SoFi Stadium. Earlier in the month, Lunar New Year 2027 arrives on Saturday, February 6, Groundhog Day 2027 on Tuesday, February 2, and National Freedom Day 2027 on Monday, February 1. For the winter season more broadly, see our Christmas 2026 guide and New Year’s Day 2027 coverage.
Sources
- Time and Date — Presidents’ Day in the United States: https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/washington-birthday
- The Old Farmer’s Almanac — Presidents’ Day: https://www.almanac.com/content/when-presidents-day
- Wikipedia — Washington’s Birthday: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington’s_Birthday
- U.S. Code, 5 U.S.C. § 6103 (federal holidays), via the sources above.