Veterans Day 2026: What's Open and Closed on Nov. 11
Veterans Day falls on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. Post offices, federal offices and most bank branches close, while stock markets stay open. Here is the full list, the holiday's history and the veteran offers confirmed so far.
- Veterans Day 2026 is Wednesday, Nov. 11, a federal holiday: post offices, federal offices and most bank branches close, and there is no regular mail.
- The NYSE and Nasdaq are open, but SIFMA recommends that bond markets close; school closures depend on the district.
- Red Robin and Chili's have posted 2026 veteran offers, and national parks offer free entry to U.S. residents on Nov. 11.
Veterans Day 2026 is Wednesday, November 11, a federal holiday. Post offices, federal offices and most bank branches are closed and there is no regular mail delivery, but the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq trade normal hours. The national ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begins at 11 a.m. ET (8 a.m. PT).
Below is what is open and closed, how the holiday began, and the veteran offers that companies and agencies have confirmed themselves. Details are current as of October 26, 2026. Local hours can differ, so check before you go.
Is Veterans Day a federal holiday in 2026?
Yes. Federal law lists "Veterans Day, November 11" among the legal public holidays in 5 U.S.C. 6103, and the Office of Personnel Management lists it on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. OPM moves a holiday to a Friday or Monday only when it falls on a weekend, so there is no substitute day this year. The Department of Veterans Affairs notes that Veterans Day is observed on November 11 whatever the weekday.
Federal employees get the day off. State and local governments, school districts and private employers set their own schedules, so whether you work depends on where you work. Wikipedia notes that some workers and many students get the day off.
What's open and closed on Veterans Day 2026
- Post offices and mail: Closed. The U.S. Postal Service lists Veterans Day among its 2026 holidays with no mail service. Regular delivery resumes Thursday, November 12.
- Banks: The Federal Reserve is closed on November 11. Banks are not required to follow the Fed's schedule but usually do, and AARP says to expect branches to be closed. It adds that TD Bank, which opens on some federal holidays, will close on November 11. ATMs and online banking keep working, but transactions generally process the next business day.
- Stock markets: Open. Veterans Day is not on the 2026 holiday lists of the NYSE or Nasdaq.
- Bond market: Closed. SIFMA, the securities industry group, recommends a full close for U.S. bond markets on November 11, 2026, under a schedule it issued in December 2025.
- Federal offices: Closed. State, county and city offices decide for themselves, so check before visiting a DMV or courthouse.
- Schools: It depends on the district. New York City public schools, for example, are closed on November 11 under the 2026-27 school calendar.
- National parks: Entry is free for U.S. citizens and residents, because November 11 is one of the National Park Service's 2026 fee-free days. Nonresidents pay the usual fees, and reservation or timed-entry fees may still apply.
- Stores and restaurants: Most stay open, with hours set locally.
Private carriers such as UPS and FedEx set their own holiday schedules, so check their websites before shipping anything time-sensitive that week.
The history of Veterans Day
Veterans Day began as Armistice Day. Fighting in World War I stopped when an armistice between the Allies and Germany took effect at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, according to the VA's history of the holiday. The war formally ended with the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919.
- 1919: President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first Armistice Day, originally marked with parades and a brief pause in business at 11 a.m.
- 1926: Congress asked the president to proclaim the day each year. By then, 27 states had already made November 11 a legal holiday.
- 1938: An act approved May 13 made November 11 a legal holiday, to be known as Armistice Day.
- 1954: After World War II and the Korean War, Congress replaced the word "Armistice" with "Veterans," and the law approved June 1 made the day a tribute to veterans of all wars. President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first Veterans Day proclamation on October 8.
- 1968 to 1978: The Uniform Holiday Bill, signed June 28, 1968, moved the holiday to a Monday in October. The first such observance, on October 25, 1971, caused confusion, and many states kept November 11. President Gerald Ford signed a law on September 20, 1975, returning the holiday to November 11 from 1978.
HISTORY gives the same key dates. Wikipedia adds one wrinkle: it says Eisenhower signed the renaming bill on May 26, 1954, and that Congress amended it on June 1, the date the VA uses.
Veterans Day is often confused with Memorial Day. Memorial Day, in May, honors those who died while serving, while Veterans Day honors everyone who served. The VA's official spelling has no apostrophe, Wikipedia notes, because the day is for honoring all veterans rather than a day that belongs to them.
America's veterans by the numbers
About 15.7 million veterans lived in the United States in 2024, or 5.9% of the civilian adult population, according to the Census Bureau's Veterans Day facts, which draw on the American Community Survey. About 1.7 million, or 11.1%, were women. Vietnam-era veterans made up the largest group at 31.3%, followed by post-9/11 veterans at 29.9% and Gulf War veterans who served from 1990 to 2001 at 25.5%.
Veterans Day 2026 offers confirmed so far
Many businesses mark the day with free meals or discounts. We list only offers that the company or agency has posted itself, with the date we confirmed them. Most require proof of service and apply only at participating locations. The VA's own 2026 Veterans Day discounts list, verified as of October 22, says offers may change and that listing them is not an endorsement.
- Red Robin: A free Red's Big Tavern Burger with Bottomless Steak Fries for veterans and active-duty service members on November 11, dine-in only, with military ID or proof of service. Announced in a press release dated October 22, 2026.
- Chili's: A free entrée from a limited menu for veterans and active military, dine-in only at participating restaurants and "valid only on 11/11/2026," according to its Veterans Day page as of October 26. Drinks and tips are not included.
- National parks: Free entry on November 11 for U.S. citizens and residents. Veterans can also get a free Military Lifetime Pass, which covers entrance fees year-round, according to the NPS.
- Eisenhower Presidential Library, Abilene, Kansas: Free museum admission on November 11, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT, per the National Archives event listing.
Some chains have not posted 2026 details yet. As of October 26, Applebee's Veterans Day page still showed its 2025 terms, so check again closer to the day before counting on a deal.
What to watch for
- The Arlington ceremony: The national observance starts at 11 a.m. ET with a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns, followed by a program in the Memorial Amphitheater, according to the VA's Veterans Day page. This year's official poster marks America's 250th anniversary.
- More offers: The VA says it will update its list as more nationally available offers are announced.
- Payments: With the Fed closed, transfers started on November 11 generally will not process until November 12.
- The next federal holiday: Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26. Our Thanksgiving 2026 guide covers which stores have confirmed closures.
Our take
For most people, Veterans Day 2026 will feel like a normal Wednesday with a few practical differences: no mail, closed federal offices and closed bank branches. Anyone planning to use a veteran offer should confirm with the specific location, since chain-wide announcements almost always carry "participating locations" fine print.
Frequently asked questions
Is there mail delivery on Veterans Day 2026?
No. The U.S. Postal Service lists Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2026, as a holiday with no mail service, and post offices are closed. Regular delivery resumes on November 12.
Are banks open on Veterans Day 2026?
Most bank branches are expected to be closed because November 11 is a Federal Reserve holiday. Banks are not required to close, so check with yours. ATMs and online banking still work, but transactions usually process the next business day.
Is the stock market open on Veterans Day?
Yes. The NYSE and Nasdaq do not list Veterans Day as a market holiday, so stocks trade normal hours on November 11, 2026. SIFMA recommends a full close for U.S. bond markets that day.
Are schools closed on Veterans Day 2026?
It depends on the district. Some, including New York City public schools, close on November 11, while others hold classes. Check your district's 2026-27 calendar.
What is the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day?
Memorial Day, observed in May, honors service members who died while serving. Veterans Day, on November 11, honors everyone who has served in the U.S. armed forces.
Sources
- Federal Holidays, U.S. Office of Personnel Management
- 5 U.S. Code § 6103 - Holidays, Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute
- K.8 - Holidays Observed by the Federal Reserve System 2026-2030, Federal Reserve Board
- Holidays & Events, U.S. Postal Service
- Holidays & Trading Hours, New York Stock Exchange
- U.S. Equity and Options Markets Holiday Schedule 2026, Nasdaq Trader
- Holiday Schedule, SIFMA
- Federal Bank Holidays 2026: Find Out if Your Branch Is Open on Veterans Day, AARP
- 2026-2027 School Year Calendar, New York City Public Schools
- Entrance Passes and Fee-Free Days, National Park Service
- Veterans Day, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- History of Veterans Day, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Veterans Day 2026: Founding, Facts & Meaning, HISTORY
- Veterans Day, Wikipedia
- Veterans Day 2025: November 11 (Facts for Features), U.S. Census Bureau
- 2026 Veterans Day discounts, free meals and other retail offers, VA News
- Red Robin Offers Free Burger and Bottomless Steak Fries to Military Heroes This Veterans Day, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
- Veterans Day, Chili's Grill & Bar
- Veterans Day - Free Museum Admission, National Archives
- Free Meals for Veterans on 11/11, Applebee's
How we wrote this
GessyMorgan explainers are built from public reporting and official sources. This post draws on the 20 sources listed above, each linked where we use it. It was drafted with AI assistance and checked against those sources before publishing. We did not test products, attend events or interview anyone for this article. Facts are current as of October 26, 2026, and we update the post when they change.
