When is Columbus Day?
Columbus Day is on October 12, 2026.
That is 39 days away, on a Monday.
Upcoming dates
- 2026Mon, October 12
- 2027Mon, October 11
- 2028Mon, October 9
- 2029Mon, October 8
When is Columbus Day?
Columbus Day falls on the second Monday of October, so its date moves each year and ranges from October 8 to October 14. It creates a three-day weekend for those who observe it.
It is a federal holiday, meaning federal offices and banks close. Observance varies widely, though: many states and cities either rename the day as Indigenous Peoples' Day or do not treat it as a holiday at all.
History and changing meaning
The day commemorates Christopher Columbus's landing in the Americas in October 1492. It became a federal holiday in 1937, championed in part by Italian American communities who saw it as a point of pride.
In recent decades the holiday has been reexamined because of the harm European arrival brought to Indigenous peoples. Many places have replaced or paired it with Indigenous Peoples' Day, which honors Native American history and cultures.
How the day is observed
Where it is celebrated as Columbus Day, cities such as New York hold parades with a strong Italian American presence. Elsewhere, Indigenous Peoples' Day is marked with cultural events, education, and celebrations of Native communities.
Because observance is so uneven, whether schools, offices, or businesses close depends heavily on the state and city.
Count down to Columbus Day
Put a live countdown to Columbus Day on your Home Screen with NanoCount, in days, weeks or working days. Free, no subscription, no ads.
Frequently asked questions
- When is Columbus Day?
- Columbus Day is on October 12, 2026.
- What day of the week is Columbus Day?
- This year, Columbus Day falls on a Monday.
- How many days until Columbus Day?
- 39 days.