How Many Days Until Memorial Day?
Until Memorial Day 2027
Monday, May 31, 2027
Memorial Day 2027 falls on Monday, May 31, 2027. Memorial Day is always observed on the last Monday of May.
Memorial Day creates one of the most reliable 3-day weekends in the US calendar because it always falls on a Monday. The weekend marks the unofficial start of summer for travel, retail, and outdoor recreation, even though astronomical summer does not begin until the June solstice.
| Days away | 254 |
| Weeks away | 36 weeks 2 days |
| Months away | 8 months |
| Business days away | 174 |
| Last Memorial Day | 116 days ago |
How Many Weeks and Months Until Memorial Day 2027?
Memorial Day 2027 lands on Monday, May 31, 2027. That is 36 weeks and 2 days away, or roughly 8 months. Here is the same countdown in every unit people ask for.
Weeks are counted as full 7 day blocks. Months are counted by calendar month, so a month can be 28 to 31 days long.
When Is Memorial Day? Dates for 2026 to 2031
Here is the exact date and day of the week for Memorial Day in each of the next 6 years.
| Year | Date | Day of week |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | May 25, 2026 | Monday |
| 2027 | May 31, 2027 | Monday |
| 2028 | May 29, 2028 | Monday |
| 2029 | May 28, 2029 | Monday |
| 2030 | May 27, 2030 | Monday |
| 2031 | May 26, 2031 | Monday |
Memorial Day 2027 Key Facts
- Date: Monday, May 31, 2027
- Rule: Last Monday of May
- Days from June 19, 2026: 346 days
- Federal holiday: Yes, since 1971
- Unofficial start of summer
- Honored: US military service members who died in service
- National Moment of Remembrance: 3:00 PM local time
What Memorial Day Honors
Memorial Day specifically honors US military service members who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It is distinct from:
- Veterans Day (November 11): Honors all US military veterans, living and deceased
- Armed Forces Day (third Saturday of May): Honors current active-duty service members
This three-holiday distinction is important. Memorial Day is somber. Veterans Day is a thank-you to living veterans. Armed Forces Day is appreciation for those currently serving.
Memorial Day History
Memorial Day began as Decoration Day in the years following the American Civil War. On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, leader of the Grand Army of the Republic (the Union veterans' organization), issued General Order No. 11 calling for a nationwide day of remembrance on May 30 for soldiers who died in the Civil War.
The first national observance was held on May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery, where flowers were placed on the graves of both Union and Confederate soldiers. Approximately 5,000 people attended.
The name shifted from Decoration Day to Memorial Day gradually through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Memorial Day became a federal holiday in 1971 with the passage of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which moved the observance from May 30 to the last Monday of May.
After both World Wars, the holiday expanded to honor all US military fallen, not just Civil War dead.
National Moment of Remembrance
Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act in 2000, signed by President Bill Clinton. It calls on all Americans to pause for one minute at 3:00 PM local time on Memorial Day to honor those who died in service to the country.
Many sports broadcasts, public address systems, and television networks observe the moment with brief tributes.
Memorial Day Travel and Spending
Memorial Day weekend is one of the highest-volume US travel periods. AAA projections (using 2024 figures as reference):
- Memorial Day weekend 2024 travelers: 43.8 million Americans (50+ miles)
- Highest in 20 years
- Air travel: 3.5 million flyers
- Drivers: 38.4 million
- Heaviest travel days: Friday (outbound), Monday (return)
US Memorial Day spending categories:
- Outdoor entertaining and grilling: Approximately $1.5 billion in groceries
- Travel: Multi-billion dollars in hotel, flight, and gas spending
- Mattress sales: Memorial Day weekend is the largest mattress sales weekend of the year
- Auto sales: Memorial Day is one of the top 3 car-buying weekends in the US
- Outdoor goods: Grills, patio furniture, swimwear see major sales
Memorial Day Observances
Common ways Americans observe Memorial Day:
- Visiting cemeteries to place flowers or flags on graves of military fallen
- Flag display: Half-staff from sunrise to noon, then full-staff from noon to sunset
- Wreath-laying ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Arlington National Cemetery)
- Memorial Day parades in cities and towns nationwide
- Indianapolis 500: Held annually on the Sunday before Memorial Day
- Coca-Cola 600: NASCAR Cup race held on Memorial Day weekend
- Family cookouts and gatherings
- Beach and lake trips marking unofficial summer kickoff
All Date Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
Memorial Day 2027 falls on Monday, May 31, 2027. Memorial Day is always observed on the last Monday of May in the United States.
As of June 19, 2026, there are 346 days until Memorial Day on May 31, 2027.
Memorial Day (last Monday of May) honors US military service members who died while serving. Veterans Day (November 11) honors all US military veterans, both living and deceased. Memorial Day is somber and focused on remembrance. Veterans Day is a thank-you to living veterans.
Yes. Memorial Day is one of the 11 official US federal holidays. It became a federal holiday in 1971 when the Uniform Monday Holiday Act took effect, moving the observance from May 30 to the last Monday of May.
Memorial Day began as Decoration Day in the years after the American Civil War. The first national observance was held on May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery, organized by General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic. About 5,000 people attended.
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 (effective 1971) moved several federal holidays from fixed dates to specific Mondays to create reliable 3-day weekends. Memorial Day was moved from May 30 to the last Monday of May.
The National Moment of Remembrance is observed at 3:00 PM local time on Memorial Day. Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act in 2000, signed by President Bill Clinton, asking Americans to pause for one minute to honor military fallen.
There are 36 weeks and 2 days until Memorial Day 2027 on Monday, May 31, 2027. That is 36.3 weeks counted as full 7 day blocks, and the number on this page updates every day.
Memorial Day 2027 is about 8 months away. Months are counted by calendar month, so each one can be 28 to 31 days long, which is why 254 days does not divide evenly into months.
Memorial Day 2026 is on Monday, May 25, 2026. Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of May each year, honoring US military members who have died in service.
Memorial Day 2027 is on Monday, May 31, 2027. Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of May each year, honoring US military members who have died in service.
Memorial Day 2028 is on Monday, May 29, 2028. Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of May each year, honoring US military members who have died in service.
Memorial Day 2029 is on Monday, May 28, 2029. Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of May each year, honoring US military members who have died in service.