When Is Memorial Day 2027? Date, History and Traditions

Memorial Day is a US federal holiday observed on the last Monday in May. In 2027 it falls on Monday, May 31, 2027. In 2026 it was observed on Monday, May 25. The day honors the men and women who died while serving in the US armed forces, and it began after the Civil War as Decoration Day, when families and veterans laid flowers on soldiers' graves.

Memorial Day dates, 2026 to 2030

Because the rule is "the last Monday in May," the date moves each year between May 25 and May 31. The three-day Memorial Day weekend runs from the Saturday before through the Monday.

Year	Memorial Day	Memorial Day weekend
2026	Monday, May 25	Saturday, May 23 – Monday, May 25
2027	Monday, May 31	Saturday, May 29 – Monday, May 31
2028	Monday, May 29	Saturday, May 27 – Monday, May 29
2029	Monday, May 28	Saturday, May 26 – Monday, May 28
2030	Monday, May 27	Saturday, May 25 – Monday, May 27

In 2027, May 31 happens to be both the last Monday and the last day of the month, so the holiday lands as late as it can. Many people also think of the weekend as the unofficial start of summer, but the Monday itself is set aside for remembrance.

From Decoration Day to Memorial Day

After the Civil War

The custom of decorating soldiers' graves with flowers grew up after the Civil War. Several places claim to be the holiday's birthplace, and those claims are disputed.

General Logan's order

On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Civil War veterans, issued General Orders No. 11. It set aside May 30, 1868, for "strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades" who had died in defense of their country. The day became known as Decoration Day.

The first national Decoration Day observance took place on May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. According to the National Archives, members of the Grand Army of the Republic in seventeen states also marked the day.

A Monday holiday

For about a century the observance was held on May 30. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968, moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May. The change took effect on January 1, 1971, and created the three-day weekend that most Americans now know.

The National Moment of Remembrance

In December 2000, Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act. It encourages Americans to pause at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a moment of silence in honor of those who died in service. Wherever you are, at a barbecue, on the road or at a ballgame, it is a simple way to keep the purpose of the day in view.

Memorial Day vs Veterans Day

The two holidays are often confused, but they honor different groups.

	Memorial Day	Veterans Day
Date	Last Monday in May	November 11, every year
Who is honored	Service members who died while serving	Everyone who has served in the US armed forces, living or dead
Origins	Decoration Day, after the Civil War; national observance from 1868	Armistice Day, marking the end of major fighting in World War I in 1918; renamed Veterans Day in 1954
Typical mood	Mourning and remembrance	Thanks and recognition

The Uniform Monday Holiday Act briefly moved Veterans Day to a Monday in October as well, but a later law returned it to November 11, starting in 1978. A good rule of thumb: on Veterans Day you can thank a veteran; on Memorial Day the people being honored are no longer here to thank.

Memorial Day customs

The flag at half-staff until noon

The US Flag Code sets out a particular custom for the day: the flag is displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By custom the flag is first raised briskly to the peak, then lowered to half-staff for the morning.

Flags on graves

In national cemeteries, volunteers place small American flags on the graves of service members ahead of the holiday. Many communities hold their own ceremonies at local cemeteries as well.

Red poppies

Inspired by John McCrae's World War I poem "In Flanders Fields," the American Legion adopted the red poppy as its symbol of remembrance in 1920. Paper or fabric poppies are still worn and offered around Memorial Day.

Parades and ceremonies

Towns across the country hold parades, wreath layings and readings of local names. Many of these are small and short, and anyone may attend.

Visiting a cemetery on Memorial Day

For many families the heart of the day is still a visit to a grave. A few practical notes:

• Check the cemetery's rules. Many cemeteries limit what may be left on graves and when decorations are cleared afterwards.
• Bring simple things. Fresh flowers, a small flag or a note are common. Avoid glass.
• Look up the location first. Large cemeteries can be hard to navigate on a busy holiday; note the section and row.
• Visit someone without visitors. If you have no family graves nearby, many people walk a veterans' section and read the names.
• Record what you learn. A gravestone can confirm a name, service details or dates for your family history. Take a clear photo of each side.

Memorial Day is also a natural time to ask older relatives about family members who served. If you plan to record those memories, our list of oral history interview questions includes questions about military service, and our guide on how to make a family tree shows how to note service records alongside other sources.