Major holidays · in 81 days
When is Columbus Day?
Columbus Day 2026 is on Monday, October 12, 2026.
Columbus Day 2026 falls on Monday, October 12, 2026.
A US federal holiday marking Columbus's 1492 arrival in the Americas. Many places now observe Indigenous Peoples' Day on the same date.
In 2026, it falls in ISO week 42. Need the full year's calendar? See all 2026 weeks, or browse every other date.
At a glance
The history of Columbus Day
Columbus's October 12, 1492 landing was first marked with a 300th-anniversary celebration in New York in 1792. Italian-American communities championed the holiday, and Colorado made it a state holiday in 1907. President Franklin Roosevelt declared it a federal holiday in 1937. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 moved it to the second Monday in October. Starting in the 1990s, many states and cities began observing Indigenous Peoples' Day on the same date to honour Native Americans and acknowledge the violence that followed European contact. South Dakota was the first state to make the switch in 1990.
Also known as: Indigenous Peoples' Day
How Columbus Day is celebrated
New York hosts one of the largest Columbus Day parades. Many federal offices and banks close. In states observing Indigenous Peoples' Day, ceremonies honour Native American cultures with dances, food and storytelling.
Did you know?
Columbus never set foot on the North American mainland; he landed in the Caribbean.
At least 17 US states and dozens of cities now observe Indigenous Peoples' Day instead.
It remains a federal holiday with mail service suspended.
Columbus Day in upcoming years
How the date is set
The second Monday in October.
Sources & further reading
For more detail on Columbus Day, see these references.
Related dates
Columbus Day: questions and answers
When is Columbus Day 2026?
Columbus Day 2026 falls on Monday, October 12, 2026.
What day of the week is Columbus Day this year?
In 2026, Columbus Day is a Monday, October 12.
How is the date of Columbus Day determined?
The second Monday in October.
Where is Columbus Day observed?
Columbus Day is observed in United States. Other countries may mark a similar day on a different date.