Columbus Day 2026: what is open and closed on October 12
Columbus Day falls on Monday, October 12, 2026. It is a federal holiday, so there is no regular mail and most banks are closed. But the stock market trades as usual, and stores stay open. Many states and cities mark the same date as Indigenous Peoples' Day.
Quick answers
- Is there mail on Columbus Day 2026? No. The Postal Service is closed on Monday 12 October, and mail resumes on Tuesday 13 October.
- Are banks open? Most branches are closed because it is a Federal Reserve holiday. ATMs, cards and banking apps still work.
- Is the stock market open? Yes, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern. The bond market is closed.
- Are UPS and FedEx running? Yes, with small changes to some services.
- Are schools and government offices closed? Federal offices are. For state offices, schools and the DMV, it depends on your state and district.
Open or closed at a glance
| Service | Monday, October 12 |
|---|---|
| Post offices and USPS mail | Closed. No regular mail delivery |
| UPS | Open. Normal pickup and delivery |
| FedEx | Open. Some services run on a modified schedule |
| Banks | Mostly closed. ATMs and apps work |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Open. Normal hours |
| Bond market | Closed |
| Federal offices and courts | Closed |
| State offices, DMV, schools | Depends on your state |
| Stores and restaurants | Open |
Mail and packages
The Postal Service lists Columbus Day among its 2026 holidays. Post offices are closed and regular mail is not delivered. Mail resumes on Tuesday, October 13.
UPS picks up and delivers as normal. Its budget services that hand parcels to the Postal Service for the last step, UPS Ground Saver and UPS Mail Innovations, take one extra business day (UPS holiday schedule). FedEx also delivers, with a modified schedule for some services (FedEx holiday schedule).
Banks and money
Columbus Day is a Federal Reserve holiday, so most bank branches close. ATMs, cards, banking apps and websites keep working. Transfers and deposits made on Monday are usually processed on Tuesday. Some banks keep branches open, so check with yours.
The stock market is different. Columbus Day is not on the New York Stock Exchange's holiday list, and the NYSE and Nasdaq trade during normal hours, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern. The bond market is closed, following the SIFMA schedule.
US stock trades settle one business day after they are made, a cycle known as T+1. Because the Federal Reserve is closed and the SIFMA schedule counts Monday 12 October as a market holiday, a trade made on Friday 9 October will not settle until Tuesday 13 October.
Government offices and schools
Federal offices and federal courts are closed; Columbus Day is one of the holidays in federal law. States decide for themselves, and many do not treat the day as a holiday. California, for example, keeps its state offices open. South Dakota marks Native Americans' Day, and states such as Maine, New Mexico and Vermont observe Indigenous Peoples' Day instead.
That is why schools, the DMV, libraries and trash pickup vary from place to place. Check your city or school district's calendar.
Why October 12?
The federal holiday is set as the second Monday of October. In 2026 that lands on October 12, the date Christopher Columbus reached the Americas in 1492.
