Washington’s Birthday (federal designation; “Presidents’ Day” is a common alternative label)2026 · Date · History · Messages
U.S. Office of Personnel Management / 5 U.S.C. 6103
About Washington’s Birthday (federal designation; “Presidents’ Day” is a common alternative label)
Presidents’ Day is the popular name for the third-Monday-in-February holiday that federal law officially calls Washington’s Birthday.
The federal name and the colloquial label are not interchangeable legal designations; state governments and employers may use other names and practices.
Why Washington’s Birthday (federal designation; “Presidents’ Day” is a common alternative label) matters
The day invites reflection on George Washington and the history and responsibilities of the U.S. presidency.
Presidential history includes contested legacies and changes in how institutions interpret leadership, rights and public service.
History of Washington’s Birthday (federal designation; “Presidents’ Day” is a common alternative label)
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management identifies Washington’s Birthday under 5 U.S.C. 6103 as the formal federal holiday name.
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved federal observance from Washington’s February 22 birth date to the third Monday in February; it did not rename the federal holiday Presidents’ Day.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
United States Congress
5 U.S.C. § 6103 (Washington’s Birthday)
United States federal agencies administering federal holiday policy
OPM publishes federal schedules and legal names.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
5 fields not established in reviewed sources
Also known as
Presidents’ Day
How to Observe Washington’s Birthday (federal designation; “Presidents’ Day” is a common alternative label)
Read original presidential addresses and reputable constitutional history from public archives.
Check the relevant employer or state holiday calendar rather than assuming every business closes.
Washington’s Birthday (federal designation; “Presidents’ Day” is a common alternative label) Facts
The federal observance is February 16 in 2026 and February 15 in 2027.
The legal federal name remains Washington’s Birthday even when stores and communities say Presidents’ Day.
Washington’s Birthday (federal designation; “Presidents’ Day” is a common alternative label) Messages
May civic understanding grow with historical knowledge.
Honoring careful study of the American presidency.
Remembering public service and its responsibilities.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Remembrance Civic Context Care.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
U.S. Office of Personnel Management — federal holiday official name (opens in a new tab)
Reviewed Firsthand
U.S. Office of Personnel Management — federal holidays by year (opens in a new tab)
Reviewed Firsthand · Federal Public Holiday Calendar
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Washington’s Birthday (federal designation; “Presidents’ Day” is a common alternative label)?
Third Monday in February The documented recurrence rule is: Third Monday in February.
Does Washington’s Birthday (federal designation; “Presidents’ Day” is a common alternative label) fall on the same date every year?
It follows a recurring calendar rule, so the Gregorian date can change from year to year.
Is Washington’s Birthday (federal designation; “Presidents’ Day” is a common alternative label) an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United States federal holiday; common “Presidents’ Day” label reconciled to the federal legal name. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes Washington’s Birthday (federal designation; “Presidents’ Day” is a common alternative label)?
The reviewed sources identify United States Congress as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as United States federal agencies administering federal holiday policy.
Is Washington’s Birthday (federal designation; “Presidents’ Day” is a common alternative label) international or country-specific?
No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: United States federal holiday; common “Presidents’ Day” label reconciled to the federal legal name. Use that scope rather than assuming worldwide or country-specific status.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-09.
Is Presidents’ Day the official U.S. federal name?
No. Federal law calls the holiday Washington’s Birthday; Presidents’ Day is a common alternative name.
When does it fall in 2027?
The federal observance falls on Monday, February 15, 2027.
Is Washington’s actual birthday February 22?
Yes. The modern federal holiday is observed on the third Monday in February instead.
Does every employer close?
No. State laws, employer policies and federal employment rules differ.
Other observances on February 15
These observances are also listed on February 15, 2027.
Daisy Gatson Bates Day
Arkansas Act 304 of 2001 established Daisy Gatson Bates Day as an official state holiday on the third Monday in February, paired in the state-government holiday statute with George Washingt…
Día de las Mujeres y Hombres Próceres de Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico OGP’s current compilation of Law 111-2014, as amended, declares the third Monday in February each year an official holiday in the Government of Puerto Rico under the name Día de…
Family Day (Ontario)
Ontario’s proclamation defines Family Day as the third Monday of February each year, and the Premier’s 2026 statement marked the holiday on 16 February 2026.
International Angelman Day
Angelman Syndrome Foundation and participating Angelman organizations
Liberation Day
Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and 2026 Mumbai consular holiday calendar; institutional English naming differs
Louis Riel Day
Province of Manitoba