Columbus Day 2026: what's open and closed in the US on Oct. 12

Columbus Day 2026 falls on Monday, October 12, and Columbus Day 2026 observance means U.S. Post Offices will be closed and regular mail service paused that day, the U.S. Postal Service said.

The USPS newsroom posted a release saying “The U.S. Postal Service will observe Columbus Day on Monday, October 12. All Post Office locations will be closed. Regular mail delivery and retail services will resume on Tuesday, October 13.”

An empty post-office lobby with closed service windows, rows of PO boxes and a lone self-service kiosk illuminated in the dim interior

Federal Reserve operations also observe Columbus Day: the Federal Reserve’s FedACH schedule lists the holiday among 2026 bank-processing closures, which means ACH and Fedwire settlement windows are unavailable on Oct. 12 and many banks will close branches.

Banking guidance sites and banking-industry summaries note that because the Federal Reserve pauses FedACH and Fedwire on federal holidays, most commercial banks and credit unions close branches, defer wire transfers, and hold ACH posting until the next business day; ATMs, mobile apps and card payments generally continue to work.

A bank lobby with teller counters empty and a row of ATMs visible through glass, no staff or customers present

Plan ahead if you expect a direct deposit or need a wire: banks typically either advance payroll to the prior business day or let it post the business day after a holiday, and wire instructions should be sent before the prior-day cutoff. For local planning related to civic schedules around the holiday, see upcoming events in U.S. politics and check voter deadlines in our politics coverage at Estados Unidos politics: what voters should watch now.

Retailers and grocery chains often remain open on Columbus Day, and private carriers such as UPS and FedEx may operate on limited schedules — customers should check carrier sites for pickup and delivery details.

In short: Columbus Day 2026 will close federal offices and Post Offices, pause Fed processing and prompt most bank branch closures, while many retail and delivery services continue with varied schedules.

Sources

U.S. Postal Service — official newsroom release announcing all Post Office locations will be closed Oct. 12, 2026.
Federal Reserve Financial Services — FedACH/Fed schedule page listing 2026 holiday operations and advising when payment rails are unavailable.
Branchspot — banking guide summarizing how Columbus Day affects branches, wires, ACH and customer-facing services.