Memorial Day Countdown
About this countdown
Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of May, honoring the American service members who died in military service. This page computes the moving date automatically each year.
It's also the traditional start of summer — the long weekend of first cookouts and opened pools — which is why the countdown above tends to get checked a lot in April.
About Memorial Day
- Date
- Last Monday of May
- Formerly
- Decoration Day
- Type
- US federal holiday
- Observed
- United States
- Traditions
- Flags on graves, moment of remembrance, parades
Memorial Day began as Decoration Day after the Civil War, when communities North and South decorated soldiers' graves with flowers; the observance was formalized in 1868 and gradually expanded to honor Americans who died in all wars.
For a century it was held on May 30 — the Uniform Monday Holiday Act moved it to the last Monday of May starting in 1971, creating the three-day weekend that now also marks summer's unofficial start.
Memorial Day: Facts Worth Knowing
- The National Moment of Remembrance asks Americans to pause at 3:00 PM local time on Memorial Day.
- Small American flags are placed at hundreds of thousands of graves at Arlington National Cemetery each year.
- Red poppies became a remembrance symbol from the WWI poem 'In Flanders Fields.'
- Waterloo, New York is officially recognized as the holiday's birthplace (1866).
- The Indianapolis 500 has run on Memorial Day weekend since 1911.
- The last-Monday rule means the date floats between May 25 and May 31 — next ten years below.
Upcoming Dates: When Is Memorial Day Next?
Computed automatically for the next ten years — always current, never out of date.
| Year | Date | Day of week |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | May 31 | Monday |
| 2028 | May 29 | Monday |
| 2029 | May 28 | Monday |
| 2030 | May 27 | Monday |
| 2031 | May 26 | Monday |
| 2032 | May 31 | Monday |
| 2033 | May 30 | Monday |
| 2034 | May 29 | Monday |
| 2035 | May 28 | Monday |
| 2036 | May 26 | Monday |
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Frequently asked questions
When is Memorial Day this year?
Memorial Day is the last Monday of May. The exact date this countdown points to is shown under the title, with the next ten years in the table below.
How many days until Memorial Day?
The live counter above shows the exact days, hours, minutes and seconds remaining in your local time zone.
What is Memorial Day for?
It honors US military personnel who died while serving. Many observe the National Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 PM local time.
Is Memorial Day the same as Veterans Day?
No — Memorial Day honors those who died in service; Veterans Day (November 11) honors all who have served.