Federal offices and post offices close for Monday holiday
October 12 is a federal holiday in 2026; regular USPS retail service and mail delivery resume Tuesday, while major stock markets remain open.
What closes Monday
Monday, October 12, is a federal holiday in 2026. The Office of Personnel Management lists the date as Columbus Day, the name established in federal law. Most federal offices are closed, and many federal employees receive the day as a holiday, although essential and continuously operating services may follow different schedules.
The U.S. Postal Service says all Post Office locations are closed Monday and regular mail delivery and retail services will resume Tuesday, October 13. Customers can still use USPS.com for tracking, postage, Hold Mail, address changes and other online services.
Some postal retail lobbies remain accessible for self-service kiosks, package dropoffs or lockers, but availability varies by location. A closed staffed counter does not guarantee that every lobby or collection box is unavailable.
Banks, payments and markets follow different calendars
Federal Reserve Banks and branches observe the October 12 holiday. That can affect the timing of some interbank payments and transactions even when a private bank’s branches or digital services remain available. Customers should check their own institution for branch hours, transfer cutoffs and deposit posting.
A federal holiday does not automatically close U.S. stock exchanges. The New York Stock Exchange’s 2026 holiday calendar does not list October 12 as a market holiday, so regular trading is scheduled. Market operators can still announce operational changes, but the published calendar treats Monday as a normal session.
Private employers, schools, state offices and local governments set their own schedules. Some jurisdictions observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day, some use both names, and others hold normal business hours. A federal designation does not impose one naming or closure policy on every institution.
Planning around the one-day interruption
People expecting mailed checks, legal notices, medication shipments or time-sensitive packages should account for the lack of regular Monday delivery. Private carriers operate on their own schedules, and service can differ by product and location.
For federal services, many websites continue accepting electronic submissions even when offices are closed. An online timestamp, however, does not necessarily mean staff will review the filing Monday or that the holiday counts as a business day under a particular deadline rule.
Courts and regulatory agencies may publish separate filing calendars or emergency procedures. Anyone facing a legal, tax, benefit or licensing deadline should confirm the governing rule directly, because holiday treatment can differ among programs and jurisdictions.
Travelers should also verify local transit and parking rules. Some systems use weekday service, others publish a holiday schedule, and municipal parking enforcement can vary by city.
The practical summary is straightforward: federal offices, Federal Reserve offices and Post Offices generally close Monday; regular USPS service returns Tuesday; major stock exchanges remain scheduled to trade; and private, state and local operations require individual confirmation.