On Feb. 16, 2026, most citizens in the U.S. celebrated Presidents’ Day. 

Presidents’ Day was first celebrated in 1879, 17 years after President Lincoln honored Washington’s birthday in 1862. Presidents’ Day was always celebrated on February 22nd, until 1968, when it was changed to the third Monday in February by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. 

Most people spend time with their families or friends, and in some areas, there are community gatherings, historical reenactments and readings of significant presidential speeches. All federal workers have a paid day off, while private businesses can choose whether to close. 

Sophomore Benjamin Hacker said that he “went to Mammoth and went skiing” to celebrate Presidents’ Day. On Sunday, February 15, 2026, at 3 pm, the Sons of Liberty celebrated Washington’s birthday and the US Armed Forces Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills and featured a parade of at least 70 color and honor guard units from local schools, ROTC units, military branches, and historical societies, as well as representatives from all branches of the US military.

Some states celebrate Presidents’ Day at other times, like the state of Indiana, which celebrates it on December 24th, and New Mexico, which celebrates it the day after Thanksgiving, while states including Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Wisconsin and Rhode Island do not recognize Presidents’ Day at all.