Veterans Day 2026: Free Meals, Deals and What's Open or Closed

Veterans Day lands on a Wednesday this year, which makes it easy to forget until the mail doesn't show up. The holiday is Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026, and it changes more of the day than people expect: no mail, most bank branches dark, and a long list of restaurants handing veterans a free plate.

"When is Veterans Day 2026" was climbing Google's U.S. trending list on Tuesday morning, and the top autocomplete suggestions tell you what people actually want to know: free meals, whether it's a bank holiday, and whether kids have school.

When is Veterans Day 2026?

Veterans Day 2026 is Wednesday, Nov. 11. It doesn't float to a Monday like Memorial Day or Labor Day. The date is fixed because it marks the armistice that stopped the fighting in World War I at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.

The day started out as Armistice Day, a legal holiday under a 1938 law. In 1954, Congress swapped "Armistice" for "Veterans" so the day would honor Americans who served in every war, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs' history of the holiday. It isn't the same as Memorial Day. Memorial Day remembers those who died in service. Veterans Day thanks everyone who served, living or dead.

Is Veterans Day a federal holiday?

Yes. Veterans Day is one of the 11 federal holidays, so federal offices close and federal workers get the day off. That doesn't carry over to private companies. No law makes a private employer close or pay extra, and plenty of businesses run a normal Wednesday.

State and local governments set their own rules. Many state offices, courts and city halls close, but some stay open, and trash pickup can shift by a day in some towns. Your city or county website is the quickest place to check.

Do kids have school on Veterans Day?

It depends on the district. Some close for the day; others stay open and hold assemblies or invite veterans to speak. "Veterans Day 2026 no school" is one of the top Google suggestions right now, which tells you how many families are checking. Look at your district's 2026-27 calendar rather than assuming either way.

What's closed on Veterans Day 2026

Here's how the biggest services handle Nov. 11:

Is there mail on Veterans Day?

No. The Postal Service says every post office will be closed on Wednesday and regular delivery and retail service pick back up on Thursday, Nov. 12. You can still buy stamps, print labels and set up Hold Mail on usps.com, and some post office lobbies have self-service kiosks that weigh and mail packages. Anything you drop off Wednesday won't move until Thursday, so add a day to anything time-sensitive.

UPS keeps its normal pickup and delivery schedule, USA Today reported. FedEx lists Veterans Day as a modified service day, with FedEx Office locations open.

Are banks open on Veterans Day?

Most branches aren't. The Federal Reserve Banks close on Nov. 11, and big national banks generally follow the Fed's calendar. ATMs, apps and online banking keep working, but a deposit or transfer you make Wednesday usually won't post until Thursday.

If you get Social Security on the second Wednesday of the month, your money already arrived. Payments due Nov. 11 went out a day early, on Tuesday, Nov. 10, as we laid out in our November Social Security and SSI payment guide.

Is the stock market open on Veterans Day?

Yes. Veterans Day isn't on the NYSE's 2026 holiday list, so stocks trade normally from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern. The bond market is a different story. SIFMA recommends a full close for U.S. bond trading on Nov. 11.

Veterans Day 2026 free meals

The American Legion keeps the longest running list, and its 2026 roundup runs to well over 100 businesses. A sample of the national chains, as described on that list:

• Applebee's: a free entrée from a special Veterans Day menu, dine-in only. The chain says this is its 19th year doing it.
• Chili's: a free meal from select items at participating restaurants, dine-in.
• Olive Garden: a free entrée from a special menu, with the usual breadsticks and soup or salad, dine-in.
• Denny's: a free Original Grand Slam from 5 a.m. to noon local time with a military ID or DD-214.
• IHOP: a free red, white and blueberry pancake combo from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at participating locations.
• Golden Corral: a free buffet and drink at its Military Appreciation Night, 4 p.m. to close.
• Texas Roadhouse: meal vouchers handed out from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., good through May 31, 2027.
• Red Robin, Shake Shack and Wendy's: a free burger (Red's Big Tavern Burger, a ShackBurger and a Dave's Single, respectively).
• Starbucks: a free beverage for current and former military members.

Coffee, snacks and smaller freebies

Not every offer is a full meal. Chipotle is giving free chips and a dip with a $5 in-restaurant purchase. Buffalo Wild Wings has 10 free boneless wings and fries for dine-in guests. Great Clips is offering a free haircut, or a card for one later, at its U.S. salons, and nonveterans who stop in can pick up a free haircut card to hand to a veteran.

A few deals stretch past Wednesday. Outback's free Bloomin' Onion runs Nov. 10 and 11, and Benihana's hibachi entrée offer started Monday and ends Wednesday.

What you need to bring

Almost every restaurant asks for proof of service, and the accepted forms vary. A military ID, a VA health or veteran ID card, a DD-214, or a driver's license with a veteran designation covers most of them. Many deals are dine-in only, at participating locations, from a limited menu. The Legion itself warns that offers can change and may not be offered everywhere, so a quick call to the local restaurant saves a wasted trip.

Veterans Day events and the Arlington ceremony

The 73rd National Veterans Day Observance starts at 11 a.m. Eastern in the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery, with a prelude by the U.S. Coast Guard Band and the Air Force Singing Sergeants at 10:30. The cemetery says the observance is free and open to the public, with seats first come, first served. The wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is limited to official participants, as it has been since 2020.

Going in person takes planning. Parking at the Welcome Center is free, but walking to the amphitheater isn't allowed; visitors ride a tram that starts around 8:30 a.m., and the cemetery suggests reaching it by 9:45. Umbrellas, big bags and hard water bottles are banned.

Outside Washington, most towns hold a parade or a ceremony at a local memorial, usually around 11 a.m. Many museums and zoos let veterans in free on Wednesday, among them Mount Vernon, the National WWII Museum in New Orleans and the Cincinnati Zoo, per the Legion's list.

The simplest way to mark the day doesn't need a reservation or an ID. If there's a veteran in your life, call them. And if that call turns into Thanksgiving plans, book soon: holiday airfares are at a 10-year high this year.