Presidents Day: Honoring Washington and All U.S. Presidents

The federal holiday was established to commemorate the birth of George Washington, the nation's first president.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Presidents Day, also known as Washington's Birthday, is a federal holiday observed on the third Monday of every February. The holiday was initially established to honor the birth of George Washington on February 22, but in 1971 it was moved to the third Monday of the month, placing it between Washington's and Abraham Lincoln's birthdays. While the name change has never been officially authorized by Congress, the holiday is now widely used to honor all U.S. presidents.

Why it matters

The Presidents Day holiday reflects the evolution of how Americans commemorate their nation's history and leaders. What began as a specific celebration of George Washington's birth has transformed into a more general observance honoring the contributions of all U.S. presidents, underscoring the importance of the presidency and the office's role in shaping the country.

The details

The federal holiday was first established in 1879 to recognize George Washington's birth date of February 22. In 1971, the Uniform Monday Holiday Law moved the holiday to the third Monday of February, placing it between Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays. While the name change to 'Presidents Day' has never been officially authorized by Congress, the holiday is now widely used to honor all U.S. presidents, not just the first one.

  • Presidents Day is observed on the third Monday of February each year.
  • George Washington's birthday was originally celebrated on February 22.
  • The Uniform Monday Holiday Law moved the federal holiday to the third Monday of February in 1971.

The players

George Washington

The first president of the United States, whose birth date of February 22 was the original inspiration for the federal holiday.

Abraham Lincoln

The 16th president of the United States, whose birthday on February 12 is also commemorated around the Presidents Day holiday.

Rutherford B. Hayes

The 19th president of the United States, who signed the law establishing Washington's Birthday as a federal holiday in 1879.

Steven Wallace Dorsey

A Republican senator from Arkansas who proposed adding Washington's birth date to the list of federal holidays in the late 19th century.

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What’s next

The federal government will observe Presidents Day on Monday, February 16, 2026, with many government offices and some private businesses closed for the holiday.

The takeaway

The evolution of Presidents Day reflects the changing ways Americans commemorate their nation's history and leaders. What began as a specific celebration of George Washington has transformed into a more general observance honoring the contributions of all U.S. presidents, underscoring the importance of the presidency in shaping the country.