What's open on Lincoln's Birthday 2027?
Lincoln's Birthday is a state holiday, next on Friday, February 12, 2027. Here is what is open and closed: post office, banks, stock market, government offices, schools and stores.
| Service | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Post Office (USPS) | Open | Not a federal holiday; regular mail delivery and lobby hours nationwide. |
| Banks | Open | Banks follow the Federal Reserve calendar and open as usual on February 12. |
| Stock market (NYSE, Nasdaq) | Open | Normal trading day; markets close on Washington's Birthday instead. |
| Federal offices | Open | Federal agencies and federal courts keep regular hours. |
| State and local government | Varies | Closed in Connecticut, Illinois and Missouri (and California state courts). Open in every other state. |
| Public schools | Varies | Closed in most districts in CT, IL and MO and in many New York districts; open elsewhere. |
| Retail stores and malls | Open | Open; Presidents' Day weekend sales usually begin around this date. |
| Restaurants and grocery stores | Open | Normal hours. |
Why these close and others do not
Three separate rules decide what shuts on any given American holiday, and they do not always agree. The federal list in 5 U.S.C. § 6103 governs federal offices, federal courts and the U.S. Postal Service, and the Federal Reserve follows the same calendar — which is why banks close on federal holidays and stay open on state-only ones. State holiday statutes are separate: each state legislature sets its own list for state employees, courts, DMV offices and usually public schools, so a day can be a paid holiday in Texas and an ordinary Tuesday in Ohio. Private employers answer to neither, no federal law requires any private business to close or to pay a premium for holiday work, so retailers, restaurants and offices set their own policies, and most stay open with reduced hours on all but a handful of days.
Lincoln's Birthday is a state holiday, so only the second rule applies: offices close in the states that observe it, while federal offices, post offices and banks stay open. The stock market keeps its own calendar again: the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq close for nine of the eleven federal holidays plus Good Friday, but trade normally on Columbus Day and Veterans Day, when the bond market closes and the equity market does not.
Hours vary by location and year. Check with the branch or office before you go. For dates through 2027 and the history, see the main Lincoln's Birthday page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the post office open on Lincoln's Birthday?
Yes. Not a federal holiday; regular mail delivery and lobby hours nationwide.
Are banks open on Lincoln's Birthday?
Yes. Banks follow the Federal Reserve calendar and open as usual on February 12.
Is the stock market open on Lincoln's Birthday?
Yes. Normal trading day; markets close on Washington's Birthday instead.
Are federal offices open on Lincoln's Birthday?
Yes. Federal agencies and federal courts keep regular hours.
Are state offices, courts and the DMV open on Lincoln's Birthday?
It depends. Closed in Connecticut, Illinois and Missouri (and California state courts). Open in every other state.
Are schools open on Lincoln's Birthday?
It depends. Closed in most districts in CT, IL and MO and in many New York districts; open elsewhere.
Are stores open on Lincoln's Birthday?
Yes. Open; Presidents' Day weekend sales usually begin around this date.
Are restaurants and grocery stores open on Lincoln's Birthday?
Yes. Normal hours.