Labor Day 2026: What’s Open Today and What’s Closed
Banks, U.S. stock markets and Post Offices are closed for Labor Day, while most stores and restaurants are open. Costco is closed and Starbucks hours vary by location.
Labor Day falls on Monday, September 7, in 2026, and the federal holiday creates a familiar split across the country: public institutions and financial markets are largely shut, while most consumer businesses remain open.
For anyone trying to make a last-minute coffee run, pick up groceries, mail a package or check a brokerage account, the answer depends on what kind of service you need.
Most stores are open, but Costco is not
Most major retailers and grocery chains are operating on Labor Day, often with regular or near-regular hours. Walmart and Target are open, and CVS locations are open as well, although some pharmacy counters may run shorter schedules.
Starbucks is also open at many locations. There is no single nationwide holiday schedule for every café, so hours can differ by neighborhood and by whether a store is inside a mall, airport, grocery store or other host business. The Starbucks store locator is the safest way to check an individual location before leaving home.
Costco is the notable exception. U.S. Costco warehouses are closed for Labor Day, one of the holidays the membership retailer observes with a companywide shutdown. Customers who need bulk groceries or fuel should plan for Tuesday instead.
Banks and the stock market are closed
The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are closed Monday for Labor Day. Regular U.S. equity trading resumes Tuesday, September 8. The Federal Reserve also observes the holiday, and most bank branches are closed, though ATMs, cards and mobile banking services continue to work.
That means Monday is not a normal business day for people waiting on branch services or market trading. If a transaction requires a staffed bank office or a live U.S. stock-market session, Tuesday is the next regular day.
No regular mail delivery
The U.S. Postal Service has closed all Post Office locations for Labor Day and suspended regular mail delivery. Retail service and normal delivery resume Tuesday. USPS says some self-service kiosks remain available in select lobbies, while online services such as postage purchases, package tracking and Click-N-Ship remain accessible.
UPS is also closed for standard pickup and delivery service, with UPS Express Critical still available. UPS Store hours can vary by location.
FedEx’s regular U.S. parcel service is closed for Labor Day. FedEx Office locations may operate on modified hours, while FedEx Custom Critical remains available.
Parades are part of the day, too
Labor Day began as a workers’ holiday, and parades remain central to the tradition.
In Brooklyn, the West Indian American Day Carnival takes over Eastern Parkway on Labor Day. J’Ouvert runs in the morning, followed by the daytime parade, which is scheduled through the afternoon. New York City officials have urged visitors to use public transportation and expect street closures and heightened security.
In Syracuse, the Great New York State Fair closes its 2026 run with a Labor Day Parade and Rally at 10:30 a.m. near the Exposition Center.
Charlotte’s 25th annual Labor Day Parade begins at 11 a.m. on North Tryon Street, with the route running from Ninth Street through the city center toward Third Street. Detroit also hosts a Labor Day parade, with UAW members gathering around Michigan Avenue and Trumbull.
Why so much closes on Labor Day
The holiday is observed on the first Monday in September and honors the social and economic contributions of American workers. The first Labor Day celebration took place in New York City on September 5, 1882. By 1894, Congress had made the first Monday in September a legal holiday.
That history helps explain the modern patchwork. Federal agencies, financial institutions and delivery networks treat the day as an official holiday. Retailers and restaurants, meanwhile, often treat it as one of the year’s busiest shopping and travel days.
For most people, the practical rule is simple: coffee and groceries are generally available, but check local hours; Costco is closed; banks, mail and U.S. stock markets wait until Tuesday.
