Armed Forces Day 2026

Armed Forces Day 2026 is on Saturday, May 16, 2026 (in 338 days).  Calendar for 2026

Armed Forces Day 2025 has already passed: it was on Saturday, May 17, 2025 (26 days ago).  Calendar for 2025

Armed Forces Day is a day of paying tribute to and honoring members of the military. In the United States it is celebrated annually on the third Saturday in May. It is the highlight of Armed Forces Week which starts on the second Saturday in May and ends on the Sunday after Armed Forces Day. Parades, air shows, military displays, memorial services, flag ceremonies, open days and other local celebrations are held on this day to mark the occasion.

The day was created in 1949 to replace and unify formerly separate celebration days for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard. However, within the respective services the separate days are still observed. Armed Forces Day is not a public holiday in the United States.

Many other countries also observe an Armed Forces Day to honor and acknowledge the men and women in their military forces. In the United Kingdom it is held on the last Saturday in June, in Canada on the first Sunday in June and in Australia and New Zealand on ANZAC Day (April 25, a public holiday). For a list of Armed Forces Days around the world see Armed Forces Day on Wikipedia.

In the United States, those who have died in military service to their country are commemorated on Memorial Day (last Monday of May), while Veterans Day (November 11) honors and remembers all those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

Armed Forces Day 2027 is on Saturday, May 15, 2027 (in 702 days).  Calendar for 2027

Dates of Armed Forces Day 2026 and surrounding years as downloadable image file