In 2026, Patriots' Day will be observed on Monday, April 20.
The date is determined by its official designation as the third Monday in April in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the state of Maine. This scheduling is established by state law to commemorate the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which took place on April 19, 1775, and marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. The observance was moved from the fixed date of April 19 to the third Monday in 1969 to create a three-day weekend.
As a practical application of this scheduling, major civic events are held on this day, most notably the Boston Marathon. Therefore, the 130th running of the Boston Marathon is scheduled for April 20, 2026. The day is a public holiday in Massachusetts, resulting in the closure of schools and state government offices.
