Flag Day 2026 in the United States falls on Sunday, June 14, 2026. It commemorates the adoption of the Stars and Stripes flag by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. Flag Day is not a federal holiday — but it is a state holiday in Pennsylvania and is widely observed across schools, government buildings, and military installations nationwide.
Quick reference: Flag Day 2026
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | Sun June 14, 2026 |
| Federal holiday status | No (proclamation only) |
| Pennsylvania state holiday | Yes |
| Marks | Adoption of Stars and Stripes — June 14, 1777 |
| Officially established | 1916 (Wilson proclamation), 1949 (Truman law) |
| Next year | Mon June 14, 2027 |
Why June 14?
The date commemorates the June 14, 1777 resolution of the Second Continental Congress, which adopted the design of the United States flag:
"Resolved, that the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation."
This was the first official Stars and Stripes design — 13 stripes for the 13 colonies, 13 stars for the same. The flag has changed shape many times since (currently 50 stars, last update July 4, 1960, when Hawaii became the 50th state), but the 13 stripes have remained constant.
Is Flag Day a federal holiday?
No. Flag Day is not a federal holiday — meaning federal government offices, banks, and schools remain open. There is no day off work.
Specifically:
- 1916 — President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation establishing June 14 as Flag Day
- August 3, 1949 — President Harry S. Truman signed an act of Congress designating June 14 of each year as National Flag Day
- However, the law does not make it a federal holiday — only requests that the President issue a proclamation each year
State holiday status:
- Pennsylvania — the only state that observes Flag Day as a legal state holiday (since 1937)
- New York — Flag Day Week (week of June 14) observed by proclamation
- Other states — recognition but no holiday status
For the full US federal holiday calendar 2026, see /us/calendar.
How Flag Day is observed
Despite not being a federal holiday, Flag Day has strong traditions:
- Flag-raising ceremonies at city halls, schools, military bases, and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) posts
- Pledge of Allegiance recitations in schools and at public events
- Parades — most notably the Three Oaks, Michigan Flag Day Parade (longest-running Flag Day parade in the US, established 1934)
- Flag etiquette demonstrations — proper folding, raising, lowering, and disposal of worn flags
- National Anthem performances at sports events and ceremonies
- Family barbecues in some regions — particularly in Pennsylvania where it's a state holiday
Flag Day vs other patriotic days
Three major US patriotic observances are often confused:
| Day | Date | Federal Holiday? | Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flag Day | June 14 | No | Adoption of the flag, 1777 |
| Independence Day | July 4 | Yes | Declaration of Independence, 1776 |
| Memorial Day | Last Monday May | Yes | Honoring fallen military |
| Veterans Day | November 11 | Yes | Honoring all veterans |
The Pledge of Allegiance
Flag Day is the day the Pledge of Allegiance is most prominently recited:
"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
The Pledge was written by Francis Bellamy in 1892 (originally without the words "of the United States of America" and "under God" — those were added later). It is recited daily in most US public schools.
Flag etiquette basics (US Flag Code, 4 U.S.C. § 5)
Particularly relevant on Flag Day:
- The flag should never touch the ground
- The flag is raised briskly at sunrise and lowered ceremoniously at sunset
- The flag should be displayed only from sunrise to sunset unless illuminated at night
- On Memorial Day, the flag is flown at half-staff until noon, then full-staff
- A worn or damaged flag should be destroyed dignifiedly — typically by burning in a private ceremony by a Boy Scout troop, VFW, or American Legion post
Flag Day in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has special significance: Betsy Ross (legendary first flag maker) lived in Philadelphia, and the flag was first sewn there in 1776. Pennsylvania made Flag Day a state holiday in 1937.
- Philadelphia — Betsy Ross House ceremonies; Independence National Historical Park events
- Pittsburgh — Flag Day Parade
- Allentown, Reading, Lancaster — Local ceremonies
Where the flag flies
On Flag Day, official ceremonies include:
- The White House — Marine guard ceremony
- The Pentagon — Joint services flag-raising
- Fort McHenry, Baltimore — Where Francis Scott Key wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner" during the War of 1812; ceremonial flag changing
- Iwo Jima Memorial, Arlington — Special Marines ceremony
- State capitols — Each state holds flag-raising
Common greetings
- "Happy Flag Day!" — universal
- "Long may she wave!" — patriotic flourish
- "Honor the flag!" — Veterans organizations
Flag Day 2027
Flag Day 2027 falls on Monday, June 14, 2027. The date is fixed — always June 14.
Related references
- US federal holiday calendar 2026
- June 2026 calendar
- US Independence Day — July 4
- Memorial Day — last Monday in May
- Veterans Day — November 11
"Long may our land be bright with freedom's holy light." — Happy Flag Day, America!