Labor Day is observed on the first Monday of September each year, honoring the social and economic achievements and contributions of American workers.
In 2026, Labor Day falls on Monday, Sept. 7. The federal holiday, which traces its roots to the labor movement of the late 19th century, has evolved into a long weekend marked by parades, celebrations and, for many Americans, a day off from work.
Labor Day is observed on the first Monday in September. This year, Labor Day weekend starts on Monday, Sept. 7.
Labor Day celebrates the social and economic achievements of American workers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated with a parade on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City. Nearly 25,000 union members and their families lined the streets of lower Manhattan near city hall.
Labor Day was officially signed into law on June 28, 1894, by President Grover Cleveland, making the first Monday in September of each year a national holiday.
Today, more than a century later, the tradition of parades and parties lives on.
Yes, schools are typically closed on national holidays.
Natassia Paloma may be reached at [email protected], @NatassiaPaloma on X, natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma on Facebook.
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This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Labor Day weekend 2026: See date, meaning behind the federal holiday