Memorial Day 2026: What’s Open In Illinois And What’s Closed

In case you forgot (it's okay, we know you're busy), Monday, May 25th, is Memorial Day 2026.

Memorial Day has always felt a little different from the other three-day weekends on the calendar. Sure, for plenty of us in Northern Illinois it marks the unofficial start of summer where grills get fired up, pools get opened, and traffic heading toward Wisconsin suddenly quadruples.

But it’s also a day set aside to remember the men and women who died serving our country.

That said, if Monday, May 25th finds you suddenly realizing you need groceries, cash from the bank, or a last-second DMV visit, it’s probably a good idea to know what’s open and what’s definitely not.

Let's Get To The Big Closures First

Since Memorial Day is a federal holiday, most government offices will be closed, including city, county, and state offices throughout Illinois.

The Illinois Secretary of State’s driver's facilities will also be shut down for the day. Banks are expected to be closed, too, since Memorial Day is one of the Federal Reserve holidays observed nationwide.

The United States Postal Service will not deliver regular mail on Monday, and post offices will be closed. UPS and FedEx are also expected to operate on limited holiday schedules, with some services unavailable.

If You're Up For Some Memorial Day Shopping, You're In Luck (for the most part)

Major retailers like Walmart, Target, Meijer, Walgreens, CVS, and most grocery store chains are expected to remain open on Memorial Day, although some locations may operate with reduced hours. Home improvement stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot are also planning to stay open for the holiday weekend rush.

One notable exception is that Costco plans to close all locations for Memorial Day, continuing its long-standing tradition of shutting down on major holidays.

Restaurants are generally expected to be open, especially in the Rockford and Chicagoland areas where Memorial Day weekend events, cookouts, and travel traffic usually keep things busy.

To bottom line it for you: If your plans involve burgers, mulch, sunscreen, or a grocery run, you’ll probably be fine. If they involve license plates, banking, or mailing a package, you may want to wait until Tuesday.