May 2026 Calendar
31 days · 21 weekdays · 10 weekend days · Starts on Friday
May 2026 Calendar
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 May Day | 2 | |||||
| 3 | 4 | 5 Cinco de Mayo | 6 National Nurses Day | 7 | 8 Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) | 9 |
| 10 Mother's Day | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 Armed Forces Day |
| 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25 Memorial Day | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 31 |
May 2026 Printable Calendar Templates
Choose from six free printable calendar styles. Click any image to open the PDF — ready to download or print.
Standard Calendar with Holidays
A classic monthly calendar with all US federal holidays clearly marked. Sunday start, perfect for home and office use. Holidays are highlighted in red so you never miss an important date.
Blank Calendar (Customizable)
A clean, uncluttered calendar with dates but no holidays or markings. Perfect for adding your own appointments, deadlines, birthdays, and personal events. Make it truly yours.
Printable Minimal Calendar
A minimalist design optimized for printing. Clean lines, no distractions, and printer-friendly layout that looks great on any paper size. Ink-saving design.
Calendar — Week Starts Monday
A specially formatted calendar with Monday as the first day of the week. Ideal for business planning and for users who prefer the international week layout used in Europe and many parts of the world.
Stylish Themed Calendar
A beautifully designed calendar with charming seasonal themes, floral accents, and appealing colors. Brighten up your workspace or kitchen wall with this delightful design.
Completely Blank Template
A truly blank calendar grid with no dates at all — just the day headers and empty cells. Use it for any month of any year. Ideal for reusable planning, classroom activities, or custom scheduling.
May 2026 Holidays & Observances
Memorial Day
A day of remembrance for those who have died in military service to the United States. Observed on the last Monday of May, Memorial Day also marks the unofficial start of summer. Many Americans visit cemeteries, hold family gatherings, and participate in parades across the country.
Tradition: Wearing red poppies, visiting war memorials, flying the flag at half-staff until noon, and decorating graves of fallen soldiers.
Mother's Day
A celebration honoring mothers and motherhood, Mother's Day is observed on the second Sunday of May in the United States. It is one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants and flower shops, with millions of Americans treating their mothers to brunch, gifts, and quality time.
Tradition: Giving cards, flowers, and gifts; taking mothers out for brunch or dinner; family gatherings and phone calls to moms far away.
May Day
May Day celebrates the arrival of spring with traditions dating back to ancient Roman and Celtic festivals. In many countries, May 1 is also International Workers' Day, dedicated to labor rights. Traditional celebrations include dancing around the maypole, crowning a May Queen, and giving May Day flower baskets.
Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army's unexpected victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. In the United States, it has evolved into a broader celebration of Mexican-American culture, featuring festivals, parades, mariachi music, and traditional foods like tacos and mole.
National Teacher Appreciation Day
Part of Teacher Appreciation Week, this day recognizes the invaluable contributions of educators across the country. Many students and parents give thank-you notes, small gifts, or classroom supplies to show their gratitude for the teachers who shape young minds every day.
National Nurses Day
The first day of National Nurses Week, honoring the vital role nurses play in healthcare. The celebration culminates on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Hospitals and clinics often hold appreciation events for their nursing staff.
Victory in Europe Day (VE Day)
Marks the anniversary of Nazi Germany's unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945, ending World War II in Europe. Observed with moments of silence, wreath-laying ceremonies at war memorials, and reflections on the sacrifices made during the war.
Armed Forces Day
A day to honor all current members of the United States Armed Forces — Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. Celebrated with parades, military air shows, open houses at military bases, and "Support the Troops" events nationwide on the third Saturday of May.
Sky Events in May 2026
Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower
May 5-6, 2026The Eta Aquariids are one of the finest meteor showers of the year, created by debris shed by Halley's Comet centuries ago. Under ideal dark-sky conditions, observers can see up to 50 meteors per hour streaking across the sky. The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Aquarius.
Best viewing: Pre-dawn hours are best, looking toward the eastern horizon. The shower favors the Southern Hemisphere and southern latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, but northern observers can still catch 10–20 meteors per hour.
Peak rate: Up to 50 meteors per hour
Full Moon — Flower Moon
May 1, 2026May's full moon is traditionally called the Flower Moon by Native American tribes because of the abundant wildflowers that bloom across North America during this month. Other traditional names include the Corn Planting Moon (Algonquin) and the Milk Moon (Old English). This full moon marks a time of fertility and growth.
Spring Constellations at Their Best
Late May 2026May evenings offer excellent views of spring constellations. Look for Leo the Lion high in the southern sky with its distinctive sickle-shaped head and bright star Regulus. The Big Dipper is nearly overhead — follow the arc of its handle to find Arcturus and then spike to Spica.
Best viewing: Face south about 2 hours after sunset. A dark sky location away from city lights will reveal the most detail.
May: History and Traditions
Origin of the Name
May is named after Maia, the Greek goddess of fertility, growth, and the spring season. In Roman mythology, Maia was associated with the earth's bounty and nurturing warmth. The month was sacred to the goddess Bona Dea, and the Romans held the festival of Lemuria during May to appease restless spirits. Interestingly, May was considered an unlucky time for marriages in ancient Rome — a superstition that persisted in some Western wedding traditions well into the modern era.
What Was It Called Before?
In Old English, May was called 'Þrimilce' (pronounced roughly 'thri-mil-keh'), which literally means 'three milkings.' This name came from the fact that during May, the lush spring grass was so nourishing that cows could be milked three times a day instead of the usual twice. It's a poetic reminder of how deeply the calendar was tied to agricultural rhythms.
Fun Facts
- May is the only month that has never hosted a U.S. presidential election, inauguration, or midterm election — a unique political distinction.
- The Kentucky Derby, called 'the most exciting two minutes in sports,' takes place on the first Saturday of May at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
- In the Northern Hemisphere, May is the month with the most daylight hours outside of the summer months (June–August).
- The Empire State Building — once the world's tallest building — was officially dedicated on May 1, 1931, with President Hoover pressing a button from the White House to turn on the lights.
- May is simultaneously National BBQ Month, National Hamburger Month, and National Salad Month in the United States — covering all the food bases.
- The Eurovision Song Contest, the world's longest-running international televised music competition, is traditionally held in May.
May Birthstone and Flowers
Emerald — Birthstone
Color: Deep green
Symbolizes rebirth, love, fertility, and wisdom. Ancient Romans dedicated emeralds to Venus, the goddess of love, believing the stone could reveal the truth of a lover's words. The rich green color was also thought to relieve eye strain — Roman emperor Nero supposedly watched gladiator fights through a large emerald.
Cleopatra was famous for her passion for emeralds, and the earliest known emerald mines were in Egypt dating back to 330 BC. Today, Colombia produces some of the world's finest emeralds.
Birth Flowers
Sweetness, humility, and a return to happiness. According to Christian legend, the flower sprang from Eve's tears when she was expelled from the Garden of Eden. In France, May 1st is celebrated as La Fête du Muguet, when sprigs of lily of the valley are given as tokens of good luck.
Hope and supreme happiness. In Celtic tradition, the hawthorn tree was deeply sacred and believed to mark the entrance to the fairy world. Its blossoms appear in late April to early May, earning it the nickname "Mayflower."
May Zodiac Signs
Taurus
Date: April 20 – May 20
Element: Earth
Taureans are known for being reliable, patient, practical, and devoted. As an earth sign, they appreciate stability, comfort, and the finer things in life. Ruled by Venus, Taurus individuals often have a strong aesthetic sense and a love of beauty, good food, and nature.
Gemini
Date: May 21 – June 20
Element: Air
Geminis are adaptable, curious, outgoing, and quick-witted. Ruled by Mercury, the planet of communication, they love learning new things, engaging in lively conversation, and juggling multiple interests at once. Geminis rarely have just one hobby — they prefer to have several projects in the air.
May 2026 Highlights
May is graduation season across the United States. From high school auditoriums to university stadiums, millions of students walk across the stage this month. Use our May calendar to keep track of ceremonies, parties, and all the deadlines leading up to the big day.
For gardeners, May is peak planting month in most regions. The danger of frost has finally passed across much of the country, making it the perfect time to get tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and summer annuals into the ground. The soil is warm, the days are long, and everything is growing.
With warmer weather and longer evenings, May marks the real beginning of outdoor season. National parks, hiking trails, campgrounds, and backyard grills all come back to life. Memorial Day weekend — the unofficial kickoff of summer — caps the month with barbecues and road trips.
Frequently Asked Questions About May 2026
How many days are in May?
May has 31 days, making it one of the seven months with a full 31 days.
How many weekdays and weekends are in May 2026?
May 2026 has 21 weekdays (Monday through Friday) and 10 weekend days (Saturdays and Sundays).
What holidays are in May 2026?
May 2026 includes Memorial Day (May 25), Mother's Day (May 10), Cinco de Mayo (May 5), National Teacher Appreciation Day (May 5), National Nurses Day (May 6), VE Day (May 8), and Armed Forces Day (May 16).
What is the May birthstone?
The May birthstone is the emerald, a precious gemstone known for its deep green color. Emeralds symbolize rebirth, love, and fertility.
What are the May zodiac signs?
May has two zodiac signs: Taurus (April 20 – May 20) and Gemini (May 21 – June 20). Taureans are known for being reliable and practical, while Geminis are adaptable and curious.
When does the May 2026 full moon occur?
The May 2026 full moon — known as the Flower Moon — occurs on May 1, 2026.
What day of the week is May 1, 2026?
May 1, 2026 falls on a Friday.