Next Fed Meeting: FOMC Meeting Schedule 2026–2027
The Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is responsible for setting U.S. monetary policy, including decisions that influence the federal funds rate. Investors, traders, businesses, homeowners and consumers follow these meetings because changes in interest rates can affect borrowing costs, savings returns, mortgage rates and financial markets.
The next scheduled FOMC meeting is December 8–9, 2026. The Federal Reserve is also scheduled to hold eight regular meetings during 2027.
Below is the official FOMC meeting calendar for 2026 and 2027, including the dates when the committee is scheduled to announce its policy decisions.
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| Next Fed Meeting and FOMC Meeting Schedule 2026–2027 |
Next FOMC Meeting in 2026
The next Federal Reserve meeting is scheduled for December 8–9, 2026. It is a two-day meeting, and a press conference is scheduled for the second day.
The FOMC generally releases its policy statement at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the second day of a scheduled meeting. The timing of the announcement and press conference should be checked on the Federal Reserve's official calendar.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Next FOMC meeting | December 8–9, 2026 |
| Policy decision | December 9, 2026 |
| Press conference | December 9, 2026 |
| Meeting minutes | December 30, 2026 |
FOMC Meeting Schedule 2026
The Federal Reserve scheduled eight regular FOMC meetings for 2026. The October meeting has already taken place, while the December meeting is still upcoming as of October 31, 2026.
| No. | FOMC Meeting Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 27–28, 2026 | Completed |
| 2 | March 17–18, 2026 | Completed |
| 3 | April 28–29, 2026 | Completed |
| 4 | June 16–17, 2026 | Completed |
| 5 | July 28–29, 2026 | Completed |
| 6 | September 15–16, 2026 | Completed |
| 7 | October 27–28, 2026 | Completed |
| 8 | December 8–9, 2026 | Upcoming |
FOMC Meeting Schedule 2027
The Federal Reserve has published its regular meeting dates for 2027. These dates are scheduled in advance, but the Fed notes that each meeting date remains tentative until confirmed at the preceding meeting.
| No. | FOMC Meeting Dates | Month |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 26–27, 2027 | January |
| 2 | March 16–17, 2027 | March |
| 3 | April 27–28, 2027 | April |
| 4 | June 8–9, 2027 | June |
| 5 | July 27–28, 2027 | July |
| 6 | September 14–15, 2027 | September |
| 7 | October 26–27, 2027 | October |
| 8 | December 7–8, 2027 | December |
Which 2026–2027 FOMC Meetings Include Economic Projections?
Some FOMC meetings are accompanied by a Summary of Economic Projections (SEP). These meetings provide additional information about policymakers' economic outlook, including projections for inflation, unemployment, economic growth and the federal funds rate.
The Federal Reserve marks these meetings with an asterisk in its official calendar.
| Year | Meeting Dates | Economic Projections |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | March 17–18 | Yes |
| 2026 | June 16–17 | Yes |
| 2026 | September 15–16 | Yes |
| 2026 | December 8–9 | Yes |
| 2027 | March 16–17 | Yes |
| 2027 | June 8–9 | Yes |
| 2027 | September 14–15 | Yes |
| 2027 | December 7–8 | Yes |
What Is the FOMC?
The Federal Open Market Committee, commonly known as the FOMC, is the Federal Reserve's monetary policy committee. It meets regularly to review economic and financial conditions and decide what policy actions are appropriate to support its goals.
The committee's decisions can influence the federal funds rate, which is the interest rate banks charge one another for overnight loans of reserve balances. Changes in monetary policy can affect other interest rates throughout the economy.
The FOMC normally holds eight scheduled meetings each year. It can also hold additional meetings when necessary.
Why Do FOMC Meetings Matter?
FOMC meetings receive attention because the committee's decisions can influence several parts of the U.S. economy.
1. Interest rates: A change in the federal funds rate can influence borrowing costs for consumers and businesses.
2. Mortgage rates: Mortgage rates do not move directly with every Fed decision, but monetary policy and market expectations can affect mortgage borrowing costs.
3. Stock market: Investors monitor the Fed's statements and economic outlook because they can influence expectations about company earnings, borrowing costs and financial conditions.
4. Inflation: The committee considers inflation data when deciding whether monetary policy should become tighter, remain unchanged or become more accommodative.
5. Savings and loans: Changes in interest rates can affect savings account yields, certificates of deposit, credit cards and other financial products.
What Happens During an FOMC Meeting?
During a scheduled meeting, committee members review information about the U.S. economy and financial system. This can include employment figures, inflation reports, consumer spending, business activity and financial market conditions.
After reviewing the available information, the committee decides whether to adjust its monetary policy stance.
The main outcomes may include:
- Rate increase: The committee raises the target range for the federal funds rate.
- Rate cut: The committee lowers the target range.
- No change: The committee keeps the target range unchanged.
The policy statement explains the committee's decision and provides context about its economic assessment. At selected meetings, the Federal Reserve Chair also holds a press conference.
When Are FOMC Meeting Minutes Released?
The minutes of regularly scheduled FOMC meetings are generally released three weeks after the policy decision. They provide a more detailed record of the committee's discussion and the range of views considered by participants.
For the remaining 2026 meeting, the scheduled minutes release is:
| Meeting | Minutes Release Date |
|---|---|
| October 27–28, 2026 | November 18, 2026 |
| December 8–9, 2026 | December 30, 2026 |
For 2027, check the Federal Reserve's official calendar for the minutes release dates as they are published.
Where to Watch the FOMC Rate Decision
You can find official FOMC statements, meeting minutes, press conference information and future meeting dates on the Federal Reserve website.
Official resources:
- Federal Reserve FOMC Meeting Calendar
- Federal Reserve Monetary Policy
- Federal Reserve News and Events
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the next Fed meeting in 2026?
The next scheduled Federal Open Market Committee meeting is December 8–9, 2026. The policy decision and press conference are scheduled for December 9.
How many FOMC meetings are scheduled in 2027?
Eight regular FOMC meetings are scheduled for 2027: January, March, April, June, July, September, October and December.
What time does the Fed announce its interest rate decision?
For regular two-day meetings, the policy statement is generally released at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the second day. Check the official calendar for the specific announcement and press conference details.
Does every FOMC meeting include a press conference?
No. The Federal Reserve schedules press conferences for selected meetings. Its official calendar identifies the meetings with press conferences.
Are the 2027 FOMC dates final?
The Federal Reserve has published the 2027 schedule, but it states that each meeting date is tentative until confirmed at the meeting immediately preceding it.
How often does the Federal Reserve meet?
The FOMC normally holds eight regularly scheduled meetings each year. Additional meetings may be held when needed.
Next Fed Meeting & FOMC Meeting Schedule 2026–2027
As of October 31, 2026, the October FOMC meeting has concluded, and the next scheduled Fed meeting is December 8–9, 2026. The 2027 calendar includes eight scheduled meetings. Readers should use the Federal Reserve's official calendar to check for changes, policy statements and announcement details.
Disclaimer: This article provides a meeting-date reference for informational purposes. It does not predict future interest rate decisions or provide investment advice.
