Central bank calendar 2026
Fed and ECB rate decisions and the US jobs report, with the days left until each.
Next decision: US Federal Reserve rate decision on Wednesday 28 October 2026, in 17 days.
US Federal Reserve rate decision
| Decision day | Status |
|---|---|
| Wed 28 Jan 2026 | held |
| Wed 18 Mar 2026 | held |
| Wed 29 Apr 2026 | held |
| Wed 17 Jun 2026 | held |
| Wed 29 Jul 2026 | held |
| Wed 16 Sep 2026 | held |
| Wed 28 Oct 2026 | in 17 days |
| Wed 09 Dec 2026 | in 59 days |
Source: the FOMC published schedule. Dates can move; confirm there.
European Central Bank rate decision
| Decision day | Status |
|---|---|
| Thu 05 Feb 2026 | held |
| Thu 19 Mar 2026 | held |
| Thu 30 Apr 2026 | held |
| Thu 11 Jun 2026 | held |
| Thu 23 Jul 2026 | held |
| Thu 10 Sep 2026 | held |
| Thu 29 Oct 2026 | in 18 days |
| Thu 17 Dec 2026 | in 67 days |
Source: the ECB published schedule. Dates can move; confirm there.
US jobs report (non-farm payrolls)
| Usually released | Status |
|---|---|
| Fri 06 Nov 2026 | in 26 days |
| Fri 04 Dec 2026 | in 54 days |
| Fri 01 Jan 2027 | in 82 days |
| Fri 05 Feb 2027 | in 117 days |
| Fri 05 Mar 2027 | in 145 days |
| Fri 02 Apr 2027 | in 173 days |
Usually the first Friday of the month at 8:30 am US Eastern time; the statistics office sometimes moves it. BLS schedule.
Questions
Why do central bank decision days matter for gold and currencies?
A rate decision changes what it pays to hold a currency. Gold pays no interest, so it often moves when expected real rates move. Spreads widen and prices can jump in the minutes around the announcement, which is when stops get skipped and prop-challenge daily limits get hit.
What time are the announcements?
The Federal Reserve publishes its statement at 2:00 pm US Eastern time on the second day of its meeting. The ECB publishes at 2:15 pm Central European time, with the press conference at 2:45 pm.
Should I close trades before a decision?
That is your own call and this page gives no advice. Many prop firms restrict trading around high-impact news; read your firm's rules, and size so that a gap past your stop does not break the daily loss limit.
Rates, inflation and jobs for the eight major currencies · Position size calculator
Education only, not investment advice and not a trading signal. Figures come from public sources (FRED, SEC EDGAR) and can be late, revised or wrong at the source; check them before relying on them. Past data does not predict what a market will do. Risk warning