Memorial Day 2027 in Atlanta is Monday, May 31: the free Atlanta Jazz Festival weekend, city pools opening, and trash, MARTA and school changes.

Last checked Oct. 6, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Where 2027 details are not out yet, we give the 2026 facts with the year stated. We never guess a new date.

Memorial Day is Monday, May 31, 2027. In Atlanta the long weekend means the free Atlanta Jazz Festival in Piedmont Park, the first city pools of the summer, and holiday schedules for trash and transit. Atlanta Public Schools lists Memorial Day as a holiday; the last day of school is Thursday, May 27, 2027 (APS calendar).

At a glance

  • Memorial Day: Monday, May 31, 2027
  • Atlanta Jazz Festival: every Memorial Day weekend, Piedmont Park, free
  • City pools: first four opened Memorial Day weekend in 2026
  • Trash: one-day delay on Memorial Day in 2026
  • MARTA: Sunday schedules on Memorial Day in 2026

Atlanta Jazz Festival

The Atlanta Jazz Festival is held each Memorial Day weekend in Piedmont Park and calls itself one of the largest free jazz festivals in the country. It is produced by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, with partner jazz events across the metro area through May. The 2026 festival, its 49th, ran Saturday to Monday, May 23-25, 2026. The 2027 dates and lineup had not been posted on Oct. 6. Source: atljazzfest.com and the Piedmont Park calendar.

Pools open for the summer

The City of Atlanta’s outdoor pools charge no admission. In 2026, four opened for Memorial Day weekend, May 23-25: Grant Park, John A. White Park, South Bend and Maddox Park. All other city pools opened May 30. Pools ran 12:30 to 7 p.m. with two closed days a week, and an adult must accompany children under 12. Source: ATL311: City of Atlanta outdoor swimming pools. The full pool list is in our summer camps and pools guide.

What is open

  • Atlanta Botanical Garden: open Memorial Day 2026 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (2026 listing).
  • MARTA: buses, trains and the Atlanta Streetcar ran Sunday schedules on Memorial Day 2026 (MARTA holiday schedule).
  • Trash and recycling: the city’s 2026 holiday schedule listed a one-day delay for Memorial Day. The 2027 schedule had not been posted (Public Works); call 311 with questions.

Ceremonies

No Memorial Day ceremony in Atlanta had posted 2027 details when we checked. We list each one here, with time and place, from the organizer’s own page as it is announced.

Frequently asked questions

When is Memorial Day 2027? Monday, May 31, 2027. APS’s last day of school is Thursday, May 27.

When is the Atlanta Jazz Festival? Each Memorial Day weekend in Piedmont Park. The 2026 festival ran May 23-25; 2027 dates are not out.

Do Atlanta city pools open on Memorial Day weekend? In 2026, Grant Park, John A. White Park, South Bend and Maddox Park opened May 23-25; the rest opened May 30.

Is trash pickup delayed on Memorial Day in Atlanta? In 2026, yes, by one day. Check the 2027 schedule or call 311.

What this means for you

  • The Jazz Festival is free; watch atljazzfest.com for the 2027 dates and lineup.
  • In 2026, four city pools opened the holiday weekend and the rest the following Saturday.

Related: summer camps and pools, live music and nightlife and free things to do.