The next FOMC meeting runs October 27–28, 2026, and the Federal Reserve will release its interest rate decision at 2 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, October 28. A press conference follows at 2:30 p.m. ET. After that, the Committee meets once more in 2026, on December 8–9, a meeting that includes updated economic projections.
Key Takeaways
- The October 2026 FOMC meeting runs Tuesday and Wednesday, October 27–28, with the policy statement released at 2 p.m. ET on October 28 (11 a.m. Pacific).
- The Chair of the Board of Governors holds a news conference at 2:30 p.m. ET the same day.
- The October meeting does not include a Summary of Economic Projections; the December 8–9 meeting does.
- Minutes of the October meeting are due three weeks after the decision, which points to around November 18, 2026.
- The FOMC has 12 voting members, but all 12 Reserve Bank presidents take part in the discussion.
- The tentative 2027 schedule begins January 26–27 and ends December 7–8, with eight meetings in total.
What Time the Fed Announces Its Interest Rate Decision on October 28
For anyone asking what time the Fed meeting is today on decision day, the answer follows a fixed routine. The FOMC releases its policy statement at 2 p.m. Eastern Time on the second day of each regularly scheduled meeting, which for this meeting is Wednesday, October 28. That is 11 a.m. on the West Coast.
Thirty minutes later, at 2:30 p.m. ET, the Chair of the Board of Governors holds a news conference to explain the decision and take questions. The first day of the meeting, Tuesday, October 27, produces no public announcement. All deliberation happens behind closed doors until the statement is released.
What the October Meeting Will and Will Not Include
The October meeting is one of the four each year that do not come with a Summary of Economic Projections, the set of participants’ forecasts often nicknamed the “dot plot.” The policy statement and the press conference are the two main releases. The fuller record of the discussion arrives later, in the minutes, which the Fed publishes three weeks after each policy decision. For the October meeting, that points to around November 18, 2026.
How the FOMC Reaches an Interest Rate Decision
The Federal Open Market Committee is the body of the Federal Reserve that sets national monetary policy. Its decisions on open market operations affect the federal funds rate, the rate at which banks and other depository institutions lend to each other, and that rate in turn influences borrowing costs across the economy.
The Committee has 12 voting members: the seven members of the Board of Governors, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and four of the remaining 11 Reserve Bank presidents, who rotate through one-year voting terms. Every one of the 12 Reserve Bank presidents attends the meetings and joins the discussion, but only the current voting members cast votes on the decision. By tradition, the Committee chooses the Chair of the Board of Governors as its chair and the New York Fed president as its vice chair.
Why Fed Officials Go Quiet Before a Meeting
The run-up to each meeting includes a blackout period. Federal Reserve staff generally do not speak publicly from a week before the Saturday preceding a meeting through the Thursday after it. For the October meeting, that quiet period runs through Thursday, October 29.
When Is the Next Fed Meeting After October
The final FOMC meeting of 2026 is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, December 8–9. Unlike October’s meeting, it includes a Summary of Economic Projections, which makes it one of the more closely watched meetings of the year. The decision will again be released at 2 p.m. ET on the second day.
The FOMC Meeting Schedule for 2027
The Committee has already set a tentative calendar for 2027, with eight regularly scheduled meetings:
- January 26–27
- March 16–17, with economic projections
- April 27–28
- June 8–9, with economic projections
- July 27–28
- September 14–15, with economic projections
- October 26–27
- December 7–8, with economic projections
Each date stays tentative until it is confirmed at the meeting immediately before it, though the published schedule rarely changes. Membership of the Committee also turns over at the first meeting of each year, when a new group of Reserve Bank presidents rotates into the voting seats.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Readers should consult a qualified financial professional before making financial decisions.
FAQs
When is the next FOMC meeting?
The next FOMC meeting is October 27–28, 2026. The one after it is December 8–9, 2026, the final scheduled meeting of the year.
What time is the Fed meeting today?
On a decision day, the Fed releases its policy statement at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, or 11 a.m. Pacific. The Chair’s press conference follows at 2:30 p.m. ET.
When is the Fed’s interest rate decision today?
The interest rate decision is announced on the second day of each two-day meeting at 2 p.m. ET. For the October meeting, that is Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
Does the October FOMC meeting include a dot plot?
No. The Summary of Economic Projections, often called the dot plot, is released at four meetings a year. In 2026, the next one comes with the December 8–9 meeting.
When are the FOMC minutes released?
The minutes of each regularly scheduled meeting are released three weeks after the policy decision. For the October 28 decision, that points to around November 18, 2026.
