FOMC Meeting Dates 2026
Complete schedule of all 8 Federal Reserve FOMC meetings in 2026. Track interest rate decisions, policy signals, and real-time market reactions for QQQ & SPY.
2026 FOMC Schedule — All 8 Meetings
| # | Date | Time (ET) | Rate | Change | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wed, Apr 29, 2026 | 18:00 | 3.75% | Hold | Past | Details → |
| 2 | Wed, Jun 17, 2026 | 18:00 | — | — | Upcoming | Details → |
Yellow = consensus estimate. Rate shown as Federal Funds target rate (upper bound).
What is the FOMC?
The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is the monetary policy-making body of the U.S. Federal Reserve. It consists of 12 members — the 7 members of the Board of Governors and 5 of the 12 Federal Reserve Bank presidents. The FOMC meets 8 times per year to set the federal funds rate target, which directly influences borrowing costs, inflation, and economic growth across the entire U.S. economy.
Why FOMC matters for investors
The federal funds rate is the most powerful lever in U.S. monetary policy. Rate changes ripple through mortgage rates, corporate borrowing costs, bond yields, and equity valuations — especially growth and tech stocks in the NASDAQ-100 (QQQ). On FOMC decision days, QQQ and SPY typically react within minutes of the 2:00 PM ET announcement and see continued volatility during the Chair's 2:30 PM press conference.
What to watch on FOMC day
- ›2:00 PM ET — Rate decision + policy statement released simultaneously
- ›2:30 PM ET — Fed Chair press conference (most market-moving part)
- ›Dot plot (SEP) — released at March, June, September, December meetings
- ›Language shifts: "patient", "data-dependent", "restrictive" signal future path
- ›CME FedWatch — real-time futures-implied rate probabilities for next meetings
Frequently Asked Questions
How many FOMC meetings are there in 2026?
The Federal Reserve holds 8 scheduled FOMC meetings per year. In 2026, meetings span January, March, May, June, July, September, October, and December.
What time does the FOMC rate decision get announced?
The FOMC interest rate decision is announced at 2:00 PM ET on the second day of each two-day meeting. The Fed Chair press conference follows at 2:30 PM ET.
How does the FOMC decision affect stock prices?
FOMC rate decisions directly impact equity markets. A rate cut is typically bullish for QQQ and SPY, while a rate hike pressures valuations — especially growth/tech stocks. The press conference tone often moves markets more than the decision itself.
What is the current Federal Funds rate in 2026?
The current Federal Funds target rate is displayed on the US Market Calendar homepage, updated in real-time after each FOMC meeting.
What is the dot plot and when is it released?
The Summary of Economic Projections (SEP), including the dot plot showing each Fed member's rate forecast, is released 4 times per year — at the March, June, September, and December FOMC meetings.