Quick answer: The next scheduled Federal Open Market Committee meeting is October 27–28, 2026. The Federal Reserve calendar lists the policy decision for 2:00 p.m. ET and a press conference for 2:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 28. The date and times are official schedule entries; the policy outcome is not known in advance.
For context, the FOMC raised the target range for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 3.75%–4.00% at its September 16 meeting. The decision was unanimous. This page separates that completed decision from the questions investors can follow into the October meeting.
October 2026 FOMC schedule
| Date | Time (ET) | Scheduled event | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, October 27 | — | FOMC meeting begins | Policymakers assess inflation, employment, growth and financial conditions. |
| Wednesday, October 28 | 2:00 p.m. | Policy statement and decision | The Committee announces its target-range decision and policy assessment. |
| Wednesday, October 28 | 2:30 p.m. | Press conference | Questions can add context about the statement and the risks policymakers emphasize. |
| Wednesday, November 18 | 2:00 p.m. | Minutes of the October meeting | The minutes provide a fuller record after the decision. |
What changed at the September meeting
On September 16, the FOMC raised the target range to 3.75%–4.00%. Its statement said economic activity was expanding at a solid pace, job gains had kept pace with the workforce, and inflation remained elevated. Those are the Committee’s assessments, not a forecast of the October decision.
The September Summary of Economic Projections showed median 2026 projections of 2.3% real GDP growth, 4.1% unemployment, 3.7% PCE inflation, 3.4% core PCE inflation, and a 4.1% federal funds rate at year-end. Projections are conditional individual assessments, not a policy promise. For a plain-English explanation, see our Fed dot plot guide.
Three questions to watch before October 28
- Inflation data: New PCE data can change how investors interpret the Committee’s inflation language. See our Core PCE release guide for the schedule and checklist.
- Labor-market evidence: Job openings, hiring and quits are context, not a substitute for the broader employment report. Our JOLTS guide explains the next release.
- Statement versus press conference: The rate decision is only one input. Compare the written statement, the Chair’s remarks and the reaction across short-term Treasury yields, longer-term yields and equities.
How to use this page
Use the official calendar for the scheduled release time, then read the statement and projections before drawing conclusions from an initial market move. A change in stocks or Treasury yields immediately after a decision does not by itself establish a longer-term investment outcome.
Primary sources
- Federal Reserve FOMC meeting calendar
- September 16, 2026 FOMC statement
- September 2026 Summary of Economic Projections
Last reviewed September 20, 2026. This article is educational information, not personalized investment, tax or legal advice.