FOMC meeting schedule 2026: dates, decisions and mortgage rates
The Fed's eight 2026 FOMC meetings, what each decided, and where 30-year mortgage rates stood that week. Next meeting: Oct. 27-28, 2026.
The short answer
The Federal Reserve's FOMC meets eight times in 2026: Jan. 27-28, Mar. 17-18, Apr. 28-29, Jun. 16-17, Jul. 28-29, Sep. 15-16, Oct. 27-28 and Dec. 8-9. It held the federal funds target at 3.50% to 3.75% through July, then raised it a quarter point to 3.75% to 4.00% on Sept. 16, 2026. Mortgage rates are not set at these meetings, but they often move around them.
Key numbers
- Meetings in 2026
- 8 (four with economic projections)
- Current target range
- 3.75% to 4.00% (since Sept. 16, 2026)
- Next meeting
- Oct. 27-28, 2026
- Statement time
- 2:00 p.m. ET on the final day
2026 FOMC meeting dates and decisions
The table lists every 2026 meeting from the Federal Reserve's calendar, the decision announced on the second day, and Freddie Mac's average 30-year fixed rate for the first survey week after the decision.
| Meeting | Economic projections | Decision | 30-year rate after (Freddie Mac) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 27-28 | No | Held at 3.50%-3.75% | 6.10% (week of Jan 29) |
| Mar 17-18 | Yes | Held at 3.50%-3.75% | 6.22% (week of Mar 19) |
| Apr 28-29 | No | Held at 3.50%-3.75% | 6.30% (week of Apr 30) |
| Jun 16-17 | Yes | Held at 3.50%-3.75% | 6.47% (week of Jun 18) |
| Jul 28-29 | No | Held at 3.50%-3.75% | 6.66% (week of Jul 30) |
| Sep 15-16 | Yes | Raised 0.25 to 3.75%-4.00% | 6.95% (week of Sep 17) |
| Oct 27-28 | No | Upcoming | |
| Dec 8-9 | Yes | Upcoming |
Meetings marked "Yes" come with a Summary of Economic Projections, the "dot plot" of officials' rate forecasts. Those meetings tend to move markets more because they reset expectations for the year.
Does the Fed decide mortgage rates?
No. The FOMC sets a target range for the federal funds rate, which banks charge each other overnight. A 30-year fixed mortgage is priced off longer-term yields, mainly the 10-year Treasury, plus a spread that reflects investor demand for mortgage bonds. In 2026 the 30-year average climbed from about 6.0% in late February to 7.40% in early October, mostly before and after the September hike, as bond yields rose. Why mortgage rates follow the 10-year Treasury.
Where the Fed's rate does hit directly is variable-rate debt. Most HELOCs are priced off the prime rate, which banks set at 3 percentage points above the top of the federal funds range. The bank prime loan rate was 7.00% on Oct. 20, 2026 (Federal Reserve H.15).
What to do around a Fed meeting if you're buying or refinancing
- Don't wait for the meeting to lock. Markets usually price in the expected decision weeks ahead, so the announcement itself often moves rates less than inflation and jobs reports do.
- Watch the statement and the press conference at 2:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. ET on the final day. A surprise in tone can move the 10-year yield, and mortgage rates with it, within hours.
- Use a float-down or a longer lock if your closing is weeks away. How rate locks work.
2027 FOMC meeting dates
The Fed has published tentative 2027 dates: Jan. 26-27, Mar. 16-17, Apr. 27-28, Jun. 8-9, Jul. 27-28, Sep. 14-15, Oct. 26-27 and Dec. 7-8. Each date is confirmed at the meeting before it.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next Fed meeting in 2026?
Oct. 27-28, 2026, with the decision released at 2:00 p.m. ET on Oct. 28. The last meeting of the year is Dec. 8-9.
How many times does the Fed meet in 2026?
Eight times: January, March, April, June, July, September, October and December.
What did the Fed do in September 2026?
On Sept. 16, 2026 it raised the federal funds target range by a quarter point to 3.75% to 4.00%, after holding at 3.50% to 3.75% at its first five meetings of the year.
Do mortgage rates change on Fed meeting days?
They can, but the Fed doesn't set them. Fixed mortgage rates follow the 10-year Treasury yield, which reacts to the Fed's statement and outlook as well as to inflation and jobs data.
What time is the Fed announcement?
The FOMC statement is released at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time on the second day of each meeting, followed by the Chair's press conference at 2:30 p.m.
What are the 2027 FOMC meeting dates?
Tentatively Jan. 26-27, Mar. 16-17, Apr. 27-28, Jun. 8-9, Jul. 27-28, Sep. 14-15, Oct. 26-27 and Dec. 7-8, 2027.
Sources
- Federal Reserve: FOMC meeting calendars, statements and minutes
- Federal Reserve press release, Jan. 28, 2026 (FOMC statement)
- Federal Reserve press release, July 29, 2026 (FOMC statement)
- Federal Reserve press release, Sept. 16, 2026 (FOMC statement)
- Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (weekly averages)
- Federal Reserve H.15: selected interest rates (bank prime loan)