The next Federal Reserve meeting is September 15–16, 2026. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) will announce its interest-rate decision on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET, followed by Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's press conference at 2:30 PM ET. The current federal funds target rate is 3.50%–3.75%, held at that level since December 2025.
2026 FOMC meeting schedule
The FOMC holds eight scheduled meetings a year, roughly once every six weeks. Each runs over two days, and the rate decision is published at 2:00 PM ET on the second day.
| Meeting dates | Rate decision | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| January 27–28 | Jan 28 | |
| March 17–18 | Mar 18 | Projections + dot plot |
| April 28–29 | Apr 29 | |
| June 16–17 | Jun 17 | Projections + dot plot |
| July 28–29 | Jul 29 | |
| September 15–16 | Sep 16 | Projections + dot plot |
| October 27–28 | Oct 28 | |
| December 8–9 | Dec 9 | Projections + dot plot |
Dates sourced from the Federal Reserve Board's official FOMC calendar. Meetings marked "Projections + dot plot" include the Summary of Economic Projections.
What happens at an FOMC meeting
Over two days, the committee reviews the latest data on inflation, jobs, and growth, then votes on the target range for the federal funds rate — the benchmark that ripples out into almost every other interest rate in the economy. At 2:00 PM ET on the second day the Fed releases its policy statement announcing whether rates are raised, lowered, or held steady. Thirty minutes later the Fed Chair takes questions from reporters, and roughly three weeks after that the full meeting minutes are published.
Four times a year — at the March, June, September, and December meetings — the Fed also releases its Summary of Economic Projections, including the "dot plot" that shows where each policymaker expects rates to head.
What the Fed's decision means for your money
When the Fed raises rates, borrowing gets more expensive: mortgage rates, credit-card APRs, and personal-loan costs tend to climb, while savings accounts and CDs pay more. When it cuts, the reverse happens — cheaper loans, but lower returns on cash. When it holds, existing rates stay roughly where they are, and attention shifts to the Chair's tone for hints about the next move. Even before a decision lands, markets move on expectations, which is why the days around each meeting can be volatile.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next Fed meeting?
The next FOMC meeting is September 15–16, 2026, with the interest-rate decision announced on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET.
What time is the Fed rate decision announced?
The policy statement and rate decision are released at 2:00 PM Eastern Time on the second day of the meeting. The Fed Chair's press conference follows at 2:30 PM ET.
What is the current federal funds rate?
The target range is 3.50%–3.75%, where it has been held since December 2025.
How often does the Fed meet?
The FOMC holds eight regularly scheduled meetings per year, about once every six weeks. It can also call unscheduled emergency meetings, though that is rare.
Will the Fed cut rates at the next meeting?
That depends entirely on incoming inflation and employment data, and we don't forecast the outcome. For live market-implied odds, check the CME FedWatch Tool, and always verify the result against federalreserve.gov once the decision is released.
Source: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (federalreserve.gov). Meeting dates verified against the official FOMC calendar. This page tracks scheduled dates only and does not predict rate decisions.