Published November 12, 2026 · By
The Fed meeting schedule for 2027 will include eight gatherings of policymakers but only seven interest rate decisions, the Federal Reserve announced Thursday, November 12, 2026. Under the revised calendar, the October 26-27, 2027, meeting will be set aside for a discussion of broad monetary policy strategy, with no policy decision announced. The change comes as the central bank weighs further rate increases to bring down inflation.
The new Fed meeting schedule matters beyond Wall Street. The dates on the Fed calendar set the rhythm for decisions that ripple into credit card rates, auto loans, mortgages and savings yields. Below is what changed, what Fed officials have said and what it could mean for your money.
Fed Meeting Schedule 2027: What the Federal Reserve Announced
In a release published at 12:45 p.m. Eastern time, the Fed said its Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the group that sets short-term interest rates, will meet on these dates in 2027:
- January 26-27
- March 16-17
- April 27-28
- June 8-9
- July 27-28
- September 14-15
- October 26-27 (strategy meeting, no policy decision)
- November 16-17
The release also lists January 25-26, 2028, as the next meeting after that. According to the official Federal Reserve press release, the committee will announce its policy decision as usual on the second day of each meeting, except for the October session, which will be dedicated to strategy issues.
The Fed described the 2027 Fed meeting schedule as a "revised tentative schedule." The release did not say what changed from earlier planning, and it included no statement from a Fed official.
Seven rate decisions instead of eight
For many years, the FOMC has held eight scheduled meetings a year, each ending with a rate decision. The new Fed meeting schedule keeps eight meetings on the calendar but turns one of them into a strategy session. Yahoo Finance reported that there will be neither a vote on interest rates nor a policy statement at the October meeting.
Our analysis of the published dates also shows that the 2027 calendar has no December meeting. The final scheduled decision of 2027 falls on November 17, and the next listed meeting is in late January 2028. That would leave roughly ten weeks between scheduled decisions at the end of the year.
Why Warsh Is Changing the Fed Meeting Schedule
The new Fed meeting schedule is part of a broader effort by Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, who was sworn in on May 22, 2026, to reshape how the central bank operates and communicates. According to Investing.com, Warsh first disclosed the plan at his October 2026 news conference and described the timing of meetings as an institutional choice that affects how policymakers deliberate.
Yahoo Finance reported that a key reason is data timing. The Fed has increasingly received important inflation figures only after it votes. For example, the September personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price report, the Fed's preferred inflation gauge, was released on October 29, 2026, the day after the October meeting ended. PCE data also arrived within days after the April and July meetings.
Warsh has said that getting policy right requires assessing developments at "timely, regular, and information-rich intervals," according to Yahoo Finance.
A step toward six policy meetings
The 2027 Fed meeting schedule is described as a first step. Yahoo Finance reported that Warsh expects 2028 to include two strategy meetings and six policy meetings. Investing.com reported that he has framed the change as a way to reduce the central bank's day-to-day presence in markets.
Other communication changes are already in place. Investing.com reported that post-meeting statements have become shorter under Warsh and that press conference question time has been cut to about 30 minutes from about 45.
Views on the calendar
Some economists have questioned the traditional calendar. Matt Luzzetti, chief U.S. economist at Deutsche Bank, said in an earlier interview cited by Yahoo Finance that the current schedule has clear drawbacks. Yahoo Finance also reported that other Fed officials support moving toward six policy meetings because it allows fuller data at each one.
No public reaction from members of Congress or the White House to the new Fed meeting schedule had been reported in the sources reviewed by Meridian Pioneer as of Thursday afternoon.
Fed Meeting Schedule Arrives as Rate Hike Debate Heats Up
The calendar news landed on a busy day for Fed watchers. The federal funds rate currently sits in a target range of 3.75% to 4.00%, after a quarter-point increase at the September meeting, Reuters reported. The Fed held rates steady in July and October.
Speaking at Ohio State University on Thursday, Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack said the central bank needs a restrictive stance to bring inflation back to its 2% goal. According to Reuters, she favors steady, smaller and more frequent increases, which she said would be less disruptive to the economy, and she said the Fed is not yet behind the curve. Hammack dissented at both the July and October meetings.
San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly also said Thursday that more rate increases are likely needed to cool inflation, Bloomberg reported. Reuters said the Fed is widely expected to raise rates by a quarter point at its December 8-9 meeting, while Governor Christopher Waller has appeared to favor a half-point move. For background on the inflation data behind those expectations, see our report on Fed rate hike odds after October's inflation data.
The December 2026 meeting stays on the calendar
The revised Fed meeting schedule does not affect the remaining 2026 meeting. Yahoo Finance noted that the December 2026 meeting will take place the day before the November Consumer Price Index report is released, an example of the timing problem the Fed says it wants to address.
What the New Fed Meeting Schedule Means for You
The following section is our analysis, based on the sources above. A meeting calendar does not by itself raise or lower interest rates. Still, the Fed meeting schedule shapes when changes can happen and how quickly borrowers and savers feel them.
Credit cards and other variable-rate debt
Credit card rates, home equity lines of credit and many private student loans typically track the prime rate, which moves with the federal funds rate. With fewer scheduled decision points, any change could come in somewhat larger or less frequent steps. If you carry a balance, paying down high-rate debt now reduces exposure to future increases.
Mortgages and big purchases
Mortgage rates follow longer-term Treasury yields more than the Fed's short-term rate, but those yields react to Fed signals. A strategy meeting in October 2027 could still move markets if officials discuss changes to how they set policy. Homebuyers may want to watch both Fed dates and inflation releases. Our recent coverage of mortgage rates after the October CPI report explains how those links work.
Savings accounts and CDs
Savers have benefited from higher rates. If the Fed raises rates again in December, yields on high-yield savings accounts and new certificates of deposit could rise. Some savers lock in CD rates ahead of scheduled meetings, so knowing the new Fed meeting schedule can help with timing.
Planning tips
- Mark the 2027 decision dates on your calendar, especially January 27, March 17 and April 28
- Remember that October 27, 2027, will not bring a rate announcement
- Expect no Fed rate decision in December 2027
- Keep in mind that the Fed can still hold unscheduled meetings if conditions require it
This article is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Consider speaking with a qualified financial professional before making decisions about loans, savings or investments.
What Comes Next
The FOMC's next scheduled meeting is December 8-9, 2026, when markets expect another rate increase. The first meeting under the new Fed meeting schedule begins January 26. The Fed has not yet said what topics the October 2027 strategy session will cover.
Sources: Federal Reserve press release (federalreserve.gov, November 12, 2026); Yahoo Finance; Investing.com; Reuters via Kitco; Bloomberg.
