Every Fed meeting date, announcement time, and meeting type—so you never get caught off-guard by a rate decision again.
Sign Up FreeTraders forget about the FOMC schedule and enter positions right before a rate decision, leading to massive drawdowns.
Without a clear calendar, traders fail to adjust position sizes or exit before the 2:00 PM announcement window.
FOMC-day swings of 50-80+ points in /ES can wipe out a week of gains in minutes if you’re on the wrong side.
TopStep Calendar puts every FOMC date directly on your trading calendar with advance alerts, so you can prepare instead of panic.
Get notified the morning of every FOMC decision day so you can plan your session accordingly.
See which meetings include dot plots and press conferences (higher impact) vs. statement-only releases.
View FOMC events alongside your P&L, drawdown limits, and trading rules in one dashboard.
All eight scheduled FOMC meetings for 2026. The announcement is released at 2:00 PM ET on the second day of each meeting.
| Date | Time (ET) | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 27-28 | 2:00 PM | Rate Decision + Statement |
| Mar 17-18 | 2:00 PM | Rate Decision + Dot Plot + Press Conference |
| Apr 28-29 | 2:00 PM | Rate Decision + Statement |
| Jun 16-17 | 2:00 PM | Rate Decision + Dot Plot + Press Conference |
| Jul 28-29 | 2:00 PM | Rate Decision + Statement |
| Sep 15-16 | 2:00 PM | Rate Decision + Dot Plot + Press Conference |
| Oct 27-28 | 2:00 PM | Rate Decision + Statement |
| Dec 8-9 | 2:00 PM | Rate Decision + Dot Plot + Press Conference |
Minutes are published three weeks after each meeting. These dates are approximate and may shift by a day.
| Meeting | Approx. Minutes Release |
|---|---|
| Jan 27-28 | Feb 18 |
| Mar 17-18 | Apr 8 |
| Apr 28-29 | May 20 |
| Jun 16-17 | Jul 8 |
| Jul 28-29 | Aug 19 |
| Sep 15-16 | Oct 7 |
| Oct 27-28 | Nov 18 |
| Dec 8-9 | Dec 30 |
These are typical intraday ranges on FOMC announcement days. Actual ranges vary based on surprise factor.
| Instrument | Typical FOMC-Day Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| /ES (S&P 500) | 40–80+ pts | Most liquid; primary vehicle for rate decision trades |
| /NQ (Nasdaq 100) | 150–300+ pts | Higher beta; amplified reaction to rate changes |
| /YM (Dow) | 300–600+ pts | Moves with /ES but wider point swings |
| /ZB (30-Yr Bonds) | 1–3+ pts | Direct rate sensitivity; often moves first |
| /GC (Gold) | $15–$40+ | Reacts to dollar and real-rate expectations |
Get every Fed meeting, minutes release, and market-moving event on one calendar—free.
Sign Up FreeThe first FOMC meeting of 2026 is January 27-28. The Fed holds eight scheduled meetings per year, roughly every six weeks. Check the full table above for every 2026 date.
FOMC rate decisions cause some of the largest intraday moves in equity index futures like /ES and /NQ. The announcement at 2:00 PM ET often triggers 30-80+ point swings in /ES within minutes, and volatility stays elevated through the press conference.
Most experienced prop firm traders either flatten positions before the 2:00 PM ET announcement or significantly reduce size. The risk of hitting daily loss limits during the extreme volatility is high, and many firms explicitly discourage trading during high-impact news events.
The FOMC releases its rate decision and policy statement at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. When a press conference is scheduled, it begins at 2:30 PM ET, roughly 30 minutes after the initial statement.