Memorial Day email calendar.
Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of May and is a respectful remembrance first, a sales weekend second. Send a three email sequence across the weekend, keep the tone measured, and check that no subject line treats the day lightly.
Key dates (US)
- 2026: Monday 25 May
- 2027: Monday 31 May
Last reviewed 12 October 2026. Dates are calculated from the rule for the day, so they stay correct each year.
Why it matters.
The long weekend is the traditional start of summer, so seasonal products and outdoor categories do well. The danger is tone, because the day honours people who died in service, and celebratory language can land badly.
It is also a good test of your sale discipline. Decide the offer and end date in advance so it does not slide into the next week.
Send plan.
1. 14 days before
Choose the offer, the products and the end date, and write copy that keeps the tone respectful.
2. The Thursday before
Send an early access email to VIPs and past buyers.
3. Saturday morning
Send the main email to the engaged list.
4. Monday morning
Send a last day message to clickers who have not bought.
5. Tuesday
End the sale and switch banners and codes off.
Before you send.
- Read every subject line aloud and remove anything that treats the day lightly.
- Set the discount to end on Monday night and test that it does.
- Confirm carrier closures for the long weekend and mention them.
- Cap sends so no subscriber receives more than the planned three.
- Prepare an end of season message for the Tuesday after.
Segments to use.
- VIP customers for early access
- Clickers and cart abandoners from the weekend
- Customers who bought summer products last year
Subject line ideas.
- Summer starts here, with a weekend offer
- A long weekend of savings, ending Monday
- Your cart is waiting, and so is the sun
- Last day to take part
More in the sale and promotion subject line library.
Common mistakes.
- Using casual or party language about the remembrance itself
- Continuing the sale past Monday and teaching customers to wait
- Sending to every subscriber three times in three days
This is a planning structure, not a promise of results. Your offer, stock, list and shipping options decide what is right, so test and adjust.
Want this planned and built for you? See our klaviyo email marketing service or book a free audit.
Find out what your list is actually worth.
We review your flows, list health, authentication records and last ninety days of performance, then send back what we found.
30 minutes, no obligation, and the findings are yours to keep either way.