# When Is the Next NFP? 2026 Release Dates & Times

> When is the next NFP? US Non-Farm Payrolls release the first Friday of each month at 8:30 AM ET. See 2026 dates, times, and trading tips.

**URL:** https://forexcalendar.app/when-is-the-next-nfp-2026-release-dates-times/

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# When Is the Next NFP? 2026 Release Dates & Times

**Quick answer:** US Non-Farm Payrolls (NFP) is released on the **first Friday of each month at 8:30 AM Eastern Time (ET)**. The next scheduled release is **Friday, June 5, 2026, at 8:30 AM ET** (covering May data).

NFP is the single most-watched economic release in forex. It moves USD pairs, gold, indices, and bonds — often 50 to 150+ pips within the first 30 minutes.

## The 2026 NFP Schedule (Rule + Confirmed Dates)

NFP follows a simple rule: **first Friday of the month, 8:30 AM ET**. But 2026 has had exceptions worth knowing:

- The **January 2026 report was delayed to February 11, 2026** because of the federal government shutdown.
- When the first Friday lands near a holiday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) can shift the date.

Because of shifts like these, always confirm the exact date rather than assuming "first Friday." The Forex Calendar app pulls the confirmed BLS date automatically and counts down to it.

| Data month | Typical release | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | Fri, Jun 5, 2026 | 8:30 AM |
| Jun 2026 | First Fri, July | 8:30 AM |
| Jul 2026 | First Fri, August | 8:30 AM |
| Aug 2026 | First Fri, September | 8:30 AM |

> The remaining months follow the first-Friday rule unless a holiday or revision moves them. Verify each in the app before trading.

## What NFP Actually Measures

NFP counts the change in the number of employed people in the US, excluding farm workers, government, and a few other categories. The release also includes the **unemployment rate** and **average hourly earnings** — often as market-moving as the headline number.

## How to Read the NFP Print

- **Actual > Forecast** → generally USD-positive (strong jobs = hawkish Fed)
- **Actual < Forecast** → generally USD-negative (weak jobs = dovish Fed)
- **Wages (hourly earnings)** → hot wages can move the market even if headline jobs miss

The reaction is about the *surprise* versus forecast, not the raw number.

## How Traders Use NFP

1. **Sit out the spike** — many traders close positions before 8:30 AM ET to avoid the whipsaw.
2. **Trade the breakout** — set a stop ~30 pips away and a target ~80 pips away; the historical move is often larger.
3. **Trade the retest** — wait 15-30 minutes for the initial spike to settle, then trade the cleaner trend.

Whatever your style, the key is knowing *exactly* when the release hits — to the second.


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## Get Real-Time Alerts with the Forex Calendar App

Dates and times shift with holidays and revisions — the **Forex Calendar Counter & Alarm** app always shows the confirmed release with a live countdown and a push alert 1 hour before. Filter by impact, see the heatmap, and review event history.

**📱 iOS:** [Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/id/app/forex-calendar-alarm/id1562677865)
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