when is the state of the union

The next major State of the Union–style event is expected in early 2026, most likely in late January or February, but no official date has been announced yet as of January 1, 2026.

What “State of the Union” Means

• The U.S. Constitution requires the president to periodically give Congress information on the state of the union, which evolved into the modern annual address.

• In practice, this is a prime-time speech to a joint session of Congress, usually once per year.

Usual Timing Each Year

• In modern times, State of the Union addresses typically happen between early January and early February.

• Exact dates are set by the House Speaker’s invitation and announced closer to the event each year.

What Happened In 2025

• In 2025, President Donald Trump gave a major address to a joint session of Congress on March 4, 2025, during his second term.

• That 2025 speech was widely treated as a State of the Union–type address, even though some official classifications described it as an “address to a joint session” rather than a formal State of the Union.

What To Watch For In 2026

• For 2026, the State of the Union date will become clear once the House Speaker issues a formal invitation and the White House confirms it publicly.

• News outlets and the official White House and Congressional calendars are the best places to check for the latest date and time once they are set.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.