January 22, 2026 

2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Pre-Release Webinar

The U.S. Census Bureau will host a pre-release webinar in advance of the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-year data release. The webinar will provide information on updates and how to find and access online resources related to this release.

Date & Time: Thursday, January 22 from 1:00-2:00 PM ET

Presenters: Gretchen Gooding, American Community Survey Office

Jewel Jordan, Public Information Office

Vicki Mack, American Community Survey Office

We are pleased to announce the release of documentation in support of the 2020-2024 ACS 5-year estimates scheduled for release on Thursday, January 29, 2026. This documentation offers ACS data users the opportunity to prepare for next week's data release.

New and updated information related to this release is available now on the 2024 Data Release page.

Highlights include links to the following:

• The Table & Geography Changes page provides details about new and modified tables as well as various changes to Census geographies.
• Check out the Press Kit to learn more about the 2020-2024 ACS 5-year release.

The 2020-2024 ACS 5-year estimates will be released in the U.S. Census Bureau's data dissemination platform, data.census.gov. The platform serves as the primary way for accessing data and digital content from the Census Bureau. The data will also be available through the Census Bureau's Application Programming Interface (API) and the ACS Summary File.

The 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates and Variance Replicate Estimates Scheduled for Release on January 29

The 2024 American Community Survey (ACS) data releases are currently underway. The next data release is on January 29 and will include the 2020-2024 ACS 5-year estimates and 5-year Variance Replicate Estimates. This will be the first time we have four non-overlapping 5-year datasets! The 5-year estimates will be available to embargo subscribers on January 27.  The U.S. Census Bureau will also hold a pre-release webinar on January 22.  Check out the full 2024 ACS data release schedule for more information.

2026 ACS and PRCS Questionnaires Now Available

The 2026 ACS and PRCS sample questionnaires are now available. There are no updates from the 2025 to the 2026 questionnaires. Learn more about how a question becomes part of the ACS.

Invitation for Public Feedback for a Federal Register Notice

The Census Bureau is inviting public feedback through a Federal Register notice (FRN) on proposed plans for the 2027 American Community Survey (ACS) and Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS). The Census Bureau is proposing to introduce an internet self-response option to the PRCS data collection operation and to include the updated race and ethnicity question in the ACS and the PRCS, which follows the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) 2024 Statistical Policy Directive No. 15. Currently, race and ethnicity data are collected and tabulated following OMB’s 1997 SPD 15 on Federal race and ethnicity data standards. The public may submit comments through February 17, 2026. See the “Addresses” section of the FRN for instructions on how to submit comments.