Area code 826
Where 826 is, how it is dialed, which carriers hold its numbers and how many of its codes are in use, from NANPA's 10/01/2026 files.
- State
- VA
- In service
- 2022
- Assigned codes
- 125of 800 possible
- Carriers
- 28
Where area code 826 is
NANPA lists 826 as an in-service geographic area code for Virginia, first put into service on June 14, 2022. It is an overlay: 826 and 540 cover the same territory, so neighbors on the same street can have different area codes. It is in the Eastern time zone. The places with the most assigned exchanges include Harrisonburg, Fredericksburg, Roanoke, Pearisburg, and Christiansburg. By population, its largest named places are Roanoke, Harrisonburg, Blacksburg, Fredericksburg, and Winchester.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| State | Virginia |
| In service since | June 14, 2022 |
| Assigned by NANPA | June 17, 2020 |
| Overlay | Yes, with 540 |
| Parent area code (NANPA) | 540 |
| Time zone | Eastern |
| Local calls within the code | ten digits (area code plus number) |
| Assigned central office codes | 125 |
| Rate centers with codes | 70 |
| Carriers holding codes | 28 |
| Pooled codes | 125 |
| Codes assigned since 2020 | 124 |
| Relief planning in progress | No |
Source: NANPA NPA report and utilized central office code file, both dated 10/01/2026.
Where 826 numbers are local
826 holds 2.6% of the 4,898 central office codes assigned in Virginia, the 8th most of the state's 10 codes. 38 Census places could be matched to rate centers with 826 exchanges; the most populous are Roanoke (97,912), Harrisonburg (51,164), Blacksburg (45,452), and Fredericksburg (29,992). For a storefront or service area inside 826, the place pages show which prefixes are rated local there.
| Place | Population (2024) | Area codes | Exchanges | Carriers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roanoke, VA | 97,912 | 540, 826 | 114 | 34 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 51,164 | 540, 826 | 53 | 28 |
| Blacksburg, VA | 45,452 | 540, 826 | 23 | 9 |
| Fredericksburg, VA | 29,992 | 540, 826 | 72 | 16 |
| Winchester, VA | 27,800 | 540, 826 | 41 | 12 |
| Staunton, VA | 26,361 | 540, 826 | 30 | 9 |
| Salem, VA | 25,908 | 540, 826 | 13 | 8 |
| Waynesboro, VA | 23,498 | 540, 826 | 18 | 7 |
| Christiansburg, VA | 22,632 | 540, 826 | 23 | 8 |
| Culpeper, VA | 21,464 | 540, 826 | 35 | 19 |
| Radford, VA | 17,273 | 540, 826 | 19 | 8 |
| Front Royal, VA | 15,628 | 540, 826 | 13 | 6 |
| Warrenton, VA | 10,224 | 540, 826 | 21 | 7 |
| Bedford, VA | 7,823 | 540, 826 | 11 | 6 |
| Strasburg, VA | 7,290 | 540, 826 | 2 | 2 |
Population: Census Vintage 2024 estimates for the matched place. Exchanges and carriers: NANPA utilized code file.
Dialing 826 numbers
According to NANPA's dialing-plan data, local calls within 826 are dialed as ten digits (area code plus number) and toll calls as 1 plus ten digits. Ten-digit local dialing means the area code is part of how customers save and recognize your number, so print it in full everywhere. NANPA's dialing-plan note for this code reads: "1+10 digit permissible at each service provider discretion"
Who holds 826 exchanges
28 carriers hold the 125 central office codes assigned in 826. Onvoy, LLC - Va has the most, with 17 (14%). 125 of the codes (100%) are pooled, meaning the code holder shares blocks of 1,000 numbers with other carriers instead of using all 10,000 itself. Numbers can move between carriers through porting, so a code's holder tells you where the block started, not where every number lives now.
| Carrier (NANPA operating company) | Exchanges | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Onvoy, LLC - Va | 17 | 14% |
| Fractel, LLC | 15 | 12% |
| New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC - DC | 14 | 11% |
| United States Cellular - Va | 9 | 7.2% |
| Omnipoint Communications Cap Operations, LLC | 7 | 5.6% |
| Nuso, LLC | 7 | 5.6% |
| Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless - Va | 6 | 4.8% |
| Onvoy Spectrum, LLC | 6 | 4.8% |
| Shentel Communications, LLC. - Va | 6 | 4.8% |
| Ton80 Communications, LLC | 4 | 3.2% |
| Terra Nova Telecom INC. | 3 | 2.4% |
| Callworks Corporation | 3 | 2.4% |
Carrier names are the operating company (OCN) names on NANPA's utilized central office code file dated 10/01/2026. A carrier holding a code may port numbers to other carriers.
Rate centers and towns in 826
NANPA assigns each central office code to a rate center, the local calling area that decides whether a call is local or toll. 826 has codes in 70 rate centers. The table lists the rate centers with the most codes, with the matching Census place where the abbreviation could be matched.
| Rate center (NANPA) | Place | Codes |
|---|---|---|
| HARRISONBG | Harrisonburg, VA | 10 |
| FREDECKSBG | Fredericksburg, VA | 9 |
| ROANOKE | Roanoke, VA | 9 |
| PEARISBURG | Pearisburg, VA | 9 |
| CHRISTISBG | Christiansburg, VA | 5 |
| STAFFORD | not matched | 5 |
| CHANCELLOR | not matched | 4 |
| WARRENTON | Warrenton, VA | 3 |
| WINCHESTER | Winchester, VA | 3 |
| ORANGE | Orange, VA | 2 |
| NEWPORT | not matched | 2 |
| SALEM | Salem, VA | 2 |
| CULPEPER | Culpeper, VA | 2 |
| UNIONVILLE | not matched | 2 |
| EDINBURG | Edinburg, VA | 2 |
| BLACKSBURG | Blacksburg, VA | 2 |
| STRASBURG | Strasburg, VA | 1 |
| UPPERVILLE | not matched | 1 |
| SPOTSYLVAN | not matched | 1 |
| BROADWAY | Broadway, VA | 1 |
| STANLEY | Stanley, VA | 1 |
| MCGAHEYSVL | not matched | 1 |
| PEMBROKE | Pembroke, VA | 1 |
| GAINESBORO | not matched | 1 |
| BROKENBURG | not matched | 1 |
Top 25 of 70 rate centers.
Number supply in 826
An area code has 800 possible central office codes that start with 2 through 9, a few of which are reserved (such as N11 service codes and 555). 125 are assigned in 826, 16% of 800. 124 were assigned in 2020 or later.
| Decade assigned | Exchanges | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 124 | 100% |
Assignment dates as recorded in NANPA's utilized code file; codes without a recorded date are excluded.
A local 826 number on Callata
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
If you already have a number in area code 826, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
Where is area code 826?
826 is a geographic area code in Virginia. Places with the most assigned exchanges include Harrisonburg, Fredericksburg, Roanoke, and Pearisburg.
What time zone is area code 826 in?
NANPA lists 826 in the Eastern time zone.
When did area code 826 go into service?
NANPA records an in-service date of June 14, 2022. The code was assigned on June 17, 2020.
Is 826 an overlay area code?
Yes. It shares its territory with 540.
Can my business get a 826 phone number?
Callata includes up to 3 local numbers on its $99/month plan (5 users included). Which 826 numbers are open depends on carrier inventory when you choose, and you can port an existing number for free.