--- title: "Area code 826: Virginia, United States" url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/826.md" canonical_url: "https://lookvalid.com/area-code/826" last_updated: "2026-10-23" type: "reference" summary: "Area code 826 serves Virginia, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Virginia." --- # Area code 826: Virginia, United States Area code 826 serves Virginia, United States. Number formats, numbering rules, a live phone validator and the other codes in Virginia. NANPA lists 119 central office codes (prefixes) in use in area code 826, held by 28 holders across 68 rate centers. Fractel holds the most prefixes, 15 (13%). 100% of the prefixes are pooled, which means their thousands-blocks can belong to different companies. The FCC unwanted-call data has 76 complaints on file for 74 numbers in 826, most often filed as "Unwanted Calls". These are consumer reports, not findings. ## Facts - In service since: 2022-06-14 - Time zone: Eastern (E) - Assigned overlays: 540 (1995-07-15) - Prefixes in use: 119 - Pooled prefixes: 119 (100%) - Rate centers: 68 - Companies holding prefixes: 28 - Assignment dates on file: 2022-04-15 to 2026-06-16 (118 prefixes) - ZIP codes in its places: 110 ## Rate centers | Rate center | Prefixes | Share | | --- | --- | --- | | HARRISONBG | 10 | 8% | | FREDECKSBG | 9 | 8% | | PEARISBURG | 9 | 8% | | ROANOKE | 9 | 8% | | CHRISTISBG | 5 | 4% | | STAFFORD | 4 | 3% | | CHANCELLOR | 3 | 3% | | WINCHESTER | 3 | 3% | | 60 other rate centers | 67 | 56% | ## Carriers | Holder | Prefixes | Share | | --- | --- | --- | | Fractel | 15 | 13% | | Onvoy | 15 | 13% | | New Cingular Wireless PCS | 11 | 9% | | United States Cellular | 9 | 8% | | Nuso | 7 | 6% | | Omnipoint Communications Cap Operations | 7 | 6% | | 22 other carriers | 55 | 46% | A prefix holder is the company a code was assigned to, not necessarily a number's current carrier, because numbers can be ported to another company. ## History - 1995-07-15: Area code 540, named as the parent of 826 in the NANPA report, was in service. - 2022-06-14: Area code 826 went into service. ## Nearest area codes The area codes closest to 826, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 434 (about 58 miles), 681 (about 96 miles), 304 (about 97 miles), 686 (about 105 miles) and 804 (about 109 miles). ## ZIP codes 110 ZIP codes fall in places that have a rate center in this area code. The places with the most are Roanoke, VA (41 ZIP codes), Blacksburg, VA (4 ZIP codes) and Winchester, VA (4 ZIP codes). A ZIP code and an area code are unrelated systems, so a ZIP code can sit in more than one area code and an area code spans many ZIP codes. ## Complaints on file 76 complaints for 74 numbers. Numbers whose latest complaint falls in each year: - 2023: 7 - 2024: 9 - 2025: 20 ## Questions ### Where is area code 826? NANPA assigns area code 826 to Virginia, United States. ### In which state does area code 826 sit? Virginia. 826 is one of 10 area codes the NANPA table assigns to the state. ### Which places does area code 826 cover? The places with the most ZIP codes among the rate centers in 826 are Roanoke, VA, Blacksburg, VA and Winchester, VA. The rate center list on this page shows all of them. ### Who owns area code 826? NANPA assigns area codes. Within 826, Fractel holds the most prefixes, 15 prefixes or 13%. ### Which time zone does 826 use? The NANPA NPA report lists the time zone for 826 as Eastern (E). ### What year did 826 enter service? The NANPA NPA report gives an in-service date of 2022-06-14, so 826 has been in use since 2022. ### Does area code 826 have an overlay? Yes. 540 (in service 1995-07-15) shares the same area with 826, so numbers from all of them are local to each other. ### Which area codes are nearest to 826? The area codes closest to 826, measured between the centers of the ZIP code places they serve, are 434 (about 58 miles), 681 (about 96 miles), 304 (about 97 miles), 686 (about 105 miles) and 804 (about 109 miles). ### How many prefixes does area code 826 have? NANPA's report dated 2026-10-17 lists 119 prefixes in service in 826, spread over 68 rate centers and 28 holders. ### Are there complaints about 826 numbers? The FCC data on file has 76 complaints for 74 numbers in 826. They are unverified consumer reports. A number with no complaints on file is not proven safe. Sources: NANPA central office code report dated 2026-10-17; NANPA NPA report dated 2026-10-18; FCC unwanted-call complaints, data fetched 2026-10-17; ZIP code places from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0).