US Federal Holidays 2026: Dates & Days Off

There are 11 US federal holidays in 2026. Independence Day falls on Saturday, July 4, so most federal employees with Monday–Friday schedules observe it on Friday, July 3. Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, and Christmas is Friday, December 25.

This federal holiday calendar lists official observed dates, explains who receives federal days off in 2026, and highlights long weekends. If you are searching for US public holidays 2026, use this schedule as the federal baseline: state holidays, bank operations, school calendars, and private employers can follow different rules.

Complete 2026 federal holiday calendar

The US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) publishes the following 2026 holiday schedule for federal employees. The table uses observed workday dates rather than counting July 3 and July 4 as separate holidays.

Washington’s Birthday is the official federal name for the February holiday, although many calendars call it Presidents’ Day. Likewise, OPM lists Columbus Day as the federal holiday in October; state and local observances may use different names.

What is the next federal holiday?

As of October 5, 2026, the next federal holiday is Columbus Day on Monday, October 12, 2026. After that, the remaining federal holidays are Veterans Day on November 11, Thanksgiving Day on November 26, and Christmas Day on December 25.

This answer is date-specific. For planning later in the year, check the full table rather than assuming October 12 is still upcoming. Once Christmas has passed, all 11 holidays in this 2026 schedule will be in the past.

For a Monday–Friday worker who receives Columbus Day off, the holiday creates a three-day weekend from Saturday, October 10, through Monday, October 12. Confirm your employer’s schedule before treating the date as a guaranteed day off.

US public holidays and days off

“US national holidays,” “US government holidays,” and “USA public holidays” often describe the same federal dates in calendar searches. However, a federal designation does not mean every workplace in the United States closes or every employee receives paid leave.

Most eligible federal employees receive paid holiday time off when excused from duty. Essential operations can continue, and some employees must work. Alternative schedules, part-time employment, and in-lieu-of holidays require more specific guidance from the employing agency.

For private-sector workers, the Department of Labor’s holiday-pay guidance explains that the Fair Labor Standards Act does not require payment for time not worked on holidays. Employer policies, collective bargaining agreements, applicable laws, and certain government contracts can affect entitlement.

Therefore, “days off in USA 2026” should be treated as a planning question, not a universal promise. Check your employee handbook or HR calendar for paid holidays, office closures, floating holidays, and required coverage. A retail shift and a federal office schedule can differ on the same date.

Why July 3 is observed

Independence Day is July 4 every year. In 2026, July 4 falls on Saturday. For most federal employees working Monday through Friday, OPM’s weekend rule moves the holiday’s pay-and-leave observance to the preceding Friday, July 3.

The actual holiday and the observed day serve different purposes. July 4 remains the calendar date of Independence Day; July 3 is the observed federal day off for the standard work schedule. Together, they represent one federal holiday, not two.

For most employees on that schedule, a holiday falling on Sunday is generally observed the following Monday. Employees with unusual workweeks should check their agency’s in-lieu-of rules instead of automatically applying the standard Friday-or-Monday rule.

Federal holidays by month

January has two federal holidays: New Year’s Day on January 1 and Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 19. February has Washington’s Birthday on February 16. March and April have no scheduled federal holidays.

May has Memorial Day on May 25, and June has Juneteenth on June 19. July has Independence Day, observed on July 3 for most federal employees. August has no scheduled federal holiday.

The government holiday in September 2026 is Labor Day, Monday, September 7. The federal holiday in October 2026 is Columbus Day, Monday, October 12. Each of these months has one holiday on OPM’s annual schedule.

November has two federal holidays: Veterans Day on November 11 and Thanksgiving Day on November 26. December has Christmas Day on December 25. Overall, March, April, and August are the three months without scheduled federal holidays in 2026.

Long weekends and PTO planning

Eight holidays create three-day weekends for Monday–Friday employees who receive the observed dates off: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, and Christmas Day.

New Year’s Day and Thanksgiving fall on Thursdays. They do not automatically create four-day weekends: the following Friday requires PTO or an additional employer-provided closure. Veterans Day falls on Wednesday, so it does not directly extend a weekend.

Planning opportunity	Consecutive time off	PTO required
New Year’s break	January 1–4: 4 days	January 2: 1 day
Memorial Day break	May 23–31: 9 days	May 26–29: 4 days
Independence Day break	June 27–July 5: 9 days	June 29–July 2: 4 days
Thanksgiving break	November 21–29: 9 days	November 23–25 and 27: 4 days
Christmas–New Year break	December 25–January 3: 10 days	December 28–31: 4 days

These examples assume weekends off, the relevant holidays off, and approved PTO. The Christmas example also assumes you receive New Year’s Day on January 1, 2027. If your employer already closes on the Friday after Thanksgiving, that nine-day break requires only three PTO days.

Banks and markets follow different calendars

Federal employee holidays are not a universal banking or trading schedule. The Federal Reserve’s holiday rules state that Reserve Banks and Branches remain open on the preceding Friday when a holiday falls on Saturday. Consequently, their July 3, 2026 schedule differs from OPM’s federal employee observance.

Individual bank branches may have their own opening hours. Payment services also publish operating windows, so check the relevant provider before scheduling payroll, ACH files, or wire transfers. Avoid assuming every service stops whenever federal employees have a day off.

The NYSE holiday calendar is another separate schedule. NYSE markets close on July 3, 2026, but Columbus Day and Veterans Day are not full market holidays. A federal holiday therefore does not automatically mean the stock market is closed.

For payroll planning, ask your provider for submission cutoffs, settlement dates, and holiday exceptions. There is no single submission deadline suitable for every bank and payroll service. Keep financial-service schedules separate from your employee leave calendar.

Using this calendar at work

Before adding these dates to a shared calendar, decide whether the calendar represents federal employee leave, company closures, or public observances. Label July 3 as “Independence Day observed” and July 4 as “Independence Day” so colleagues understand why both dates may appear without increasing the holiday count.

For teams across several states, maintain a separate list of state and local holidays. Add notes for departments that remain open, employees assigned holiday coverage, and any company closure after Thanksgiving. This avoids presenting a federal schedule as a complete operational calendar.

Review appointments and deadlines individually and carefully. An agency closure, a bank branch closure, and a payment processing interruption are different events. Verify the organization’s published schedule before changing travel plans, promising a delivery date, or moving a payment deadline.

Frequently asked questions

How many federal holidays are there in 2026?

There are 11 holidays on OPM’s regular 2026 federal holiday schedule. July 3 is the observed date for Independence Day, not an additional twelfth holiday. State holidays and employer-provided days off are separate from this count.

Are all federal holidays paid days off?

Most eligible federal employees receive paid holiday time off when excused from duty. Private-sector paid holidays depend on employer policies and applicable requirements. Federal holiday status alone does not guarantee paid leave for everyone.

Is Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2026?

Yes. Juneteenth National Independence Day appears on OPM’s schedule for Friday, June 19, 2026. For employees with weekends off who receive this holiday, June 19–21 forms a three-day weekend without additional PTO.

Is there an Inauguration Day holiday in 2026?

No. Inauguration Day does not appear on OPM’s 2026 holiday schedule. Its special federal holiday provisions apply to qualifying employees in the Washington, DC, area in inauguration years, rather than creating an annual nationwide holiday.

Where should I verify official holiday dates?

Use OPM for federal employee holiday dates and pay-and-leave rules. Consult your state government for state holidays, your employer for workplace closures, and the relevant bank or exchange for financial operations. This keeps each calendar matched to its intended purpose.