- 11 November 2026 - Veterans Day 2026
- 26 November 2026 - Thanksgiving Day 2026
Holidays in November 2026: Federal and State Dates in the US
November 2026 has two federal holidays: Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11, and Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, November 26. Several states add Election Day, Return Day and the day after Thanksgiving.
November 2026 Holidays & Observances
- 11 November 2026 - Veterans Day 2026
- 26 November 2026 - Thanksgiving Day 2026
Federal Holidays in November 2026
The federal holidays in November 2026 are Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Day. Federal law lists 11 federal holidays each year, and the Office of Personnel Management publishes the official schedule. People also call them national holidays. A federal holiday closes federal offices and gives federal employees a paid day off. States, schools and private employers set their own schedules.
A bank holiday in the US is a day when the Federal Reserve is closed. Only Veterans Day and Thanksgiving qualify in November 2026.
Veterans Day: Wednesday, November 11
Veterans Day honors everyone who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, living or deceased. It always falls on November 11, which is a Wednesday in 2026, so it creates no long weekend. The day began as Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I fighting in 1918, and became Veterans Day in 1954. Federal offices, Federal Reserve Banks and post offices close. Many schools, stores and private employers stay open. The Veterans Day 2026 guide covers history, parades and veteran discounts.
Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 26
Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November. In 2026, November 1 is a Sunday, so the Thursdays are November 5, 12, 19 and 26. That makes November 26 Thanksgiving Day. Congress set the fourth-Thursday rule in 1941. Federal offices, post offices and the New York Stock Exchange close, and most schools and large retailers close too. Store hours vary: many large chains close all day, while some convenience stores and pharmacies open with reduced hours. The next day, Friday, November 27, is Black Friday. The Thanksgiving Day 2026 page explains the history, traditions and planning tips.
State Holidays in November 2026
A state holiday applies only inside the state that sets it. Each state decides which offices close.
- Election Day, Tuesday, November 3: the 2026 midterm election. Some states treat it as a state holiday or give workers time to vote. Banks and federal offices stay open.
- Return Day, Thursday, November 5: a Delaware tradition in Georgetown, two days after Election Day, where election rivals ride together in a parade.
- Diwali, Sunday, November 8: the Hindu festival of lights. Several states formally recognize it, but recognition does not always close offices.
- Day After Thanksgiving, Friday, November 27: many states close state offices. Native American Heritage Day, a national observance, falls on the same day.
Check the holiday list above or your state government website for the current rules in your state.
Federal vs. State Holidays: What Is the Difference?
In the US, “public holiday” usually means a federal holiday. Federal law does not require private employers to give paid time off for any holiday, so your employer’s policy decides your day off.
| Federal holiday | State holiday | |
|---|---|---|
| Set by | Congress | State legislature or governor |
| Day off for | Federal employees | State employees in that state |
| Federal Reserve and USPS | Closed | Open |
| Private employers | Free to choose | Free to choose |
Bank Holidays in November 2026: What Closes
Banks follow the Federal Reserve schedule. The Federal Reserve holiday list shows Veterans Day and Thanksgiving as closed days in 2026. Most banks and credit unions close on Thanksgiving. On Veterans Day, branch hours vary, so confirm with your own bank. ATMs and online banking keep working on both days.
| Service | Nov 11 (Veterans Day) | Nov 26 (Thanksgiving) | Nov 27 (Friday) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal offices and courts | Closed | Closed | Open |
| Federal Reserve Banks | Closed | Closed | Open |
| USPS mail delivery | Closed | Closed | Open |
| NYSE and Nasdaq | Open | Closed | Open, early close |
| Banks and credit unions | Varies | Mostly closed | Mostly open |
| Public schools | Varies by district | Closed | Varies |
Is It a Holiday? November 2026 Day by Day
Use this table to check any date. “No” means a regular business day with no federal holiday.
| Date | Federal holiday? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, November 1 | No | All Saints’ Day; clocks go back one hour at 2 a.m. |
| Mon, November 2 | No | All Souls’ Day |
| Tue, November 3 | State only | Election Day; holiday in some states |
| Wed, November 4 | No | Regular business day |
| Thu, November 5 | No | Return Day in Delaware |
| Fri, November 6 and Sat, November 7 | No | Regular Friday and weekend |
| Sun, November 8 | No | Diwali |
| Mon, November 9 and Tue, November 10 | No | Regular business days |
| Wed, November 11 | Yes | Veterans Day |
| Thu, November 12 | No | Offices and post offices reopen |
| Fri, November 13 | No | World Kindness Day |
| Sat, November 14 | No | World Diabetes Day |
| Sun, November 15 | No | America Recycles Day |
| Mon, November 16 to Wed, November 18 | No | Regular business days |
| Thu, November 19 | No | International Men’s Day |
| Fri, November 20 | No | Universal Children’s Day |
| Sat, November 21 and Sun, November 22 | No | Weekend |
| Mon, November 23 to Wed, November 25 | No | Thanksgiving week; heavy travel |
| Thu, November 26 | Yes | Thanksgiving Day |
| Fri, November 27 | State only | Day after Thanksgiving; Black Friday |
| Sat, November 28 | No | Small Business Saturday |
| Sun, November 29 | No | First Sunday of Advent |
| Mon, November 30 | No | Cyber Monday |
Long Weekends and Days Off in November 2026
Federal employees get two paid days off in November 2026: Wednesday, November 11 and Thursday, November 26. Veterans Day falls midweek, so it creates no long weekend. Thanksgiving creates the only one. The break runs from Thursday, November 26 to Sunday, November 29, a four-day weekend for workers who also get Friday off. Many state employees do.
November Holidays Compared with October and December
No federal holiday falls between Columbus Day on Monday, October 12 and Veterans Day on November 11. After Thanksgiving, the next federal holiday is Christmas Day on Friday, December 25. That leaves a gap of 29 days between November 26 and Christmas, so the Thanksgiving break is the main time off in the fall season.
Religious and Cultural Holidays in November 2026
All Saints’ Day falls on Sunday, November 1, and All Souls’ Day on Monday, November 2. Catholic and many other Christian communities observe both. Diwali falls on Sunday, November 8. Advent, the Christian season before Christmas, starts on Sunday, November 29. None of these closes federal offices.
National Days and Awareness Observances in November 2026
A national day is an observance set by a government, a nonprofit or a company. It carries no legal day off. Native American Heritage Month and Movember run all month. Dated observances include World Vegan Day (November 1), World Kindness Day (November 13), America Recycles Day (November 15), Universal Children’s Day (November 20), Small Business Saturday (November 28) and Cyber Monday (November 30). The event list above shows the observances currently loaded for the month.
How to Plan Around the November Holidays
- Finish banking, mail and bill payments by Tuesday, November 10, before Veterans Day.
- Check your bank’s hours for Wednesday, November 11, because branches vary.
- Mail packages and complete paperwork before Thursday, November 26. USPS reopens Friday, November 27.
- Book Thanksgiving travel early. Wednesday, November 25 and Sunday, November 29 are typically the busiest days.
- Buy groceries and fill prescriptions by Tuesday, November 24. Many stores close or cut hours on Thanksgiving.
- Ask your employer about Election Day on November 3 and the day after Thanksgiving.
Frequently Asked Questions about Holidays in November 2026
Q: What holidays are in November 2026?
A: Veterans Day (November 11) and Thanksgiving Day (November 26) are the federal holidays. States also observe Election Day, Return Day, Diwali recognition and the day after Thanksgiving.
Q: How many holidays are in November 2026?
A: Two federal holidays: Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Day. Counting state holidays and observances, the month has several more, and the lists above show them all.
Q: Is November 11 a holiday in the US?
A: Yes — November 11 is Veterans Day, a federal holiday. Federal offices, Federal Reserve Banks and post offices close.
Q: Is November 12 a holiday?
A: No — November 12 is a regular business day in 2026. Offices and post offices reopen after Veterans Day.
Q: Is the day after Thanksgiving a federal holiday?
A: No. Friday, November 27 is not a federal holiday. Many states close state offices that day, but federal offices and the Federal Reserve stay open.
Q: Are banks open on Veterans Day?
A: The Federal Reserve is closed on November 11, and many banks limit services. Hours vary by bank, so check your branch. Online banking and ATMs still work.
Q: Is the stock market open on Veterans Day?
A: Yes. NYSE and Nasdaq trade on Wednesday, November 11. They close for Thanksgiving on November 26 and close early on Friday, November 27.
Q: Are there any long weekends in November 2026?
A: Only Thanksgiving weekend, from Thursday, November 26 to Sunday, November 29. Veterans Day falls on a Wednesday, so it creates no three-day weekend.
Q: What religious holidays fall in November 2026?
A: All Saints’ Day (November 1), All Souls’ Day (November 2), Diwali (November 8) and the start of Advent (November 29). None is a federal holiday.
Q: Is Election Day 2026 a federal holiday?
A: No. Election Day on Tuesday, November 3 is not a federal holiday. Some states treat it as a state holiday or give workers time off to vote.
Q: What national days are in November 2026?
A: Examples include World Vegan Day (November 1), World Kindness Day (November 13) and Small Business Saturday (November 28). None is a legal holiday.
Chokri Hamouda runs Calendarena.com. He makes simple, printable calendar templates. His goal is to help people organize their time better. He updates the site with monthly and yearly calendars for users worldwide. Chokri focuses on making calendars that are easy to read and use. He also researches holidays and date systems to keep everything accurate.