US Federal Holidays
The US has 11 federal holidays a year; when one falls on a weekend, federal employees get the nearest weekday off instead.
Holidays by year
| Holiday | Date | Day | Observed (day off) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1, 2026 | Thursday | Same day |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 19, 2026 | Monday | Same day |
| Presidents' Day | February 16, 2026 | Monday | Same day |
| Memorial Day | May 25, 2026 | Monday | Same day |
| Juneteenth | June 19, 2026 | Friday | Same day |
| Independence Day | July 4, 2026 | Saturday | Friday, July 3 |
| Labor Day | September 7, 2026 | Monday | Same day |
| Columbus Day | October 12, 2026 | Monday | Same day |
| Veterans Day | November 11, 2026 | Wednesday | Same day |
| Thanksgiving | November 26, 2026 | Thursday | Same day |
| Christmas Day | December 25, 2026 | Friday | Same day |
Worked example: Independence Day 2026
Independence Day falls on Saturday, July 4, 2026. Because that is a weekend day, it is observed on the nearest weekday, Friday, July 3, and that is the day federal offices close.
How this is worked out
- Fixed-date holidays: New Year's Day (January 1), Juneteenth (June 19), Independence Day (July 4), Veterans Day (November 11) and Christmas Day (December 25).
- Monday holidays: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday of January), Presidents' Day (third Monday of February), Memorial Day (last Monday of May), Labor Day (first Monday of September) and Columbus Day (second Monday of October).
- Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November.
- A holiday on a Saturday is observed on the Friday before; one on a Sunday is observed on the Monday after. When January 1 is a Saturday, the holiday is observed on Friday, December 31 of the year before.
- Inauguration Day, a holiday for some federal employees near Washington, DC, is not included.
Holiday calendars by year
Frequently asked questions
- Which days are federal holidays?
- There are 11: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day (officially Washington's Birthday), Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. They are set by federal law.
- Why are some holidays observed on a different day?
- When a holiday falls on a Saturday, federal employees get the Friday before off, and when it falls on a Sunday, they get the Monday after. This keeps the day off on a workday.
- Do private employers have to give federal holidays off?
- Federal holidays apply to federal employees, and private employers set their own holiday and holiday-pay policies. Check your employer's policy or employment agreement to see which days you get off.
- When is the next federal holiday?
- The line at the top of the holiday table shows the next federal holiday based on today's date on your device. You can also pick any year from 2024 to 2030 to see its full list.