US Federal Holidays 2026
Complete list of US federal holidays for 2026. Federal holidays are days when government offices, banks, and the postal service are closed. These dates are used by our business days calculator to exclude non-working days. This guide also covers holiday observation rules, a multi-year comparison, state holidays, and how federal holidays affect shipping and mail delivery.
- Total federal holidays: 11
- Holidays observed on weekdays: 10
- Business days in 2026: 251
- 3-day weekends: 6 (MLK, Presidents', Memorial, July 4, Labor, Columbus)
- Source: Office of Personnel Management
2026 Federal Holiday Calendar
| Holiday | Date | Day | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1 | Thursday | January 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 19 | Monday | January 19 |
| Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day) | February 16 | Monday | February 16 |
| Memorial Day | May 25 | Monday | May 25 |
| Juneteenth National Independence Day | June 19 | Friday | June 19 |
| Independence Day | July 4 | Saturday | July 3 (Friday) |
| Labor Day | September 7 | Monday | September 7 |
| Columbus Day | October 12 | Monday | October 12 |
| Veterans Day | November 11 | Wednesday | November 11 |
| Thanksgiving Day | November 26 | Thursday | November 26 |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Friday | December 25 |
Multi-Year Holiday Comparison (2025-2027)
Federal holidays fall on different days of the week each year. This table compares the dates and days for 2025, 2026, and 2027:
| Holiday | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Wed, Jan 1 | Thu, Jan 1 | Fri, Jan 1 |
| MLK Day | Mon, Jan 20 | Mon, Jan 19 | Mon, Jan 18 |
| Presidents' Day | Mon, Feb 17 | Mon, Feb 16 | Mon, Feb 15 |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 26 | Mon, May 25 | Mon, May 31 |
| Juneteenth | Thu, Jun 19 | Fri, Jun 19 | Sat, Jun 19* |
| Independence Day | Fri, Jul 4 | Sat, Jul 4* | Sun, Jul 4* |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 1 | Mon, Sep 7 | Mon, Sep 6 |
| Columbus Day | Mon, Oct 13 | Mon, Oct 12 | Mon, Oct 11 |
| Veterans Day | Tue, Nov 11 | Wed, Nov 11 | Thu, Nov 11 |
| Thanksgiving | Thu, Nov 27 | Thu, Nov 26 | Thu, Nov 25 |
| Christmas | Thu, Dec 25 | Fri, Dec 25 | Sat, Dec 25* |
*When a holiday falls on Saturday, it is observed on Friday. When it falls on Sunday, it is observed on Monday.
Holiday Observation Rules
Federal law establishes specific rules for when holidays are observed, as specified by 5 U.S.C. 6103:
| Holiday Falls On | Observed On | Example in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Monday - Friday | The actual date | Christmas (Fri, Dec 25) |
| Saturday | Preceding Friday | July 4 observed on Fri, Jul 3 |
| Sunday | Following Monday | N/A in 2026 |
In 2026, Independence Day (July 4) is the only holiday that falls on a weekend. Since it lands on Saturday, federal employees will observe the holiday on Friday, July 3. This means 2026 effectively has 10 weekday holidays that reduce the business day count.
Floating Holidays
Some federal holidays always fall on the same day of the week because they are defined by their weekday position rather than a fixed date:
- MLK Day: Third Monday of January
- Presidents' Day: Third Monday of February
- Memorial Day: Last Monday of May
- Labor Day: First Monday of September
- Columbus Day: Second Monday of October
- Thanksgiving: Fourth Thursday of November
These holidays always create long weekends. The fixed-date holidays (New Year's, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Veterans Day, Christmas) shift their observed date when they fall on a weekend.
Holiday Dates by Quarter
Q1 (January - March) — 3 Holidays
- New Year's Day — January 1 (Thursday)
- MLK Day — January 19 (Monday)
- Presidents' Day — February 16 (Monday)
Q2 (April - June) — 2 Holidays
- Memorial Day — May 25 (Monday)
- Juneteenth — June 19 (Friday)
Q3 (July - September) — 2 Holidays
- Independence Day — July 4 (Saturday, observed July 3)
- Labor Day — September 7 (Monday)
Q4 (October - December) — 4 Holidays
- Columbus Day — October 12 (Monday)
- Veterans Day — November 11 (Wednesday)
- Thanksgiving — November 26 (Thursday)
- Christmas — December 25 (Friday)
How Holidays Affect Business Day Calculations
Federal holidays directly impact the number of business days available for work, banking, and shipping. Here is how the holidays reduce business days each month in 2026:
| Month | Weekdays | Holidays | Business Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22 | 2 (New Year's, MLK Day) | 20 |
| February | 20 | 1 (Presidents' Day) | 19 |
| March | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| April | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| May | 21 | 1 (Memorial Day) | 20 |
| June | 22 | 1 (Juneteenth) | 21 |
| July | 23 | 1 (July 4 observed Jul 3) | 22 |
| August | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| September | 22 | 1 (Labor Day) | 21 |
| October | 22 | 1 (Columbus Day) | 21 |
| November | 21 | 2 (Veterans Day, Thanksgiving) | 19 |
| December | 23 | 1 (Christmas) | 22 |
| Total | 261 | 10 | 251 |
Use our business days calculator to count working days between any two dates, automatically excluding weekends and all federal holidays.
State Holidays That Are Not Federal
Many states observe additional holidays that are not recognized at the federal level. These can affect state government offices, schools, and some private employers. Notable examples include:
| Holiday | States | 2026 Date |
|---|---|---|
| Good Friday | 12 states (CT, DE, HI, IN, KY, LA, NJ, NC, ND, TN, TX, others) | April 3 |
| Cesar Chavez Day | California, Colorado, Texas | March 31 |
| Patriot's Day | Massachusetts, Maine | April 20 |
| Confederate Memorial Day | Alabama, Mississippi | April 27 |
| Emancipation Day | Washington D.C., Texas | April 16 / June 19 |
| Indigenous Peoples' Day | Many states (replaces Columbus Day) | October 12 |
| Day After Thanksgiving | ~23 states | November 27 |
| Christmas Eve | Several states (KS, KY, MI, NC, OK, SC, WI) | December 24 |
If your work or deadlines involve state government agencies, check the specific state holiday calendar. Our business days calculator uses the federal holiday schedule, which is the most widely applicable standard.
How Federal Holidays Affect Shipping and Mail
Federal holidays have a direct impact on shipping times and mail delivery. Here is what to expect:
USPS (United States Postal Service)
The USPS does not deliver regular mail or packages on federal holidays. However:
- Priority Mail Express is delivered 365 days a year, including holidays
- Post offices are closed on all 11 federal holidays
- Mail received at the processing center on a holiday is delivered the next business day
UPS and FedEx
- UPS: Closed on New Year's, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Limited service on other federal holidays
- FedEx: Similar schedule to UPS, with modified service on some holidays. FedEx Express may offer limited holiday pickup and delivery
Banking
Banks and the Federal Reserve are closed on all 11 federal holidays. This means:
- No ACH transfers are processed on holidays
- Wire transfers are not available
- Check deposits made on holidays are processed the next business day
- Online banking remains accessible, but transactions are queued
When calculating delivery dates or payment processing times, always account for federal holidays. A "3 business day" transfer initiated on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving will not complete until the following Monday.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 11 federal holidays in 2026. Ten of them are observed on weekdays, and one (Independence Day, July 4) falls on Saturday and is observed on Friday, July 3. This gives 2026 a total of 251 business days.
Yes. Juneteenth National Independence Day (June 19) became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021, when President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. It commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. In 2026, Juneteenth falls on a Friday. For more history, see History.com's Juneteenth article.
When a federal holiday falls on Saturday, it is observed on the preceding Friday. Federal employees get Friday off. In 2026, this applies to Independence Day (July 4, Saturday), which will be observed on Friday, July 3. When a holiday falls on Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday.
No. Federal holidays are mandatory only for federal government employees. There is no federal law requiring private employers to give time off or pay holiday premium rates. However, most banks, schools, and many businesses voluntarily close on major holidays. Retail, hospitality, and healthcare employers often remain open, sometimes with holiday pay.
The 3-day weekends in 2026 are: MLK Day (Sat Jan 17 - Mon Jan 19), Presidents' Day (Sat Feb 14 - Mon Feb 16), Memorial Day (Sat May 23 - Mon May 25), Independence Day weekend (Fri Jul 3 - Sun Jul 5), Labor Day (Sat Sep 5 - Mon Sep 7), and Columbus Day (Sat Oct 10 - Mon Oct 12). Thanksgiving also creates a long weekend for many, as many employers also give Friday Nov 27 off.
The USPS does not deliver regular mail or packages on federal holidays. However, Priority Mail Express is available 365 days a year. All post offices are closed on federal holidays. For details, see the USPS holiday schedule.