2026 US Holidays

2026 Federal Holidays

The United States recognises eleven federal holidays. On these dates federal offices, banks, post offices and most public schools close, and many private employers follow the same schedule. When a holiday falls on a weekend, the observed date shifts to the nearest weekday.

2026 Long Weekends

Federal holidays that land on a Monday or Friday create three-day weekends — the dates most worth booking travel around, and the ones that fill up fastest.

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day — January 19, 2026 (Monday)
• Presidents' Day — February 16, 2026 (Monday)
• Memorial Day — May 25, 2026 (Monday)
• Juneteenth — June 19, 2026 (Friday)
• Labor Day — September 7, 2026 (Monday)
• Columbus Day — October 12, 2026 (Monday)
• Christmas Day — December 25, 2026 (Friday)

Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November is the other reliable long weekend, since most workplaces close the Friday after as well.

All 2026 Holidays and Observances by Month

Beyond the federal holidays, the American calendar is full of widely marked observances — from Valentine's Day and Mother's Day to Halloween and the Daylight Saving Time changes. Here is the complete month-by-month list for 2026.

January 2026

February 2026

March 2026

April 2026

May 2026

June 2026

July 2026

August 2026

September 2026

October 2026

November 2026

December 2026

What Each 2026 Federal Holiday Marks

Eleven days a year are designated federal holidays by Congress. Here is what each one commemorates and when it falls in 2026.

New Year's Day — Thursday, January 1

The first day of the Gregorian calendar year and a federal holiday since 1870. Most businesses, banks and schools close, and it is traditionally the day Americans set resolutions for the year ahead.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day — Monday, January 19

Honours the civil rights leader born on January 15, 1929. Observed on the third Monday of January and designated a national day of service, with volunteering events held across the country.

Presidents' Day — Monday, February 16

Officially Washington's Birthday, observed on the third Monday of February. Most states treat it as a combined tribute to George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and it anchors a major retail sales weekend.

Memorial Day — Monday, May 25

Observed on the last Monday of May to honour Americans who died in military service. It also marks the unofficial start of summer, with the highest travel volume of the late spring.

Juneteenth — Friday, June 19

Commemorates June 19, 1865, when news of emancipation reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas. It became the eleventh federal holiday in 2021, the first added since 1983.

Independence Day — Saturday, July 4

Marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Celebrated with fireworks, parades and cookouts, and one of the busiest travel periods of the American summer.

Labor Day — Monday, September 7

Observed on the first Monday of September to recognise the contribution of American workers. It closes the summer season and typically coincides with the start of the school year.

Columbus Day — Monday, October 12

Observed on the second Monday of October. Many states and cities now mark the same date as Indigenous Peoples' Day instead, honouring Native American history and culture.

Veterans Day — Wednesday, November 11

Held every November 11, the anniversary of the 1918 armistice that ended the First World War. It honours all who have served in the US armed forces, living and deceased.

Thanksgiving Day — Thursday, November 26

Falls on the fourth Thursday of November and is the most travelled holiday of the American year. Most employers also close the following Friday, creating a four-day weekend.

Christmas Day — Friday, December 25

December 25, a federal holiday since 1870 and the only religious holiday on the federal calendar. Nearly all businesses, banks, schools and government offices close.

What Closes on a Federal Holiday?

Federal holidays are technically only days off for federal employees, but in practice the closures extend much further. Knowing which services stop is often more useful than knowing the date itself.

Federal, State and Bank Holidays — What's the Difference?

Federal holidays are set by Congress and apply to federal employees and the District of Columbia. They do not automatically require private employers to give time off, although most do.

State holidays are set individually by each state and vary widely. Several states observe Good Friday, some southern states mark Confederate Memorial Day, Texas has Texas Independence Day, and Hawaii observes Statehood Day. Around two dozen states now recognise Indigenous Peoples' Day alongside or instead of Columbus Day.

Bank holidays follow the Federal Reserve calendar, which matches the eleven federal holidays. This matters for payments: a transfer initiated the business day before a holiday will usually not settle until the next business day, so payroll and bill schedules need a day of slack around these dates.

School holidays are set by individual districts and rarely match the federal list exactly. Always check your own district calendar before booking travel around a long weekend.

Planning Around the 2026 Holiday Calendar

Book travel around the predictable peaks

Memorial Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas drive the four biggest travel surges of the American year. Prices climb steeply in the fortnight before each one, so the calendar dates above are also a useful booking schedule.

Check school and bank closures separately

School districts frequently extend federal holidays into full weeks, particularly around Presidents' Day and Thanksgiving. Banks follow the Federal Reserve holiday schedule, which means transfers initiated the day before a holiday may not settle until the next business day.

Watch the clock changes

Daylight Saving Time begins on March 8, 2026 and ends on November 1, 2026. Both dates quietly disrupt early-morning routines, international calls and travel connections for about a week.

Printable Holiday Calendars

Calendar & Planning Guides

Practical advice for getting more out of a printed calendar.

2026 Holidays FAQ