🇺🇸 US Holidays
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11 Federal Holidays
🇺🇸 US Federal Holidays Calendar
All 11 official US federal holidays for 2026 and 2027 - with exact dates, observed dates when they fall on a weekend, a countdown to the next holiday, and the history and origin of each. Includes a guide to state holidays that go beyond the federal list.
📅 Year at a Glance
Federal Holiday
Observed
Today
📋 All US Federal Holidays
⏳ Holiday Countdowns
Days remaining until each upcoming US federal holiday in 2026.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
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US Federal Holidays 2026 & 2027 - Complete Guide to Every Official Holiday
The United States observes 11 federal holidays established by Congress under 5 U.S.C. § 6103. These are the official days off for federal government employees and the District of Columbia - and the practical basis for most bank closures, school schedules, and major employer calendars across the country. Here is everything you need to know about each holiday, the weekend observation rules, and what goes beyond the federal list at the state level.
2026 US Federal Holidays at a glance: New Year's Day Jan 1 (Thu) · MLK Day Jan 19 (Mon) · Presidents Day Feb 16 (Mon) · Memorial Day May 25 (Mon) · Juneteenth Jun 19 (Fri) · Independence Day Jul 4 (Sat, observed Jul 3 Fri) · Labor Day Sep 7 (Mon) · Columbus Day Oct 12 (Mon) · Veterans Day Nov 11 (Wed) · Thanksgiving Nov 26 (Thu) · Christmas Dec 25 (Fri)
All 11 US Federal Holidays - History and Origin
📅 Fixed-Date Holidays
- New Year's Day (Jan 1): Celebrates the start of the calendar year. Federal holiday since 1870. One of the oldest and most universally observed holidays worldwide.
- Juneteenth (Jun 19): Commemorates June 19, 1865 - when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned of their emancipation, two months after the Civil War ended. Celebrated in Black communities for over 150 years before becoming a federal holiday in 2021. The newest US federal holiday.
- Independence Day (Jul 4): Celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. Marked by fireworks, parades, and outdoor gatherings. Federal holiday since 1870.
- Veterans Day (Nov 11): Honors all US military veterans, living and deceased. Originally Armistice Day (end of WWI, November 11, 1918). Renamed Veterans Day in 1954 to honor veterans of all wars.
- Christmas Day (Dec 25): Federal holiday since 1870. Observed as both a religious holiday and a secular cultural celebration. One of three fixed-date holidays that may shift to a weekday observation.
📅 Floating Holidays (Day-of-Week Formula)
- MLK Jr. Day (3rd Mon Jan): Honors the civil rights leader born January 15, 1929. Federal holiday since 1983 (first observed 1986). One of three holidays honoring individual people (Washington and Columbus are the others).
- Presidents Day (3rd Mon Feb): Officially "Washington's Birthday" in federal law. Falls between Washington's (Feb 22) and Lincoln's (Feb 12) birthdays. The 1968 Monday Holidays Act moved it to a Monday - meaning it can never fall on Washington's actual birthday.
- Memorial Day (Last Mon May): Honors US military personnel who died in service. Originated after the Civil War. Traditionally marks the start of summer. Originally called Decoration Day.
- Labor Day (1st Mon Sep): Celebrates the labour movement and contributions of workers. Federal holiday since 1894. Traditionally marks the unofficial end of summer.
- Columbus Day (2nd Mon Oct): Commemorates Christopher Columbus's 1492 arrival in the Americas. Several states have renamed it Indigenous Peoples' Day to recognise Native American history and culture.
- Thanksgiving (4th Thu Nov): Traces to a 1621 harvest feast. Abraham Lincoln proclaimed it a national holiday in 1863. Fixed to the fourth Thursday by Congress in 1941.
Weekend Holiday Observation Rules - The Complete Guide
When a fixed-date federal holiday falls on a weekend, the observed day (the actual day off for federal employees and most businesses) shifts:
- Holiday on Saturday → Observed Friday: The preceding Friday becomes the day off. For example, Independence Day on Saturday July 4, 2026 is observed Friday July 3, 2026.
- Holiday on Sunday → Observed Monday: The following Monday becomes the day off. For example, Christmas on Sunday December 25, 2022 was observed Monday December 26.
- Floating holidays are unaffected: MLK Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, and Thanksgiving are defined by the day of the week (e.g., "3rd Monday in January") - they always fall on a weekday by definition and never require an observed shift.
- Practical impact: Observed holidays affect federal office closures, bank processing days, mail delivery, court dates, and NYSE trading hours. Private employers may or may not follow the observed schedule - your company policy determines your actual day off.
State Holidays That Go Beyond the Federal List
The 11 federal holidays are the baseline, but many states observe additional public holidays. Some notable examples:
- Texas: Observes 20+ holidays including Confederate Heroes Day (January 19), Texas Independence Day (March 2), San Jacinto Day (April 21), and Emancipation Day in Texas (June 19 - Juneteenth was a Texas state holiday decades before becoming federal).
- California: Adds Cesar Chavez Day (March 31) as a state holiday honoring the labor leader and civil rights activist.
- Louisiana: Observes Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) as a legal public holiday, unique among US states.
- Massachusetts: Patriots' Day (third Monday in April) commemorates the Battle of Lexington and Concord. This is also the day of the Boston Marathon - one of the world's oldest annual marathons.
- Hawaii: Observes Kamehameha Day (June 11) and Prince Kuhio Day (March 26), unique to Hawaii's royal heritage.
- Columbus Day renamed: California, Oregon, Nevada, Maine, New Mexico, and several other states observe Indigenous Peoples' Day on the same date as the federal Columbus Day. Both names refer to the 2nd Monday in October.
Federal Holidays and Business Operations - What Closes and What Doesn't
Federal holidays affect different parts of daily life in different ways:
- Federal government: All federal offices, agencies, and courts close. Postal mail delivery is suspended (USPS does not deliver on federal holidays). Federal courts do not hold proceedings.
- Banks: Most banks and credit unions close on federal holidays, following the Federal Reserve schedule. ACH electronic transfers, wire transfers, and check clearing are delayed - a payment initiated the day before a holiday will process on the next business day. Online banking and ATMs remain accessible.
- Stock markets: NYSE and NASDAQ close on all federal holidays except Columbus Day and Veterans Day (these two are bank holidays but stock markets remain open). Check the exchange calendar for the current year's schedule.
- Schools: Public school schedules vary by district and state, but most observe federal holidays. Schools typically have additional non-federal holidays (teacher training days, spring break, etc.) defined by local calendars.
- Private employers: No legal obligation to give federal holidays as paid days off. Most large corporations observe them. Retail, food service, healthcare, and essential services often operate on all holidays, sometimes with holiday pay premiums.
- US Postal Service: USPS does not deliver mail or packages on any of the 11 federal holidays. FedEx and UPS have variable holiday schedules - check their websites for specific dates each year.