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Official OPM Schedule · 11 Nationwide Holidays · Observed Dates

Federal Holidays 2026

The United States has 11 nationwide legal public holidays in 2026 under 5 U.S.C. 6103(a). This calendar shows the legal date, the OPM holiday date for most Monday–Friday federal employees, weekend in-lieu rules, long weekends and the important differences between federal offices, USPS, Federal Reserve Banks, private banks and the stock market.

Federal Holiday List2026 CalendarObserved-Date Rules

Federal holidays 2026: official OPM schedule

The legal date is the date set by 5 U.S.C. 6103. The OPM holiday date is the date most Monday–Friday federal employees receive for pay and leave purposes when weekend substitution applies.

Federal holiday rules →
Federal HolidayLegal DateOPM Holiday DateObserved-Date Note
New Year’s Day
January 1		Thursday, January 1, 2026Thursday, January 1, 2026Same date
Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Third Monday in January		Monday, January 19, 2026Monday, January 19, 2026Same date
Washington’s Birthday (Presidents Day)
Third Monday in February		Monday, February 16, 2026Monday, February 16, 2026Same date
Memorial Day
Last Monday in May		Monday, May 25, 2026Monday, May 25, 2026Same date
Juneteenth National Independence Day
June 19		Friday, June 19, 2026Friday, June 19, 2026Same date
Independence Day
July 4		Saturday, July 4, 2026Friday, July 3, 2026Saturday holiday → preceding Friday
Labor Day
First Monday in September		Monday, September 7, 2026Monday, September 7, 2026Same date
Columbus Day
Second Monday in October		Monday, October 12, 2026Monday, October 12, 2026Same date
Veterans Day
November 11		Wednesday, November 11, 2026Wednesday, November 11, 2026Same date
Thanksgiving Day
Fourth Thursday in November		Thursday, November 26, 2026Thursday, November 26, 2026Same date
Christmas Day
December 25		Friday, December 25, 2026Friday, December 25, 2026Same date

Source: U.S. Office of Personnel Management and 5 U.S.C. 6103. Last reviewed: September 5, 2026. Washington’s Birthday is the legal federal name; “Presidents Day” is a common non-statutory name.

Federal holiday guides for 2026

Open any holiday for its exact annual date, weekday, history and year-specific open/closed context.

🎆

New Year’s Day

Thursday, January 1, 2026. January 1.

ThuJan 1Federal
🕊️

Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Monday, January 19, 2026. Third Monday in January.

MonJan 19Federal
🇺🇸

Washington’s Birthday (Presidents Day)

Monday, February 16, 2026. Third Monday in February.

MonFeb 16Federal
🪖

Memorial Day

Monday, May 25, 2026. Last Monday in May.

MonMay 25Federal
⭐

Juneteenth National Independence Day

Friday, June 19, 2026. June 19.

FriJun 19Federal
🎇

Independence Day

Legal Jul 4 · OPM Jul 3. July 4.

FriJul 3Federal
🛠️

Labor Day

Monday, September 7, 2026. First Monday in September.

MonSep 7Federal
🗓️

Columbus Day

Monday, October 12, 2026. Second Monday in October.

MonOct 12Federal
🎖️

Veterans Day

Wednesday, November 11, 2026. November 11.

WedNov 11Federal
🦃

Thanksgiving Day

Thursday, November 26, 2026. Fourth Thursday in November.

ThuNov 26Federal
🎄

Christmas Day

Friday, December 25, 2026. December 25.

FriDec 25Federal

How federal holiday observed dates work

Most federal employees work Monday through Friday. When a legal federal holiday falls on a nonworkday, OPM applies in-lieu rules for pay and leave purposes.

Holiday falls SaturdayFor most Monday–Friday employees, the preceding Friday is treated as the holiday.
Holiday falls SundayFor most Monday–Friday employees, the following Monday is treated as the holiday.
Alternative work schedulesThe in-lieu day can differ when regular nonworkdays are not Saturday and Sunday.
Required holiday workSome employees must work; applicable premium-pay rules can apply.

2026 observed-date edge cases

Independence Day is the key 2026 exception. July 4 falls on Saturday, so OPM lists Friday, July 3 as the holiday for most Monday–Friday federal employees. Other systems do not automatically copy that in-lieu rule.

Federal officesOPM holiday Friday, July 3.
USPSUSPS announced Post Offices open and regular delivery Friday, July 3; closure Saturday, July 4.
Federal Reserve BanksOpen Friday, July 3 because Saturday holidays do not close Reserve Banks on the preceding Friday.
NYSEClosed Friday, July 3 for Independence Day observed.

Federal offices vs. USPS, Federal Reserve, banks and NYSE

A federal holiday date is not a universal U.S. closure rule. OPM, USPS, Federal Reserve Banks, private banks and stock exchanges use related but distinct calendars.

InstitutionWhat Its Calendar ControlsKey DifferenceGuide
Federal offices / OPMFederal employee holiday, pay and leave scheduling.Saturday holidays generally shift to Friday; Sunday holidays generally shift to Monday for most Mon–Fri employees.Federal Holidays
Federal Reserve BanksFederal Reserve Financial Services and Reserve Bank operations.Reserve Banks remain open on the Friday before a Saturday holiday; they close Monday after a Sunday holiday.Federal Reserve Holidays
Private banksBranch and customer-service schedules.Many follow Federal Reserve availability closely, but branch hours are set by the institution.Bank Holidays
USPS / Post OfficesPostal retail and mail-delivery service.USPS publishes its own calendar; an OPM in-lieu Friday does not always mean Post Offices close Friday.USPS Holidays
NYSEExchange trading holidays and early closes.NYSE does not close for Columbus Day or Veterans Day and does close for Good Friday, which is not federal.Financial Market Hours
SchoolsState, district and institution calendars.Many federal holidays are school holidays, but there is no single nationwide K–12 calendar.School Holidays
Retail & restaurantsPrivate business hours.Most businesses decide independently whether to open, close or reduce hours.Holiday Store Hours

Federal holiday long weekends in 2026

For a typical Monday–Friday federal schedule, a holiday observed on Monday or Friday creates a three-day weekend without using annual leave. Individual schedules and operational requirements can differ.

HolidayOPM Holiday DateTypical 3-Day Weekend
Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.Monday, January 19, 2026Sat, Jan 17 – Mon, Jan 19
Washington’s Birthday (Presidents Day)Monday, February 16, 2026Sat, Feb 14 – Mon, Feb 16
Memorial DayMonday, May 25, 2026Sat, May 23 – Mon, May 25
Juneteenth National Independence DayFriday, June 19, 2026Fri, Jun 19 – Sun, Jun 21
Independence DayFriday, July 3, 2026Fri, Jul 3 – Sun, Jul 5
Labor DayMonday, September 7, 2026Sat, Sep 5 – Mon, Sep 7
Columbus DayMonday, October 12, 2026Sat, Oct 10 – Mon, Oct 12
Christmas DayFriday, December 25, 2026Fri, Dec 25 – Sun, Dec 27

Why OPM says Washington’s Birthday instead of Presidents Day

Federal law designates the third Monday in February as Washington’s Birthday. “Presidents Day” is widely used by states, retailers, schools and calendars, but it is not the name in 5 U.S.C. 6103(a).

Federal legal nameWashington’s Birthday.
Common namePresidents Day / Presidents’ Day.
Date ruleThird Monday in February.

Columbus Day and local naming

Federal law still names the second Monday in October Columbus Day. States, cities, schools and employers may use Indigenous Peoples’ Day, another name, both observances or a different closure policy.

Columbus DayState HolidaysPublic Holidays

Federal holiday schedules 2025–2030

Each year has the same 11 nationwide recurring legal public holidays, but weekday placement changes which fixed-date holidays require observed-date adjustments.

YearNationwide HolidaysWeekend ShiftsShifted OPM Dates
Federal Holidays 2025110None
Federal Holidays 2026111Independence Day: Jul 3
Federal Holidays 2027113Juneteenth National Independence Day: Jun 18; Independence Day: Jul 5; Christmas Day: Dec 24
Federal Holidays 2028112New Year’s Day: Dec 31 2027; Veterans Day: Nov 10
Federal Holidays 2029111Veterans Day: Nov 12
Federal Holidays 2030110None

What counts as a federal holiday?

For federal employees, 5 U.S.C. 6103(a) establishes the recurring legal public holidays. OPM then applies work-schedule, in-lieu and pay rules to determine the holiday for individual employees.

The term federal holiday does not mean every business, school, bank, exchange or state office must close. Presidents can also issue executive orders creating one-time federal closures for covered executive-branch employees without permanently expanding the recurring list.

Recurring nationwide list11 legal public holidays.
Observed dateDepends on legal date and work schedule.
Inauguration DaySeparate D.C.-area rule.
Executive-order closureCan create a one-time covered federal holiday for pay and leave.

Sources and verification

The federal holiday schedule, legal names and observed-date rules are verified against the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and 5 U.S.C. 6103. Service-specific distinctions use Federal Reserve, USPS and NYSE official calendars.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management — Federal Holidays5 U.S.C. §6103 — HolidaysOPM — Holidays: Work Schedules and PayFederal Reserve Financial Services — Holiday SchedulesUSPS — Holidays & EventsNYSE — Holidays & Trading HoursUSPS — Independence Day 2026 Service

What can vary?

Employee work schedulesAlternative workweeks can change the individual in-lieu holiday.
One-time executive ordersA President can create additional covered federal closures for a specific date.
Non-federal institutionsUSPS, Reserve Banks, private banks, exchanges, states, schools and businesses publish separate calendars.

Federal Holidays 2026 FAQ

How many federal holidays are there in 2026?

There are 11 nationwide legal public holidays in 5 U.S.C. 6103(a). Inauguration Day is separate from the nationwide 11-holiday list.

What are the federal holidays in 2026?

New Year’s Day, Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., Washington’s Birthday (Presidents Day), Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

What federal holidays are observed on different dates in 2026?

Independence Day: legal Saturday, July 4, 2026, OPM Friday, July 3, 2026.

What happens when a federal holiday falls on Saturday?

For most Monday–Friday federal employees, the preceding Friday is generally treated as the holiday for pay and leave purposes.

What happens when a federal holiday falls on Sunday?

For most Monday–Friday federal employees, the following Monday is generally treated as the holiday.

Is Presidents Day a federal holiday?

Yes, but the legal federal name is Washington’s Birthday. It is the third Monday in February.

Is Juneteenth a federal holiday?

Yes. Juneteenth National Independence Day, June 19, is one of the 11 legal public holidays in 5 U.S.C. 6103(a).

Is Columbus Day still a federal holiday?

Yes. Federal law designates the second Monday in October as Columbus Day. State and local governments may use different names or observance policies.

Is Veterans Day a federal holiday?

Yes. Veterans Day is November 11, with an OPM in-lieu date when the holiday falls on a weekend.

Is the Friday after Thanksgiving a federal holiday?

No. Thanksgiving Day is the federal holiday. The Friday after Thanksgiving is not one of the 11 statutory federal holidays.

Is Christmas Eve a federal holiday?

Not as a recurring holiday. December 24 can be a federal holiday when Christmas Day is observed that day or when a President issues a one-time closure order.

Is New Year’s Eve a federal holiday?

Not as a recurring holiday. December 31 can be the observed date for New Year’s Day when January 1 falls on Saturday, as with New Year’s Day 2028.

More questions

Is Good Friday a federal holiday?

No. Good Friday is not a federal holiday, even though NYSE closes on Good Friday.

Are banks closed on every federal holiday?

Not necessarily. Private banks set their own schedules, and Federal Reserve Banks use rules that differ from OPM for Saturday holidays.

Does USPS close on every OPM observed federal holiday date?

No. USPS publishes its own calendar. In 2026, OPM observed Independence Day Friday, July 3, but USPS operated normally that Friday and closed Saturday, July 4.

Does the stock market close on every federal holiday?

No. NYSE does not close for Columbus Day or Veterans Day and does close for Good Friday.

Are schools closed on federal holidays?

School calendars are set by states, districts and institutions. There is no single nationwide K–12 closure calendar.

Do private businesses have to close on federal holidays?

No. Federal holidays govern federal operations and employee schedules; private employers generally decide their own hours.

Are federal employees always off on federal holidays?

No. Some employees must work for public safety, national security, healthcare, transportation or continuous operations. Applicable premium-pay rules may apply.

What is an in-lieu-of federal holiday?

It is the workday treated as the holiday for certain employees when the legal holiday falls on a nonworkday. The exact day depends on the employee’s work schedule.

Is Inauguration Day a federal holiday in 2026?

No Inauguration Day occurs in 2026; the special D.C.-area rule applies in presidential inauguration years.

Where can I verify the official 2026 federal holiday calendar?

Use the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Federal Holidays page.

Can I use federal holidays to calculate business days in 2026?

Yes, but match the holiday calendar to the institution you care about. Federal offices, Reserve Banks, USPS, exchanges and private employers do not use identical calendars.

Where can I get a printable 2026 calendar with these dates?

Use the 2026 Calendar and Free Calendars pages, then use this page for official OPM observed-date details.