Choose the right holiday calendar
Use the official holiday type first, then follow the service-specific guide when open-or-closed status matters.
American Holiday Guide
U.S. Holidays
See U.S. holidays for 2026 at a glance, including federal holidays, observed dates, popular American observances, bank and USPS schedules, school impact and store-hour planning.
U.S. holidays 2026 at a glance
Start with the dates people most often need. Federal holidays are shown alongside major popular observances so you can quickly see which dates are official closures and which are primarily cultural, religious or shopping events.
| Holiday | Date | Day | Type | Federal observed | Federal Reserve / banks | USPS | Stores / schools |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Jan 1 | Thu | Federal | Jan 1 | Fed closed; banks vary | USPS closed | Stores vary |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Jan 19 | Mon | Federal | Jan 19 | Fed closed; banks vary | USPS closed | Schools vary |
| Valentine’s Day | Feb 14 | Sat | Popular | — | Open; banks vary | Normal | Restaurants busy |
| Washington’s Birthday / Presidents Day | Feb 16 | Mon | Federal | Feb 16 | Fed closed; banks vary | USPS closed | Retail sales common |
| Easter Sunday | Apr 5 | Sun | Religious / Popular | — | Weekend / normal | Sunday schedule | Stores vary |
| Memorial Day | May 25 | Mon | Federal | May 25 | Fed closed; banks vary | USPS closed | Stores often open |
| Juneteenth | Jun 19 | Fri | Federal | Jun 19 | Fed closed; banks vary | USPS closed | Schedules vary |
| Independence Day | Jul 4 | Sat | Federal | Fri, Jul 3 | Fed banks open Jul 3; branches vary* | USPS open Jul 3* | Stores vary |
| Labor Day | Sep 7 | Mon | Federal | Sep 7 | Fed closed; banks vary | USPS closed | Stores often open |
| Columbus Day | Oct 12 | Mon | Federal | Oct 12 | Fed closed; banks vary | USPS closed | Schools vary |
| Halloween | Oct 31 | Sat | Popular | — | Open; banks vary | Normal | Events / stores vary |
| Veterans Day | Nov 11 | Wed | Federal | Nov 11 | Fed closed; banks vary | USPS closed | Schools vary |
| Thanksgiving Day | Nov 26 | Thu | Federal | Nov 26 | Fed closed; banks vary | USPS closed | Many stores closed |
| Black Friday | Nov 27 | Fri | Shopping | — | Open; banks vary | Normal | Major shopping day |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25 | Fri | Federal | Dec 25 | Fed closed; banks vary | USPS closed | Many stores closed |
| New Year’s Eve | Dec 31 | Thu | Popular | — | Usually normal | Usually normal | Reduced hours common |
* Important 2026 exception: July 4 falls on Saturday. Most federal employees observe Independence Day on Friday, July 3, but Federal Reserve Banks are open July 3 and USPS says Post Offices and regular delivery operate normally that Friday. Always check the specific service you need.
Federal holidays, popular observances and service closures
“U.S. holiday” is broader than “federal holiday.” The right schedule depends on whether you need a government closure, banking day, mail-delivery day, school calendar, shopping date or cultural observance.
Check what is actually open
A federal observed date does not automatically mean every bank, Post Office, school or store follows the same schedule.
U.S. holiday calendars and practical guides
Move from a broad holiday date to the exact schedule or planning tool you need.
Federal Holidays 2026
Exact 2026 federal holiday dates and observed dates for federal employees.
FederalObserved2026
Bank Holidays 2026
Banking-day context, Federal Reserve schedules and practical transaction planning.
BanksFedPayments
USPS Holidays 2026
Post Office closures, regular mail delivery and the special July 4 weekend rule.
USPSMailPost Office
State Holidays
Find state-specific government holidays and differences from the federal calendar.
StatesGovernmentLocal
Holiday Store Hours
Check retail, grocery, pharmacy and restaurant hours when holiday schedules vary.
OpenStoresHours
Religious Holidays
Explore Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and other religious calendars.
FaithDatesCalendar
What is closed on U.S. holidays?
There is no single “everything is closed” rule. Federal, banking, postal, school and retail schedules follow different calendars.
The practical rule
Use the holiday’s legal status as a starting point, then check the organization that controls the service.
Federal officesThe 11 federal holidays are the strongest signal for federal office closures. Weekend holidays can produce an in-lieu-of weekday for federal employees.
Banks and paymentsMany branches close on federal holidays, but Federal Reserve operating rules can differ from federal-employee observed dates.
USPS and storesUSPS publishes its own holiday schedule. Retailers and restaurants set their own holiday hours, often by location.
Fast answers
Use these pages when the question is not just “what holiday is it?” but “what happens because of it?”
Upcoming U.S. holidays in 2026
From early September, the major federal dates ahead are Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Use the exact holiday page when you need the weekday, observed date or open-or-closed details.
Remaining U.S. holiday long weekends in 2026
Several late-2026 holidays create natural three-day weekends for a typical Monday-through-Friday schedule.
Labor Day weekendSaturday, September 5 through Monday, September 7.
Columbus Day weekendSaturday, October 10 through Monday, October 12.
Christmas weekendFriday, December 25 through Sunday, December 27 for many Monday-through-Friday workers.
Holidays by month
Browse monthly holiday guides for major dates, observances and seasonal planning throughout the year.
North American holiday guides
Compare the U.S. calendar with nearby national holiday systems without mixing their legal rules.
Calendars and date planning
Turn holiday dates into printable calendars, workday calculations and planning tools.
How U.S. holiday observance works
Federal law establishes 11 annual federal holidays. For most Monday-through-Friday federal employees, a Saturday holiday is generally observed on the preceding Friday and a Sunday holiday on the following Monday.
That observed-day rule does not automatically transfer to every service. In 2026, Independence Day is Saturday, July 4, so most federal employees observe Friday, July 3; however, Federal Reserve Banks are open on July 3 and USPS says Post Offices and regular delivery also operate normally that Friday.
Popular observances such as Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween, Black Friday and New Year’s Eve can have major cultural or commercial importance without being federal holidays. School, state and private-business schedules may differ.
Official first, then practicalUse the federal schedule for federal offices, the Federal Reserve for payment-system holidays, USPS for postal operations and the specific retailer or school for local hours.
Observed date mattersThe legal holiday date and the weekday used for federal pay and leave can differ when a holiday falls on a weekend.
Local schedules still winState governments, school districts, private banks and businesses can follow different calendars.
Official references: U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Federal Reserve, and USPS holiday calendar. Page viewed: —.
U.S. Holidays FAQ
What are U.S. holidays?
U.S. holidays include the 11 federal holidays established by law, state holidays, religious and cultural observances, and popular dates such as Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween, Black Friday and New Year’s Eve.
How many federal holidays are there in the United States?
There are 11 annual federal holidays. Federal employees generally receive these holidays under 5 U.S.C. 6103, subject to work-schedule and in-lieu-of rules.
What is the next U.S. federal holiday in 2026?
As of early September 2026, the next federal holiday is Labor Day on Monday, September 7, 2026.
Why is Independence Day observed on July 3 in 2026?
July 4, 2026 falls on a Saturday. For most Monday-through-Friday federal employees, the preceding Friday, July 3, is treated as the federal holiday for pay and leave purposes.
Are banks closed on every U.S. federal holiday?
Many bank branches close on major federal holidays, but private-bank schedules can vary. Federal Reserve operating rules also differ when a holiday falls on a Saturday, so check your bank when a transaction deadline matters.
Does USPS close on every federal observed date?
Not always. In 2026, USPS lists Independence Day on Saturday, July 4 and says Post Offices are open and regular delivery occurs on Friday, July 3, even though most federal employees observe the holiday on July 3.
Are stores open on U.S. holidays?
Store hours depend on the chain, location and holiday. Many retailers open on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day, while Thanksgiving and Christmas more often bring closures or reduced hours.
Where can I see exact U.S. holiday dates for 2026?
Use the U.S. Holidays 2026 page for the dedicated annual calendar, and use the federal, bank and USPS holiday pages for service-specific schedules.