Milwaukee Holidays 2026: Key Dates & Closures

This guide covers the 2026 dates that close schools, shut city offices, disrupt transit, or require adjusted staffing in Milwaukee. Use it to plan schedules and time-off requests. For statewide holidays, see our Wisconsin holidays 2026 guide.

What Are the Federal Holidays in Milwaukee for 2026?

Holiday	Date	Day
New Year’s Day	January 1	Thursday
Martin Luther King Jr. Day	January 19	Monday
Presidents’ Day	February 16	Monday
Memorial Day	May 25	Monday
Juneteenth	June 19	Friday
Independence Day	July 4	Saturday
Labor Day	September 7	Monday
Columbus Day	October 12	Monday
Veterans Day	November 11	Wednesday
Thanksgiving Day	November 26	Thursday
Christmas Day	December 25	Friday

Independence Day falls on Saturday. Most city offices and federal agencies will close Friday, July 3 instead.

City offices, courts, and most government services close on all dates above. Many private employers follow the same schedule.

What State Holidays Does Wisconsin Observe?

Wisconsin observes Christmas Eve (December 24, 2026) and New Year’s Eve (December 31, 2026) as state holidays. State offices close.

Note: The day after Thanksgiving is not an official state holiday in Wisconsin, though many employers choose to close.

What Local Events Affect Milwaukee Schedules in 2026?

Lakefront and Third Ward traffic – Summerfest (late June–early July) is the world’s largest music festival. Nine days of concerts create significant traffic and parking impacts near the lakefront.
State Fair Park traffic – Wisconsin State Fair (August) creates heavy traffic in West Allis for 11 days. Expect congestion on I-94 and local roads.
Ethnic festival weekends – Polish Fest, German Fest, Irish Fest, and other ethnic festivals close areas of the lakefront throughout summer. Plan for weekend traffic impacts.
Downtown events – Bastille Days (July) closes Cathedral Square area. Milwaukee Pride (June) affects downtown access.
Brewers and Bucks game days – Brewers MLB games at American Family Field and Bucks NBA games at Fiserv Forum create localized traffic. Plan alternate routes on game days.

When Do Milwaukee Government Offices Close?

City of Milwaukee offices close on all federal holidays. The day after Thanksgiving is typically a closure. Christmas Eve often has reduced hours or closure.

Milwaukee County offices follow a similar schedule.

When Are MPS Schools Closed in 2026?

These dates close Milwaukee Public Schools. Plan for childcare gaps and potential staffing shortages:

All federal holidays
Day after Thanksgiving (November 27)
Winter break (late December through early January)
Spring break (March/April)
Various professional development days

Milwaukee Public Schools typically adopts the calendar in spring. Check the MPS website for finalized 2026–2027 dates.

How Do Milwaukee Holidays Affect Businesses and Staffing?

Retail, hospitality, healthcare, and service businesses typically stay open on holidays and during major events. Summerfest and the State Fair create peak tourism demand requiring increased hospitality staffing.

Holiday weekends and school closures increase time-off requests. The summer festival season (June–September) requires careful staffing planning. Staff accordingly.

Summary

The highest-impact dates for 2026: federal holidays close city offices; Summerfest creates 9 days of lakefront traffic in late June–early July; the State Fair affects August traffic; Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve close state offices.

Use this list to build shift schedules, approve time-off requests, and avoid staffing gaps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are banks and post offices open on Milwaukee holidays in 2026?

Banks and post offices close on all federal holidays. Check individual bank hours for day-after-Thanksgiving closures.

Is MCTS transit running on Thanksgiving and Christmas 2026?

MCTS (Milwaukee County Transit System) runs on reduced holiday schedules on Thanksgiving (November 26) and Christmas (December 25). Most routes operate on Sunday schedules. The Hop streetcar also runs reduced hours. Check MCTS for specific route information.

How does Summerfest affect Milwaukee traffic and staffing?

Summerfest (late June–early July 2026) is the world’s largest music festival. It runs for 9 days at Henry Maier Festival Park on the lakefront. Expect major traffic and parking impacts near the Third Ward and lakefront. Hospitality businesses require maximum staffing.

When is the Wisconsin State Fair in 2026?

The Wisconsin State Fair runs for 11 days in August 2026 at State Fair Park in West Allis. Expect heavy traffic on I-94 and local roads near the fairgrounds. Many employers see increased time-off requests during fair week.

How many festivals does Milwaukee have in summer?

Milwaukee hosts ethnic festivals nearly every weekend from June through September at Henry Maier Festival Park. Polish Fest, German Fest, Irish Fest, Festa Italiana, and others each close lakefront areas and create traffic impacts. Hospitality employers should plan for a continuous summer festival season.