What Are the US Federal Holidays in 2026?
2026 US federal holiday calendar with all 11 official dates, plus state observances and religious holidays. Includes holiday pay rules and scheduling tips for businesses.
2026 US Federal Holidays Calendar
The United States observes 11 federal holidays in 2026. Federal employees receive paid time off; private employers decide whether to offer the same.
| Holiday | Date 2026 | Day of Week |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | November 26 | Thursday |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Friday |
Quick Answer
2026 has 11 federal holidays. Five fall on Mondays (MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day), providing long weekends. Private employers are not required to observe federal holidays but most offer 6-11 paid holidays annually.
Are Private Employers Required to Give Holiday Pay?
No federal law requires private employers to provide paid holidays, close on federal holidays, or pay time-and-a-half for holiday work. Holiday pay is voluntary.
However, specific state requirements exist:
- Massachusetts: Premium pay required for certain retail workers on select holidays
- Rhode Island: Premium pay mandated for Sunday and holiday retail work
Most employers voluntarily offer holiday pay. Typical full-time employees receive 6-11 paid holidays per year.
Major Religious and Cultural Holidays 2026
| Holiday | Religion/Culture | 2026 Date |
|---|---|---|
| Easter | Christian | April 5 |
| Passover | Jewish | April 1-9 |
| Rosh Hashanah | Jewish | September 11-13 |
| Yom Kippur | Jewish | September 20-21 |
| Diwali | Hindu | November 8 |
| Eid al-Fitr | Islamic | ~March 20 |
| Eid al-Adha | Islamic | ~May 26 |
| Lunar New Year | Asian cultures | February 17 |
Employers must provide reasonable accommodations for religious observances under Title VII, typically through PTO, shift swaps, or unpaid leave.
Holiday Pay Policies
Paid holiday: Employees receive pay for the holiday as if worked (typically 8 hours at regular rate).
Holiday premium: Workers who work holidays receive time-and-a-half or double time pay.
Holiday + premium: Both holiday pay plus premium for hours actually worked.
Holiday Scheduling Best Practices
Retail/hospitality: Use skeleton staffing for major holidays with rotating assignments managed through fair employee roster planning.
24/7 operations: Fair shift rotation ensuring no employee works all major holidays.
Office settings: Offer floating holidays for personal or religious observances.
Communication: Publish schedules early, set request deadlines 30-60 days advance, document policies clearly.
High-Impact 2026 Holiday Periods
Plan carefully for:
- July 4 weekend (Saturday, observed Friday July 3) - Expect Thursday-Sunday requests
- Thanksgiving week - November 25-27 high-volume requests
- Christmas/New Year’s - December 23-January 2 extended requests
- Memorial/Labor Day - Three-day weekend travel
Use workforce management tools to automate fair holiday scheduling across staggered shifts and 4-on-4-off patterns, track accruals, and manage discretionary time off alongside traditional holiday policies.
Sources
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management – Federal Holidays
- U.S. Department of Labor – Holiday Pay
- U.S. EEOC – Religious Accommodation
Further Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 11 federal holidays in 2026?
New Year’s (Jan 1), MLK Day (Jan 19), Presidents’ Day (Feb 16), Memorial Day (May 25), Juneteenth (Jun 19), Independence Day (Jul 4), Labor Day (Sep 7), Columbus Day (Oct 12), Veterans Day (Nov 11), Thanksgiving (Nov 26), Christmas (Dec 25).
Do employers have to give holiday pay?
No federal law requires private employers to provide paid holidays or premium pay. Holiday pay is voluntary, though most full-time employees receive 6-11 paid holidays as standard practice.
When is Thanksgiving 2026?
Thursday, November 26, 2026. It falls on the fourth Thursday of November every year.
Is Juneteenth a paid holiday?
Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021. Federal employees receive paid time off. Private employers decide whether to observe it—many have added it to their holiday schedules.
