US federal holidays
The eleven federal holidays in 2026 and 2027, with the date actually observed when a holiday falls on a weekend.
Verified Nov 2, 2026 Source: Office of Personnel Management
A federal holiday closes government offices and banks. It does not require private businesses to close, and schools follow their own calendars: a federal holiday can be a school day in a given district.
The observed-date rule
When a holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed the Friday before; when it falls on a Sunday, it is observed the Monday after. That is why July 4, 2026 is observed on July 3, and Christmas 2027 on December 24.
2026
| Observed date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day |
| January 19, 2026 | Monday | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| February 16, 2026 | Monday | Washington’s Birthday |
| May 25, 2026 | Monday | Memorial Day |
| June 19, 2026 | Friday | Juneteenth |
| July 3, 2026 | Friday | Independence Day (observed) July 4, 2026 falls on a Saturday. |
| September 7, 2026 | Monday | Labor Day |
| October 12, 2026 | Monday | Columbus Day |
| November 11, 2026 | Wednesday | Veterans Day |
| November 26, 2026 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day |
2027
| Observed date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2027 | Friday | New Year’s Day |
| January 18, 2027 | Monday | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| February 15, 2027 | Monday | Washington’s Birthday |
| May 31, 2027 | Monday | Memorial Day |
| June 18, 2027 | Friday | Juneteenth (observed) June 19, 2027 falls on a Saturday. |
| July 5, 2027 | Monday | Independence Day (observed) July 4, 2027 falls on a Sunday. |
| September 6, 2027 | Monday | Labor Day |
| October 11, 2027 | Monday | Columbus Day |
| November 11, 2027 | Thursday | Veterans Day |
| November 25, 2027 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day |
| December 24, 2027 | Friday | Christmas Day (observed) December 25, 2027 falls on a Saturday. |
What this means for families
The two periods that matter most are Thanksgiving and the winter holidays. Most districts close on the Thursday and Friday of Thanksgiving week, and for two weeks around Christmas.
For a move, a delivery or an administrative appointment, check the state and city calendars too: some add dates that are not on the federal list.
How many of these dates actually move?
Across 2026 and 2027, 4 of the 22 observed dates are not the date written in federal law: Independence Day moving to Jul 3, 2026, Juneteenth moving to Jun 18, 2027, Independence Day moving to Jul 5, 2027, Christmas Day moving to Dec 24, 2027. Every other holiday lands on its legal date.
By weekday, the 22 observed dates split as follows: 11 on a Monday, 1 on a Wednesday, 4 on a Thursday, 6 on a Friday. That distribution changes every year, which is why the tables above are regenerated from the official schedule rather than copied from a template.
Long weekends in 2026 and 2027
A federal holiday that lands on a Monday or a Friday extends into the weekend. 17 of the 22 observed dates do this.
| Date | Holiday | Weekend window |
|---|---|---|
| January 19, 2026 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Saturday to Monday |
| February 16, 2026 | Washington’s Birthday | Saturday to Monday |
| May 25, 2026 | Memorial Day | Saturday to Monday |
| June 19, 2026 | Juneteenth | Friday to Sunday |
| July 3, 2026 | Independence Day (observed) | Friday to Sunday |
| September 7, 2026 | Labor Day | Saturday to Monday |
| October 12, 2026 | Columbus Day | Saturday to Monday |
| December 25, 2026 | Christmas Day | Friday to Sunday |
| January 1, 2027 | New Year’s Day | Friday to Sunday |
| January 18, 2027 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Saturday to Monday |
| February 15, 2027 | Washington’s Birthday | Saturday to Monday |
| May 31, 2027 | Memorial Day | Saturday to Monday |
| June 18, 2027 | Juneteenth (observed) | Friday to Sunday |
| July 5, 2027 | Independence Day (observed) | Saturday to Monday |
| September 6, 2027 | Labor Day | Saturday to Monday |
| October 11, 2027 | Columbus Day | Saturday to Monday |
| December 24, 2027 | Christmas Day (observed) | Friday to Sunday |
What closes, and what stays open
- Federal offices and courts close. Federal employees receive the day as paid leave.
- Banks follow the Federal Reserve schedule and close, which also delays wire transfers and payroll credits by a day.
- The Postal Service suspends regular delivery and closes retail counters.
- Schools decide locally. A district can be open on a federal holiday and closed on a date that is not federal at all.
- Private businesses are free to stay open. Retail, hospitality and transport usually run a normal or busier schedule.
Federal holidays against the rest of the calendar
Federal holidays are only one layer. School terms, exam sessions and tax deadlines run on their own schedules, and the three rarely line up: a tax deadline can fall in the middle of spring break, and an SAT session can fall the Saturday before a holiday. Our school calendar section lists the district dates we have verified, the exam calendar covers SAT and ACT sessions, and the deadline page tracks IRS dates.
Frequently asked questions
How many federal holidays are there in the United States?
There are eleven. The list does not change from one year to the next; only the weekday each holiday falls on does. This page lists all of them for 2026 and 2027, with the date actually observed.
When is Independence Day observed in 2026?
July 3, 2026. July 4, 2026 falls on a Saturday, so the holiday is observed the Friday before.
Why is Christmas observed on a different day in 2027?
Because December 25, 2027 falls on a Saturday. The observed date is December 24, 2027, the Friday before.
Are schools closed on federal holidays?
Not automatically. A federal holiday closes government offices, but each school district sets its own calendar. Some districts stay open on Columbus Day or Veterans Day; others close for a full week at Thanksgiving. The district calendars we track are listed in our school calendar section.
Do banks close on federal holidays?
The Federal Reserve observes the federal holiday schedule, so most banks and credit unions close. Retail businesses, restaurants and supermarkets usually stay open, and no federal law requires a private employer to give the day off.
Does the post office deliver mail on federal holidays?
No. The Postal Service suspends regular delivery and closes retail counters on the eleven federal holidays. It does not treat every state or local holiday the same way.
Is Thanksgiving always on the fourth Thursday of November?
Yes. In 2026 it falls on November 26, 2026. The rule is fixed in federal law, so the date moves every year but the weekday never changes.
School calendars by state
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