How many US federal holidays are there in 2026?

There are 11 US federal holidays in 2026. The list has stayed the same since Juneteenth National Independence Day was added in 2021, and all eleven are marked on the free 2026 calendar on this site.

What is the difference between a fixed and a floating federal holiday?

Fixed holidays fall on the same calendar date every year, such as Independence Day on July 4 and Christmas on December 25. Floating holidays fall on a specific weekday, such as Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November, so their date changes each year.

When is Thanksgiving in 2026?

Thanksgiving in 2026 falls on Thursday, November 26, because it is always the fourth Thursday of November. The Friday after is not an official federal holiday, but many employers give it as an additional day off.

Why is Independence Day observed on July 3 in 2026?

July 4, 2026 falls on a Saturday. Under the federal weekend rule, a holiday landing on a Saturday is observed on the preceding Friday, so federal offices close on Friday, July 3, 2026. 2026 is also the 250th anniversary of US independence.

Are Easter and Halloween federal holidays?

No. Easter, Halloween, Valentine's Day, and the day after Thanksgiving are not federal holidays, so government offices stay open. Only the official eleven, from New Year's Day to Christmas, close federal offices, banks, and the postal service.

US Federal Holidays Explained (2026) | printablecalendar2018.org

The US federal holidays are the eleven days each year when federal government offices, most banks, and the postal service close, and when many private employers give paid time off. In 2026 there are eleven of them, the same set observed since Juneteenth was added in 2021. This guide lists every one with its exact 2026 date, explains why it exists, and clears up the common confusion between holidays that fall on a fixed date and those that float to a particular weekday.

You can see all of these marked on the free 2026 calendar, and each holiday links to its month page below so you can jump straight to it.

How Federal Holidays Work

Federal holidays are set by law and apply to the federal government. States, businesses, and schools are not required to follow them, though most do for the major ones. Two mechanics are worth understanding before the list.

Fixed vs Floating Dates

Some of the US federal holidays land on the same calendar date every year. These are the fixed holidays: New Year's Day (January 1), Juneteenth (June 19), Independence Day (July 4), Veterans Day (November 11), and Christmas Day (December 25). Their weekday changes from year to year, but the date does not.

The rest are floating holidays, tied to a specific weekday rather than a date. For example, Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday of November, so its date shifts each year. Congress moved several holidays to Mondays in 1971 to create dependable three-day weekends, which is why so many federal holidays now fall on a Monday.

The Weekend Rule

When a fixed-date holiday falls on a Saturday, it is usually observed on the preceding Friday; when it falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday. This "in lieu of" day is when offices actually close. In 2026, most fixed holidays fall on weekdays, so this rule has limited impact, but it is worth knowing for planning.

All 11 US Federal Holidays in 2026

Here is the complete list in calendar order, with the exact 2026 date, whether it is fixed or floating, and the reason behind it.

1. New Year's Day — Thursday, January 1, 2026

Fixed. The first day of the Gregorian calendar year marks fresh starts and resolutions. As a federal holiday it closes offices nationwide. See it on January 2026.

2. Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. — Monday, January 19, 2026

Floating (third Monday of January). This holiday honors the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., born January 15, 1929. It was first observed nationally in 1986. Falling on the third Monday, it lands on January 19 in 2026. See January 2026.

3. Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day) — Monday, February 16, 2026

Floating (third Monday of February). Officially named Washington's Birthday, it is widely called Presidents' Day and has come to honor all US presidents, especially George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. In 2026 it falls on February 16. See February 2026.

4. Memorial Day — Monday, May 25, 2026

Floating (last Monday of May). Memorial Day honors military personnel who died while serving in the US armed forces. It also marks the unofficial start of summer. In 2026 the last Monday of May is May 25. See May 2026.

5. Juneteenth National Independence Day — Friday, June 19, 2026

Fixed. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It became the newest federal holiday in 2021. In 2026 it falls on a Friday, creating a three-day weekend. See June 2026.

6. Independence Day — Saturday, July 4, 2026

Fixed. The Fourth of July celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Because July 4, 2026 falls on a Saturday, federal offices observe the holiday on Friday, July 3. Note that 2026 is also the 250th anniversary of American independence. See July 2026.

7. Labor Day — Monday, September 7, 2026

Floating (first Monday of September). Labor Day honors the American labor movement and the contributions of workers. It marks the unofficial end of summer. In 2026 the first Monday of September is September 7. See September 2026.

8. Columbus Day — Monday, October 12, 2026

Floating (second Monday of October). Columbus Day marks Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas in 1492. Many states and cities instead observe Indigenous Peoples' Day on the same date. In 2026 it falls on October 12. See October 2026.

9. Veterans Day — Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Fixed. Veterans Day honors all who have served in the US armed forces. The date marks the 1918 armistice that ended World War I, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. In 2026 it falls on a Wednesday. See November 2026.

10. Thanksgiving Day — Thursday, November 26, 2026

Floating (fourth Thursday of November). Thanksgiving is a day for gratitude and a shared meal, with roots in early harvest celebrations. The Friday after is not a federal holiday but is widely taken off. In 2026 it falls on November 26. See November 2026.

11. Christmas Day — Friday, December 25, 2026

Fixed. Christmas Day, December 25, is both a religious observance and a widely celebrated cultural holiday, and it closes federal offices nationwide. In 2026 it falls on a Friday. See December 2026.

Quick Reference Table (2026)

New Year's Day — Thu, Jan 1 (fixed)
MLK Jr. Day — Mon, Jan 19 (3rd Mon)
Presidents' Day — Mon, Feb 16 (3rd Mon)
Memorial Day — Mon, May 25 (last Mon)
Juneteenth — Fri, Jun 19 (fixed)
Independence Day — Sat, Jul 4, observed Fri Jul 3 (fixed)
Labor Day — Mon, Sep 7 (1st Mon)
Columbus Day — Mon, Oct 12 (2nd Mon)
Veterans Day — Wed, Nov 11 (fixed)
Thanksgiving — Thu, Nov 26 (4th Thu)
Christmas Day — Fri, Dec 25 (fixed)

Holidays That People Often Expect but Are Not Federal

A few well-known days are not federal holidays, so government offices stay open. These include Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Halloween, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and the day after Thanksgiving. They may still be celebrated widely or given as company time off, but they are not part of the official eleven.

Planning Around the 2026 Holidays

Because six of the eleven holidays fall on or near a Monday or Friday in 2026, there are several natural three-day weekends to plan travel or time off around. Independence Day's Friday observance and Juneteenth on a Friday are especially good candidates for a long weekend. To map it all out at a glance, all eleven holidays are marked on the free 2026 calendar, and you can download an .ics file to drop them straight into your digital calendar. For year-round context, the individual month pages such as November 2026, which carries two holidays, show exactly how each one lands.