US Federal Holidays 2026
The United States observes 11 federal holidays each year. In 2026, these holidays fall on various days of the week, with some observed on alternate dates when the actual holiday lands on a weekend. Federal holidays mean that non-essential government offices, banks, and the postal service are closed. Stock markets may also close or have reduced hours. Below is the complete list of US federal holidays for 2026, including the day of the week and any observance adjustments. For the current time, visit Time.now.
| Holiday | Date (2026) | Day of Week | Observed Date (if different) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1 | Thursday | January 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 19 | Monday | January 19 |
| Presidents' Day | February 16 | Monday | February 16 |
| Memorial Day | May 25 | Monday | May 25 |
| Juneteenth National Independence Day | June 19 | Friday | June 19 |
| Independence Day | July 4 | Saturday | July 3 (Friday) |
| Labor Day | September 7 | Monday | September 7 |
| Columbus Day | October 12 | Monday | October 12 |
| Veterans Day | November 11 | Wednesday | November 11 |
| Thanksgiving Day | November 26 | Thursday | November 26 |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Friday | December 25 |
Note: Independence Day falls on a Saturday in 2026, so it will be observed on Friday, July 3. When a federal holiday falls on a Saturday, it is typically observed on the preceding Friday; if on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday. On observed holidays, banks, post offices, and many government offices are closed. Stock markets (NYSE, NASDAQ) are closed on all federal holidays except for some observed dates; check market schedules.
Federal Holiday Observance Rules
Federal holidays are established by law (5 U.S.C. 6103). Most federal employees are entitled to the day off, and if the holiday falls on a weekend, an alternate weekday is designated for observance. For example, in 2026, Independence Day (July 4) is a Saturday, so the holiday will be observed on Friday, July 3. This means that federal offices, banks, and the USPS will be closed on July 3. Similarly, if Christmas (December 25) falls on a Friday, it is observed on that day. No weekend adjustments are needed for Christmas 2026 as it is a Friday.
It is important to note that state and local governments may observe additional holidays, but the 11 federal holidays are consistent nationwide. Private employers are not required to close on federal holidays, though many do. For accurate timekeeping across the country, refer to the US Time Zone Map to see how time zones affect holiday observances, especially for live events and countdowns.
Time Zone Considerations for Federal Holidays
The United States spans multiple time zones, which can affect the exact moment a holiday begins. For instance, New Year's Day starts at midnight in each time zone, but the official federal holiday is observed on the same calendar date nationwide. However, for events like the stock market close on Thanksgiving, the closing time is based on Eastern Time (ET). The Eastern Time (ET) zone is used as the reference for most national announcements. Meanwhile, the Central Time (CT) zone is one hour behind, and the Mountain Time (MT) zone is two hours behind. For states like Arizona that do not observe daylight saving time, the time difference shifts during the summer. Learn more about this in our article Does Arizona Use DST?.
If you need to coordinate holiday events across time zones, use TimeRight.Now for worldwide city times, or CurrentTime.now for a multi-city world clock view.
Detailed Holiday Schedule Table
| Holiday | Date | Day | Observed | Typical Closures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1 | Thu | Jan 1 | All federal offices, banks, USPS, stock markets |
| MLK Day | Jan 19 | Mon | Jan 19 | Federal offices, banks, USPS, stock markets |
| Presidents' Day | Feb 16 | Mon | Feb 16 | Federal offices, banks, USPS, stock markets |
| Memorial Day | May 25 | Mon | May 25 | Federal offices, banks, USPS, stock markets |
| Juneteenth | Jun 19 | Fri | Jun 19 | Federal offices, banks, USPS, stock markets |
| Independence Day | Jul 4 | Sat | Jul 3 (Fri) | Observed Jul 3: federal offices, banks, USPS, stock markets |
| Labor Day | Sep 7 | Mon | Sep 7 | Federal offices, banks, USPS, stock markets |
| Columbus Day | Oct 12 | Mon | Oct 12 | Federal offices, banks, USPS, stock markets |
| Veterans Day | Nov 11 | Wed | Nov 11 | Federal offices, banks, USPS, stock markets |
| Thanksgiving | Nov 26 | Thu | Nov 26 | Federal offices, banks, USPS, stock markets closed; markets close early |
| Christmas | Dec 25 | Fri | Dec 25 | All federal offices, banks, USPS, stock markets |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 11 US federal holidays for 2026?
The 11 federal holidays in 2026 are: New Year's Day (Jan 1), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan 19), Presidents' Day (Feb 16), Memorial Day (May 25), Juneteenth (Jun 19), Independence Day (Jul 4, observed Jul 3), Labor Day (Sep 7), Columbus Day (Oct 12), Veterans Day (Nov 11), Thanksgiving (Nov 26), and Christmas (Dec 25).
What happens if a federal holiday falls on a weekend in 2026?
If a holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed on the preceding Friday. If it falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday. In 2026, Independence Day (Saturday) will be observed on Friday, July 3. No other holidays fall on a weekend.
Are banks and post offices closed on federal holidays?
Yes, most banks and all US Post Offices are closed on federal holidays. Some banks may have limited hours on observed holidays. Stock markets (NYSE, NASDAQ) are also closed on federal holidays, except for some observed dates.
Do all states observe the same federal holidays?
Yes, all states observe the 11 federal holidays, though some states may also have additional state holidays. Federal employees are entitled to these days off, but private employers are not required to close.
How do time zones affect federal holiday observance?
Federal holidays are observed on the same calendar date across all US time zones. However, the exact start time varies by time zone. For example, New Year's Day begins at midnight in each zone. For synchronized events, Eastern Time is often used as the reference. For more on time zones, see our US Time Zone Map.
Is Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2026?
Yes, Juneteenth National Independence Day (June 19) is a federal holiday. In 2026, it falls on a Friday, so it will be observed on that day.