The 4th of July federal holiday in 2026 falls on a Saturday, so the federal government will observe Independence Day on Friday, July 3, 2026. Federal offices, courts, and most government services close that Friday, and the shift changes how banks, delivery carriers, and financial markets operate through the long weekend.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 U.S. Code 6103 – Holidays
Why the Observed Date Moves to July 3
July 4 is the statutory holiday, but federal law shifts the day off when the date lands on a weekend so employees on a standard Monday-through-Friday schedule don’t lose the benefit. A Saturday holiday moves to the preceding Friday; a Sunday holiday moves to the following Monday.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 U.S. Code 6103 – Holidays Since July 4, 2026 is a Saturday, Friday, July 3 becomes the legal public holiday for federal purposes.
The Saturday rule doesn’t reach every worker. Federal employees whose basic workweek runs Monday through Saturday keep their normal Friday and work through. Part-time and intermittent employees aren’t entitled to an “in lieu of” holiday when the actual date falls on a day they weren’t scheduled anyway, though an agency may grant administrative leave to part-timers scheduled on the observed Friday.2U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Federal Holidays – Work Schedules and Pay
Pay for Federal Employees
Full-time federal employees who take the observed holiday off receive their regular basic pay. No leave is charged.
Employees required to work Friday, July 3 earn their basic pay plus holiday premium pay at the same rate, effectively doubling compensation for up to eight hours of non-overtime work.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 U.S. Code 5546 – Pay for Sunday and Holiday Work Hours beyond eight, or hours meeting overtime rules, fall under overtime provisions rather than the holiday premium. Part-time employees regularly scheduled that day receive basic pay for their scheduled hours up to eight, plus the holiday premium at the basic rate for hours actually worked.2U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Federal Holidays – Work Schedules and Pay
Mail and Package Delivery
The U.S. Postal Service closes retail locations and suspends regular residential and business delivery on Independence Day. Priority Mail Express is the exception and may still deliver in some areas for an added fee.4United States Postal Service. USPS Independence Day Schedule Because the observed holiday is Friday, July 3, expect USPS closures that Friday, with normal Saturday service potentially resuming July 4 depending on local availability.
Private carriers also stand down. UPS suspends pickup and delivery on July 4, and many UPS Store locations close; UPS Express Critical runs year-round.5UPS. UPS Holiday Schedule FedEx closes ground and express services on the holiday as well. To land a package before the weekend, plan for arrival by Thursday, July 2.
Banks and the Federal Reserve
The 2026 schedule has a wrinkle. Because July 4 falls on a Saturday, Federal Reserve Banks and Branches remain open Friday, July 3 and process wire transfers and interbank settlements as usual. The Board of Governors in Washington is closed that Friday.6Federal Reserve Board. Holidays Observed – K.8 On Saturday, July 4, the Fed is closed as it normally is on weekends, so processing impact is smaller than in years when July 4 lands midweek.
Most commercial banks follow the federal holiday calendar rather than the Fed Banks’ operating schedule, so many branches will close Friday, July 3 even though the Fed itself is running. Weekend deposits process on the next business day, Monday, July 6. Time-sensitive transfers should go in by close of business Thursday, July 2.
Stock and Bond Market Hours
The New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ both close on Friday, July 3, 2026. No early close is scheduled for Thursday, July 2 in equities.
Bond markets keep a separate calendar. SIFMA recommends a full close on Friday, July 3 and an early close at 2:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 2, covering government securities, corporate bonds, municipal bonds, and secondary money market instruments.7SIFMA. Holiday Schedule Anyone settling fixed-income trades should account for that shortened Thursday session.
Court Filing Deadlines
Federal courts close on the observed holiday, and Independence Day is listed as a legal holiday under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. A filing deadline falling on July 4 or its observed date automatically extends to the next day that isn’t a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. The same rule governs deadlines measured in hours, which pause and resume at the equivalent time on the next eligible day.8Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 6 – Computing and Extending Time
For 2026, any federal court deadline landing on Friday, July 3 rolls to Monday, July 6. When counting backward from a future deadline, the holiday is excluded from the count for periods measured in days, though periods of seven days or longer include weekends and holidays in the count, with only the final day triggering an extension. That distinction is where miscounts happen most often when a holiday weekend sits inside the calculation.
Private Sector Workers
Federal holiday status does not reach private employers. The Fair Labor Standards Act does not require paid time off on any holiday and does not require premium pay for holiday work.9U.S. Department of Labor. Holiday Pay A private employer can stay open on July 4, require a full shift, and pay the ordinary hourly rate without violating federal law.
Whether you get the day off, holiday pay, or a premium rate depends on your employment contract or collective bargaining agreement. Many employers offer time-and-a-half or a floating day as a voluntary perk. A small number of states, including Rhode Island, mandate premium pay for certain workers on designated holidays, though exemptions for industries like healthcare and hospitality are common. If you think a state rule applies to you, check with your state labor agency; otherwise, your handbook or union contract is the place to look.