There are 11 federal holidays in the United States, set by Congress under 5 U.S.C. § 6103.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 USC 6103 – Holidays On these days, federal offices, federal courts, and the U.S. Postal Service close, and federal employees receive a paid day off. Private employers are not required to do the same, so whether a federal holiday is a day off for you depends on who you work for.
The 11 Federal Holidays
Congress has designated the following as legal public holidays:1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 USC 6103 – Holidays
- New Year’s Day — January 1
- Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. — Third Monday in January
- Washington’s Birthday — Third Monday in February
- Memorial Day — Last Monday in May
- Juneteenth National Independence Day — June 19
- Independence Day — July 4
- Labor Day — First Monday in September
- Columbus Day — Second Monday in October
- Veterans Day — November 11
- Thanksgiving Day — Fourth Thursday in November
- Christmas Day — December 25
Juneteenth is the newest, added in June 2021 under the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act.2Congress.gov. S.475 – Juneteenth National Independence Day Act Some states and cities observe the second Monday in October under a different name such as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, but the federal designation remains Columbus Day.
2026 Dates
For 2026, federal offices follow this schedule:3GSA. 2026 Payroll Calendar
- New Year’s Day — Thursday, January 1
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day — Monday, January 19
- Washington’s Birthday — Monday, February 16
- Memorial Day — Monday, May 25
- Juneteenth — Friday, June 19
- Independence Day (observed) — Friday, July 3
- Labor Day — Monday, September 7
- Columbus Day — Monday, October 12
- Veterans Day — Wednesday, November 11
- Thanksgiving Day — Thursday, November 26
- Christmas Day — Friday, December 25
What “Federal Holiday” Actually Means
The label is narrower than it sounds. Section 6103 creates legal public holidays for federal employees and government of the District of Columbia employees.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 USC 6103 – Holidays On those days, federal agencies close, federal courts do not hold regular sessions, and the Postal Service suspends delivery.4USPS. Holidays and Events
State governments, local governments, and private businesses set their own holiday calendars. Most recognize the same 11 dates, and many add their own. A day off for a federal worker is not automatically a day off for anyone else.
When a Holiday Falls on a Weekend
Five of the 11 holidays sit on fixed calendar dates, so they occasionally land on a Saturday or Sunday. When that happens, the observed day shifts. If a holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday is the observed holiday for employees on a standard Monday-through-Friday schedule.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 USC 6103 – Holidays If it falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed.5U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Fact Sheet: Federal Holidays – In Lieu Of Determination The Monday rule traces to Executive Order 11582, signed in 1971.6National Archives. Executive Order 11582
In 2026, this matters for Independence Day. July 4 is a Saturday, so Friday, July 3 is the observed federal holiday.3GSA. 2026 Payroll Calendar
Do Private Employers Have to Give You the Day Off?
No. No federal law requires private employers to close on federal holidays, give employees the day off, or pay a premium for holiday work. The Fair Labor Standards Act does not require payment for time not worked, including holidays.7U.S. Department of Labor. Holiday Pay Whether you get a paid holiday, unpaid time off, or nothing at all depends on your employer’s policies or your employment contract.
Many companies voluntarily offer paid holidays or premium rates like time-and-a-half to compete for workers. Those are business choices, not legal obligations. If your employer requires you to work Thanksgiving or Christmas, you are owed your regular wage for the hours worked and nothing extra unless your contract says otherwise.
Union contracts are the main exception. Collective bargaining agreements often include specific holiday pay provisions, and those terms are enforceable.
How Federal Employees Are Paid for Holidays
Federal employees excused from work on a holiday receive their regular pay. Those required to work receive their basic pay for the day plus premium pay equal to their basic pay rate for up to eight hours of holiday work, effectively doubling their rate.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 USC 5546 – Pay for Sunday and Holiday Work Holiday work beyond eight hours is compensated under separate overtime provisions.
Effects on Banking, Mail, and Filing Deadlines
Banking and Payments
Federal Reserve banks close on all 11 federal holidays, so ACH transfers and Fedwire transactions do not process on those days.9Federal Reserve. Federal Reserve System Holiday Schedule Direct deposits, bill payments, and bank transfers initiated around a holiday can take an extra business day to settle. A paycheck normally landing by direct deposit on an observed-holiday Friday may post the Thursday before or the following Monday. Retail branches may open on some holidays, but the payment rails behind them are shut.
Mail Delivery
The U.S. Postal Service suspends regular delivery on all 11 federal holidays.4USPS. Holidays and Events Private carriers like FedEx and UPS run their own calendars, which do not match the federal one.
Tax and Court Deadlines
If a tax filing or payment deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, it moves to the next business day.10IRS. When to File The rule comes from 26 U.S.C. § 7503, which also treats statewide holidays in the state where the relevant IRS office sits as legal holidays for this purpose.11Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 7503 – Time for Performance of Acts Where Last Day Falls on Saturday, Sunday, or Legal Holiday A state holiday like Patriots’ Day can push a federal tax deadline back even though it is not itself a federal holiday.
Federal court deadlines follow a similar rule. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 6(a), if the last day of a filing period is a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the deadline extends to the next day that is not.12Justia Law. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 6 – Computing and Extending Time
Religious Holidays That Are Not on the List
The 11 federal holidays are secular. None are designated for religious observance, even where the date overlaps with a religious one. If your practice calls for observing days not on the federal calendar, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations for sincerely held religious beliefs that conflict with work, including scheduling around religious observances.13U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Fact Sheet: Religious Accommodations in the Workplace
Accommodations can take the form of a schedule swap, a flexible start time, or use of personal leave. An employer may deny a request only if granting it would create a substantial hardship on the business. No formal written request or specific language is required; you need only make clear that the time off is for a religious reason.13U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Fact Sheet: Religious Accommodations in the Workplace
Inauguration Day Is Not a Nationwide Holiday
January 20 in a presidential inauguration year functions as a 12th federal holiday, but only for federal employees and D.C. government workers in the District of Columbia, Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in Maryland, Arlington and Fairfax Counties in Virginia, and the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church. If January 20 falls on a Sunday, the next day chosen for the public ceremony is the holiday.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 USC 6103 – Holidays The most recent one was January 20, 2025. The next is January 20, 2029. It does not apply in 2026.