The United States recognizes eleven federal holidays in the United States under 5 U.S.C. § 6103. In 2026, they fall on the following dates:
- New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
- Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.: Monday, January 19
- Washington’s Birthday: Monday, February 16
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 25
- Juneteenth National Independence Day: Friday, June 19
- Independence Day: Friday, July 3 (observed; July 4 is a Saturday)
- 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
Washington’s Birthday is the statutory name of the February holiday most people call Presidents’ Day. Columbus Day is likewise the federal name, even where states and cities observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the same Monday.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 US Code 6103 – Holidays
How Weekend Holidays Shift
When a fixed-date holiday lands on a weekend, the federal observance moves. A Saturday holiday is observed the preceding Friday; a Sunday holiday is observed the following Monday. That is why July 4, 2026 shows up on the federal calendar as Friday, July 3.2U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Federal Holidays
The rule comes from 5 U.S.C. § 6103(b) and Executive Order 11582. For federal employees on a standard Monday-through-Friday schedule, the shift is automatic.3U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Fact Sheet – Federal Holidays In Lieu Of Determination
Inauguration Day Is a Twelfth, Limited Holiday
January 20 following a presidential election is also a legal public holiday, but only for federal and D.C. government workers in a defined area: 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. It does not apply nationwide, and it does not fall in 2026. The next one is January 20, 2029. If that date falls on a Sunday, the holiday moves to Monday along with the public ceremony.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 USC 6103 – Holidays
What Closes on a Federal Holiday
Federal Reserve banks close on all eleven days. Interbank wire transfers, ACH payments, and check clearing pause, which can push a direct deposit or a scheduled payment out by at least one business day. The Fed follows the same weekend-shift pattern as the rest of the federal government.5Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Federal Reserve Bank Holiday Schedule
The U.S. Postal Service closes on all eleven as well, and regular mail delivery is suspended. For USPS pay and leave purposes in 2026, the Saturday Independence Day is treated as a Friday, July 3 holiday.6United States Postal Service. Holidays and Events
How Federal Holidays Move Tax and Court Deadlines
When a tax deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, it extends to the next business day. The IRS applies this rule under IRC § 7503 to any act required under the internal revenue laws.7eCFR. 26 CFR 301.7503-1 – Time for Performance of Acts Where Last Day Falls on Saturday, Sunday, or Legal Holiday In 2026, April 15 is a Wednesday, so most filers see no shift.8Internal Revenue Service. When to File
Federal court deadlines work the same way. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 6(a), a filing period that ends on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday runs to the end of the next day that isn’t one of those. The rule counts all eleven statutory federal holidays, any day the President or Congress declares a holiday, and, for deadlines measured backward from an event, any holiday recognized by the state where the district court sits.9Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 6 – Computing and Extending Time
Private Employers Are Not Required to Observe Them
No federal law requires a private employer to close, give the day off, or pay a premium for holiday work. The Fair Labor Standards Act does not require pay for time not worked. Whether you get a paid federal holiday, and which ones, depends on your employment agreement or your employer’s policy.10U.S. Department of Labor. Holiday Pay
Banks generally close because they follow the Federal Reserve schedule, which is where the widespread assumption of a legal requirement tends to come from. Retail and service businesses often stay open, and days like Memorial Day and Labor Day can be among their busiest.