In 2026, the list of US federal holidays runs to eleven days, set by 5 U.S.C. § 6103. Federal offices, Federal Reserve Banks, and the Postal Service close on each one; private employers are free to follow the same calendar or ignore it.
The Eleven Federal Holidays in 2026
- 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 (observed) — Friday, July 3 (July 4 falls on 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
1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 US Code 6103 – Holidays2Federal Reserve Board. Holidays Observed – K.8
The statute names the February holiday “Washington’s Birthday,” even though many states and employers call it Presidents’ Day. “Columbus Day” is the official federal name, though some jurisdictions observe the same day as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Juneteenth, added in 2021, is the newest holiday on the list.3Congress.gov. S.475 – Juneteenth National Independence Day Act
Why Independence Day Shows as July 3
Only one holiday moves off its calendar date in 2026. July 4 falls on a Saturday, so federal employees on a standard Monday–Friday schedule observe Independence Day on Friday, July 3. The rule is the same in either direction: a Saturday holiday is observed the preceding Friday, and a Sunday holiday is observed the following Monday.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 US Code 6103 – Holidays
The Federal Reserve applies a slightly different pattern. Federal Reserve Banks stay open on the Friday before a Saturday holiday, though the Board of Governors office closes; all Federal Reserve offices close the Monday after a Sunday holiday.2Federal Reserve Board. Holidays Observed – K.8 Every other 2026 federal holiday sits on a weekday and is observed on its actual date.
Who Gets the Day Off, and Who Gets Paid Extra
Federal employees receive a paid day off on each of the eleven holidays. If they are required to work during designated holiday hours, they earn holiday premium pay: their regular basic rate plus an equal additional amount, which works out to double pay for the hours worked. Employees on standby premium pay, certain firefighters, and intermittent workers are not eligible for holiday premium pay.4U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Fact Sheet – Federal Holidays – Work Schedules and Pay
Private employers are on their own calendar. The Fair Labor Standards Act does not require any private business to give paid time off or premium pay for a federal holiday. Whether you get the day, and whether you get paid extra for working it, comes down to your employer’s policy, your contract, or a union agreement.5U.S. Department of Labor. Holiday Pay Most large employers close for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day; far fewer close for Columbus Day or Veterans Day.
What Actually Closes
Every federal holiday shuts down mail delivery and retail post office service.6USPS. Holidays and Events Federal Reserve Banks close on all eleven, which stops interbank money movement. The Fedwire Funds Service, which handles large-dollar wire transfers between financial institutions, does not operate on any Federal Reserve holiday. Only a “funds-transfer business day,” meaning a day the Fed is open, counts for wires and interbank settlements.7Federal Reserve Financial Services. Wholesale Services Operating Hours If a wire needs to land by a specific date, add a day of cushion around any holiday on the list.
The Stock Market Runs a Different Calendar
The New York Stock Exchange does not match the federal holiday list. In 2026, the NYSE stays open on Columbus Day (October 12) and on Veterans Day (November 11). It closes on Good Friday (April 3), which is not a federal holiday. It closes early at 1:00 p.m. Eastern on the day after Thanksgiving and on Christmas Eve.8NYSE. Holidays and Trading Hours For trading questions, check the exchange schedule rather than this list.
Deadlines That Slide Because of a Holiday
A federal holiday can push a filing deadline forward. If a federal tax return’s due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the IRS moves the deadline to the next business day.9Internal Revenue Service. When to File Federal court deadlines work the same way. Under Rule 6 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a deadline that expires on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday runs to the end of the next day that is not one of those; the rule also covers days when the clerk’s office is inaccessible.10Legal Information Institute (LII). Rule 6 – Computing and Extending Time; Time for Motion Papers
Patent and trademark deadlines have their own version of the rule. Under 37 CFR § 1.7, a USPTO deadline that lands on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday within the District of Columbia shifts to the next business day.11eCFR. 37 CFR 1.7 – Times for Taking Action; Expiration on Saturday, Sunday or Federal Holiday
Inauguration Day Is Not on the 2026 List
Inauguration Day is a federal holiday only every four years, and only for a limited group. Under 5 U.S.C. § 6103(c), it applies to federal employees and District of Columbia government employees who work in the D.C. metro area, which the statute defines to include Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in Maryland, Arlington and Fairfax Counties in Virginia, and the cities of Alexandria and Falls Church. Federal workers stationed elsewhere do not get the day.12Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 USC 6103 – Holidays The next Inauguration Day is January 20, 2029, so it does not appear on any 2026 calendar.