Federal Holidays 2026 & 2027
All 11 federal legal public holidays per 5 U.S.C. § 6103 — observed dates, in-lieu-of rules for weekend holidays, and holiday pay basics. Schedules cover 2026 and 2027.
Source: OPM Federal Holidays schedule · Statutory authority: 5 U.S.C. § 6103
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Full schedules with observed dates, in-lieu-of notes, and holiday pay basics.
Federal holidays, September–December 2026
Late-year observed dates, with in-lieu-of adjustments already applied.
| Holiday | Observed Date | Day | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | 2026-09-07 | Monday | — |
| Columbus Day | 2026-10-12 | Monday | — |
| Veterans Day | 2026-11-11 | Wednesday | — |
| Thanksgiving Day | 2026-11-26 | Thursday | — |
| Christmas Day | 2026-12-25 | Friday | — |
Source: OPM Federal Holidays 2026 · 5 U.S.C. § 6103 · ★ = in-lieu-of adjustment applied. Full 2026 schedule →
2027 federal holidays — coming up
Three in-lieu-of adjustments in 2027: Juneteenth (Jun 19 → Jun 18), Independence Day (Jul 4 → Jul 5), and Christmas (Dec 25 → Dec 24).
| Holiday | Observed Date | Day | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 2027-01-01 | Friday | — |
| Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday | 2027-01-18 | Monday | — |
| Washington's Birthday | 2027-02-15 | Monday | — |
| Memorial Day | 2027-05-31 | Monday | — |
Showing first 4 of 11 holidays. View full 2027 schedule →
Related federal employee tools
Federal holidays — frequently asked questions
How many federal holidays are there per year?
There are 11 federal legal public holidays, established by 5 U.S.C. § 6103: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday, Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day), Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. The count has been 11 since Juneteenth was added in 2021.
Are federal employees paid for federal holidays?
Yes. Federal employees whose scheduled workday falls on a holiday receive their regular pay without working. Employees who are required to work on a holiday receive holiday premium pay equal to their basic hourly rate for each hour worked, in addition to their regular holiday pay — effectively double pay for those hours. Authority: 5 U.S.C. § 5546.
What happens when a federal holiday falls on a weekend?
When a holiday falls on Saturday, most federal employees observe it on the preceding Friday. When it falls on Sunday, they observe it on the following Monday. In 2026, Independence Day (July 4) is the only affected holiday — observed Friday, July 3. In 2027, three holidays are shifted: Juneteenth (Jun 19 Saturday → Jun 18 Friday), Independence Day (Jul 4 Sunday → Jul 5 Monday), and Christmas (Dec 25 Saturday → Dec 24 Friday). Authority: 5 U.S.C. § 6103(b).
Data Accuracy Notice: Federal holiday dates are from the OPM Federal Holidays schedule and 5 U.S.C. § 6103. Verify current-year dates at OPM Federal Holidays. Presidential proclamations can add extra holidays — not included here.