Federal Holidays 2026
All 11 federal legal public holidays for 2026 with observed dates, in-lieu-of rules, and premium pay basics. 1 holiday is affected by the weekend in-lieu-of rule this year: Independence Day (observed Friday, 2026-07-03).
Source: OPM Federal Holidays schedule · Statutory authority: 5 U.S.C. § 6103
2026 federal holiday overview
Counts and notable dates at a glance.
Complete 2026 federal holiday schedule
All dates shown are the observed dates — when federal offices close and employees are off. In-lieu-of adjustments are noted.
| Holiday | Observed Date | Day | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 2026-01-01 | Thursday | — |
| Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday | 2026-01-19 | Monday | — |
| Washington's Birthday | 2026-02-16 | Monday | — |
| Memorial Day | 2026-05-25 | Monday | — |
| Juneteenth National Independence Day | 2026-06-19 | Friday | — |
| Independence Day | 2026-07-03actual: 2026-07-04 | Friday | ★ In-lieu-of Saturday |
| 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. Verify dates for any holiday that falls on a weekend.
In-lieu-of rules for weekend holidays
When a federal holiday falls on a weekend, most federal employees observe it on a weekday. The rule is in 5 U.S.C. § 6103(b):
- Holiday falls on SaturdayObserved the preceding Friday
- Holiday falls on SundayObserved the following Monday
- Holiday falls on a weekdayObserved on the actual date (no shift)
Exception: Employees who are regularly scheduled to work on Saturdays or Sundays observe holidays on the actual calendar date, not the in-lieu-of date. If your regular day off is Monday and a holiday falls on Sunday (shifting to Monday), you would observe the actual Sunday date instead.
In-lieu-of holidays in 2026
July 4 falls on Saturday in 2026. Per 5 U.S.C. § 6103(b), federal employees observe it on the preceding Friday, July 3.
Holiday premium pay for federal employees
Federal employees who are required to work on a federal holiday are entitled to holiday premium pay under 5 U.S.C. § 5546. Here is how it works:
- →Employees who have the holiday OFF receive their regular pay — no work, no pay cut.
- →Employees REQUIRED to work receive: (1) regular holiday pay + (2) premium pay equal to their basic rate per hour worked = effectively double pay.
- →Holiday premium pay is in addition to — not a replacement for — regular pay.
- →Part-time employees receive holiday benefits only on days they are scheduled to work.
- →Employees on leave (annual, sick, LWOP) during a holiday still receive the holiday if they are in pay status on the workday before or after.
- →There is no law requiring the day after Thanksgiving off — agencies may grant it via executive order or leave policy, but it is not a statutory holiday.
2026 holiday notes
Key context for each federal holiday.
New Year's Day — 2026-01-01 (Thursday)
New Year's Day is the first federal holiday of the calendar year, falling on January 1. It commemorates the start of the new year.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday — 2026-01-19 (Monday)
Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday is observed on the third Monday in January. It honors the civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate born on January 15, 1929.
Washington's Birthday — 2026-02-16 (Monday)
Washington's Birthday (commonly called Presidents' Day) is observed on the third Monday in February. By statute, it is named only for George Washington (born February 22, 1732) — the name 'Presidents' Day' is not in federal law.
Memorial Day — 2026-05-25 (Monday)
Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in May. It honors military personnel who died in service to the United States. Originally called Decoration Day, it has been a federal holiday since 1971.
Juneteenth National Independence Day — 2026-06-19 (Friday)
Juneteenth National Independence Day is observed on June 19. It commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States, specifically the June 19, 1865 announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas. Established as a federal holiday in 2021.
Independence Day — 2026-07-03 (Friday)
Independence Day (July 4) celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. When July 4 falls on Saturday (as in 2026), federal employees observe the holiday on Friday, July 3.
★ In-lieu-of adjustment: July 4 falls on Saturday in 2026. Per 5 U.S.C. § 6103(b), federal employees observe it on the preceding Friday, July 3.
Labor Day — 2026-09-07 (Monday)
Labor Day is observed on the first Monday in September. It honors the American labor movement and the contributions of workers to society. It has been a federal holiday since 1894.
Columbus Day — 2026-10-12 (Monday)
Columbus Day is observed on the second Monday in October. It is a federal holiday under 5 U.S.C. § 6103 — though many states and localities observe Indigenous Peoples' Day instead. Federal employees receive the day off per statute.
Veterans Day — 2026-11-11 (Wednesday)
Veterans Day honors all U.S. military veterans on November 11, the date the Armistice of World War I took effect in 1918. Unlike Memorial Day (which honors those who died in service), Veterans Day honors all who served.
Thanksgiving Day — 2026-11-26 (Thursday)
Thanksgiving Day is observed on the fourth Thursday in November. In 2026, that is November 26. It is one of the most widely observed U.S. holidays and typically results in informal "use or lose" leave usage on the following Friday.
Christmas Day — 2026-12-25 (Friday)
Christmas Day is observed on December 25. In 2026, December 25 falls on a Friday, so federal employees observe the holiday on Friday.
Planning ahead: 2027 federal holidays
In 2027, three holidays fall on weekends: Juneteenth (Jun 19 → observed Jun 18), Independence Day (Jul 4 → observed Jul 5), and Christmas Day (Dec 25 → observed Dec 24).
View 2027 Federal Holiday Schedule →Federal holidays 2026 — frequently asked questions
How many federal holidays are there in 2026?
There are 11 federal legal public holidays in 2026, established by 5 U.S.C. § 6103: New Year's Day (Jan 1), MLK Day (Jan 19), Washington's Birthday (Feb 16), Memorial Day (May 25), Juneteenth (Jun 19), Independence Day (Jul 4 — observed Jul 3), Labor Day (Sep 7), Columbus Day (Oct 12), Veterans Day (Nov 11), Thanksgiving Day (Nov 26), and Christmas Day (Dec 25). Independence Day falls on Saturday and is observed on Friday, July 3.
What is the in-lieu-of rule for federal holidays in 2026?
When a federal 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, only Independence Day is affected: July 4 falls on Saturday, so the observed holiday is Friday, July 3. Employees whose regular schedule is Saturday observe the holiday on Saturday (the actual date). Source: 5 U.S.C. § 6103(b).
Do federal employees get paid extra for working on a federal holiday?
Yes. Federal employees 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. This means employees effectively earn double their basic rate for hours worked on holidays. This applies to GS employees under 5 U.S.C. § 5546. Leave and earnings statements will show "Holiday Premium" pay separately.
Do part-time federal employees get holiday pay in 2026?
Part-time federal employees receive holiday pay only for holidays that fall on one of their scheduled work days. For example, a part-time employee who works Monday, Wednesday, and Friday is entitled to Independence Day 2026 (observed Friday, July 3) because Friday is one of their scheduled days. They would NOT be entitled to a holiday that falls on Tuesday (not one of their scheduled days).
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 (e.g., the day before or after Christmas) — these are announced by executive order and are not included here.