2026 Federal Holidays for Employers
Complete business holiday calendar with observed dates, bank closures, and planning tips for your workplace holiday schedule.
2026 Federal Holidays
| Holiday | Date | Observed | Banks | Fed Offices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
New Year's Day Celebrates the first day of the new year | January 1, 2026 | January 1, 2026 (Thursday) | Closed | Closed |
Martin Luther King Jr. Day Honors civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. (Third Monday of January) | January 19, 2026 | January 19, 2026 (Monday) | Closed | Closed |
Presidents' Day Honors all U.S. presidents (Third Monday of February) | February 16, 2026 | February 16, 2026 (Monday) | Closed | Closed |
Memorial Day Honors military personnel who died in service (Last Monday of May) | May 25, 2026 | May 25, 2026 (Monday) | Closed | Closed |
Juneteenth Commemorates the end of slavery in the United States | June 19, 2026 | June 19, 2026 (Friday) | Closed | Closed |
Independence Day Celebrates American independence from Great Britain | July 4, 2026 | July 4, 2026 (Saturday) - Observed July 3, 2026 (Friday) | Closed | Closed |
Labor Day Honors the American labor movement (First Monday of September) | September 7, 2026 | September 7, 2026 (Monday) | Closed | Closed |
Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day Federal holiday; some states observe Indigenous Peoples' Day instead (Second Monday of October) | October 12, 2026 | October 12, 2026 (Monday) | Closed | Closed |
Veterans Day Honors military veterans | November 11, 2026 | November 11, 2026 (Wednesday) | Closed | Closed |
Thanksgiving Day Traditional harvest festival (Fourth Thursday of November) | November 26, 2026 | November 26, 2026 (Thursday) | Closed | Closed |
Christmas Day Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ | December 25, 2026 | December 25, 2026 (Friday) | Closed | Closed |
Common Additional Business Holidays
These days are not federal holidays but are commonly given off by many employers:
Day After Thanksgiving (Black Friday)
November 27, 2026
Day after Thanksgiving; major shopping day
Many employers give this day off. Retail businesses are typically open.
Christmas Eve
December 24, 2026
Day before Christmas
Many employers give this day off or have early release.
New Year's Eve
December 31, 2026
Last day of the year
Some employers give this day off or have early release.
Good Friday
April 3, 2026
Friday before Easter
State holiday in some states. Financial markets closed.
Easter Monday
April 6, 2026
Monday after Easter
Not widely observed in the US; common in other countries.
Holiday Policy Best Practices
Clearly Define Holiday Schedule
Publish your company's holiday schedule well in advance (ideally at the start of each year) so employees can plan.
Address Floating Holidays
Consider offering floating holidays that employees can use for religious or cultural observances not on your standard list.
Holiday Pay Policy
Clearly communicate whether non-exempt employees working on holidays receive premium pay (time-and-a-half, double time, etc.).
Weekend Holiday Observance
Have a clear policy for when holidays fall on weekends (typically observed on the nearest weekday).
Part-Time Employee Eligibility
Define whether part-time employees receive holiday pay and how it's calculated (prorated, etc.).
Religious Accommodation
Be prepared to reasonably accommodate employees who need time off for religious observances not on your holiday list.
Blackout Period Communication
If you restrict PTO around holidays (like retail during Black Friday), communicate this clearly and in advance.
Essential Staff Coverage
Plan ahead for coverage if your business operates on holidays. Offer incentives for holiday shifts.
Holiday Pay FAQ
Is holiday pay required by law?
No federal law requires private employers to provide paid holidays. Holiday pay is a benefit offered at the employer's discretion. However, if you have a policy, you must follow it consistently.
Do I have to pay time-and-a-half for holiday work?
Federal law doesn't require premium pay for holidays. However, if an employee works over 40 hours in a week that includes a holiday, overtime rules still apply. Some states have additional requirements.
What if a holiday falls on a weekend?
Federal offices observe holidays that fall on Saturday on the preceding Friday, and holidays that fall on Sunday on the following Monday. Many employers follow this practice.
Do part-time employees get holiday pay?
This depends on your company policy. Some employers provide prorated holiday pay based on average hours worked, while others only offer holiday pay to full-time employees.
Manage Holiday Time Off Easily
LeavePlan Pro automatically factors in company holidays when calculating available PTO and prevents scheduling conflicts during holiday periods.