US Federal Holidays
2025 & 2026 Dates
All 11 official US federal holidays with exact dates, observed dates, and how many days until each one. Check any date instantly.
Federal Holidays 2025 & 2026 - Full Table
| Holiday | 2025 Date | 2025 Day | 2026 Date | 2026 Day |
|---|
† Observed date shown when holiday falls on weekend (Saturday → Friday, Sunday → Monday).
About US Federal Holidays
The United States has 11 federal holidays established by Congress under Title 5, U.S. Code, Section 6103. These are paid holidays for federal government employees. Federal holidays also affect bank hours (most banks close), mail delivery (USPS does not deliver), and financial market hours (NYSE, NASDAQ, and bond markets close on most federal holidays).
How Federal Holiday Dates Are Determined
Some federal holidays fall on a fixed date every year (e.g., July 4th, November 11th). Others use a "Monday" formula to always create a 3-day weekend. For example, Memorial Day is always the last Monday in May, Labor Day is always the first Monday in September, and MLK Day is always the third Monday in January. When a fixed-date holiday falls on Saturday, it's observed on Friday; when it falls on Sunday, it's observed on Monday.
Federal vs. State vs. Bank Holidays
Federal holidays apply to federal government workers. Private employers are not required to give federal holidays off - about 90% choose to, but it's their decision. State governments often observe additional holidays specific to their history. Banks are regulated by the Federal Reserve and generally close on federal holidays, though some remain open with limited hours. Stock markets (NYSE, NASDAQ) follow their own holiday schedule, which mostly aligns with federal holidays.
The 11 Official US Federal Holidays
- New Year's Day (January 1) - First day of the new year
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (3rd Monday in January) - Honors civil rights leader MLK; observed since 1983
- Presidents' Day (3rd Monday in February) - Officially "Washington's Birthday," honors George Washington; informally extended to all presidents
- Memorial Day (Last Monday in May) - Honors military personnel who died in service
- Juneteenth (June 19) - Commemorates the end of slavery in the US; federal holiday since 2021
- Independence Day (July 4) - Celebrates the Declaration of Independence in 1776
- Labor Day (1st Monday in September) - Honors the American labor movement
- Columbus Day (2nd Monday in October) - Honors Christopher Columbus's 1492 arrival; some states observe Indigenous Peoples' Day instead
- Veterans Day (November 11) - Honors all US military veterans; note: different from Memorial Day (living vs. fallen)
- Thanksgiving (4th Thursday in November) - Annual harvest festival; always a Thursday, giving rise to the popular "long weekend"
- Christmas Day (December 25) - Christian holiday also widely celebrated secularly
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How to use US Federal Holidays 2025 & 2026 Dates
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What this tool does
All eleven federal holidays with exact dates
New Year's Day through Christmas Day for 2025, 2026 and 2027, each with the date it falls on and the date it is observed.
The weekday, and how long until each one
Every holiday shows which day of the week it lands on and how many days away it is, so planning around a long weekend takes one look.
Check any date instantly
Type a date into the checker and it tells you whether it is a federal holiday, whether it is an observed date, and which holiday it belongs to.
Runs fully in your browser with no upload and no sign-up
The dates are worked out in your browser from the rule for each holiday, so nothing is uploaded and the page works with no connection.
Frequently asked questions
How many US federal holidays are there?
Eleven. New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
What is an observed date?
When a fixed-date holiday falls on a Saturday it is observed on the Friday before, and when it falls on a Sunday it is observed on the Monday after. That observed date is the day federal offices actually close, and it is shown next to each holiday.
Are federal holidays the same as state holidays?
No. These are the federal holidays that close federal offices. States add their own, and private employers are not required to follow either list.
Can I check whether a specific date is a holiday?
Yes. Enter any date in the checker and it tells you whether it is a federal holiday, whether it is an observed date, and which holiday it belongs to.
Does the page work offline?
Yes, once it has loaded. The dates are calculated in your browser from the rules for each holiday, so nothing is fetched and nothing is uploaded.
Do I get paid for working on a federal holiday?
For federal government employees, working on a federal holiday means receiving holiday premium pay (typically double time). For private sector employees, there is no federal law requiring holiday pay. It depends entirely on your employer's policy and your employment agreement. Many private employers pay time-and-a-half for holiday work, but this is not legally required at the federal level.
Is Columbus Day a federal holiday in all states?
Columbus Day is a federal holiday and is observed by federal employees in all states. However, many states have officially replaced it with Indigenous Peoples' Day, including California, Oregon, Minnesota, and others. Some states observe both. The shift reflects growing recognition of the harm done to Native American peoples during European colonization.
What day does Christmas fall on in 2026?
Christmas Day (December 25) falls on a Friday in 2026, giving many workers a natural long weekend. In 2025, Christmas falls on a Thursday - many employers give both Thursday and Friday off, creating a 4-day weekend.
Are banks open on Veterans Day?
Most banks close on Veterans Day (November 11) since it's a federal holiday and banks follow Federal Reserve guidelines. However, some bank branches stay open with limited hours, especially in shopping centers. ATMs remain fully operational. Online banking and mobile banking are not affected. USPS does not deliver mail on Veterans Day.
What's the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?
Memorial Day (last Monday in May) specifically honors US military personnel who died while serving - it is a solemn day of remembrance. Veterans Day (November 11) honors all US military veterans, living and deceased, who served honorably. Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I on November 11, 1918.
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