United States Federal Holidays (2025–2029)
The United States has 11 federal holidays in 2026. The headline change: Independence Day falls on Saturday, July 4, so for most federal employees it is observed on Friday, July 3. Every other holiday lands on a weekday, and Thanksgiving anchors a four-day break.
At a Glance: Statutory Days & Long Weekends
2026 – 20279 long weekends (3+ days)
View full calendar11 long weekends scheduled
Explore scheduleUnited States Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
Title 5 of the United States Code (5 U.S.C. 6103) establishes 11 permanent federal holidays for federal government employees.
United States Public Holiday System & Legal Framework
Governing Legislation & Statutory Authority
Title 5 of the United States Code (5 U.S.C. 6103) establishes 11 permanent federal holidays for federal government employees.
Weekend In-Lieu Observance & Substitute Days
In-Lieu Weekend Observance Rules: When a federal holiday falls on a Saturday, federal workers observe it on the preceding Friday. When it falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday. For New Year’s Day falling on Saturday, the in-lieu holiday is observed on Friday, December 31 of the prior calendar year.
Federal vs Regional & Provincial Disparities
Federal holidays legally apply only to federal government employees and banks. Private sector employers are governed by state employment laws and corporate benefits. Some states add state holidays, such as Juneteenth (early adopter states), Patriots’ Day in Massachusetts, or Cesar Chavez Day in California.
Statutory Annual Leave & Bridge Days (Ponts) Culture
The United States has no statutory minimum paid annual leave under federal law (the Fair Labor Standards Act does not mandate paid time off). Most professional employers provide 10 to 20 PTO days. Americans actively leverage Thanksgiving (the 4th Thursday in November) and Monday holidays like Memorial Day and Labor Day for travel.
United States Multi-Year Calendars & Downloads (2025–2028)
iCal (ICS) · CSV · PDFUnited States Planning Hub: Calendars, Working Days & Schools
Working Days Calculator
Calculate exact business days, work hours, and statutory holidays for United States (2026 & 2027) for payroll and contracts.
Long Weekends & Leave Planner
Discover all natural 3- and 4-day weekends, plus interactive bridge day strategies turning 1–2 days of annual leave into 5–9 days off.
Today's Public Holiday Status
Live local-timezone detector answering "Is today a public holiday in United States?" with next upcoming closures.
US Observed Federal Holidays 2026: Why July 3 Is a Day Off
In 2026 Independence Day falls on a Saturday, so it is observed on Friday July 3 — the only observed federal holiday of the year. Dates and the rule.
US Long Weekends 2026: Dates & the July 4 Shift
All nine US long weekends in 2026 — MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 3, Labor Day, Columbus Day, the 4-day Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Major Global Festivals Celebrated in United States
Other Public Holiday Calendars in North America
Official sources & data
- Federal Holidays — 2026Visit sourceU.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
- Holidays Work Schedules and PayVisit sourceU.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
Frequently Asked Questions About United States Public Holidays
How many federal holidays are there in the United States?
There are 11 permanent federal holidays recognized by the U.S. government under 5 U.S.C. 6103, ranging from New Year’s Day to Christmas Day.
What is the "in-lieu" holiday rule in the US?
Under federal regulations, if a federal holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday is treated as the official paid holiday. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed.
Do private companies in the US have to give employees federal holidays off?
No. Federal holidays are only mandatory for federal government offices, federally chartered banks, and the postal service. Private companies set their own paid holiday schedules, although most observe major holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Labor Day.
Which federal holidays create 3-day weekends automatically in the US?
Under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, Martin Luther King Jr. Day (3rd Mon in Jan), Washington’s Birthday / Presidents’ Day (3rd Mon in Feb), Memorial Day (last Mon in May), Labor Day (1st Mon in Sep), and Columbus Day (2nd Mon in Oct) always fall on Mondays.
How does Thanksgiving differ from other federal holidays?
Thanksgiving always falls on the fourth Thursday of November. While federal law designates only Thursday as the holiday, virtually all public schools and corporate offices also close on "Black Friday", giving workers an automatic 4-day nationwide holiday break.