US Long Weekends 2026
In 2026 the United States has nine federal long weekends. Eight Monday or Friday holidays each make a three-day weekend, and Thanksgiving anchors a four-day break. The headline quirk: Independence Day falls on Saturday July 4, so it is observed on Friday July 3 — a three-day weekend either way.
United States long weekends in 2026
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
3 daysJan 17 – 19
Presidents' Day
3 daysFeb 14 – 16
Memorial Day
3 daysMay 23 – 25
Juneteenth
3 daysJun 19 – 21
Independence Day
3 daysJul 3 – 5
Fri–Sun: the Jul 3 observed holiday plus the weekend (Jul 4 is the statutory date).
Labor Day
3 daysSep 5 – 7
Columbus Day
3 daysOct 10 – 12
Thanksgiving
4 daysNov 26 – 29
Thu–Sun: Thanksgiving Thursday plus the popular Black Friday day off and the weekend.
Christmas Day
3 daysDec 25 – 27
Interactive Leave & Bridge Days Planner
Select your country, year, and annual leave budget to calculate the highest-ROI vacation strategies. Bridge mid-week holidays into continuous mega-breaks.
29 Bridge Strategies Found
New Year's Day
Jan 1 – 4•Total Vacation: 4 days
Take 1 day of annual leave on Jan 2 to bridge New Year's Day with the weekend for a 4-day vacation.
Thanksgiving Day
Nov 26 – 29•Total Vacation: 4 days
Take 1 day of annual leave on Nov 27 to bridge Thanksgiving Day with the weekend for a 4-day vacation.
Veterans Day
Nov 7 – 11•Total Vacation: 5 days
Take 2 days of annual leave on Nov 9 – 10 to connect Veterans Day into a 5-day continuous break.
Veterans Day
Nov 11 – 15•Total Vacation: 5 days
Take 2 days of annual leave on Nov 12 – 13 to connect Veterans Day into a 5-day continuous break.
New Year's Day
Dec 27, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Dec 29 – 31, Jan 2 to connect New Year's Day into a 9-day continuous break.
Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jan 17 – 25•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Jan 20 – 23 to connect Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. into a 9-day continuous break.
Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day)
Feb 14 – 22•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Feb 17 – 20 to connect Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day) into a 9-day continuous break.
Memorial Day
May 23 – 31•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on May 26 – 29 to connect Memorial Day into a 9-day continuous break.
Juneteenth National Independence Day
Jun 13 – 21•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Jun 15 – 18 to connect Juneteenth National Independence Day into a 9-day continuous break.
Independence Day (observed)
Jun 27 – Jul 5•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Jun 29 – Jul 2 to connect Independence Day (observed) into a 9-day continuous break.
Labor Day
Sep 5 – 13•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Sep 8 – 11 to connect Labor Day into a 9-day continuous break.
Columbus Day
Oct 10 – 18•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Oct 13 – 16 to connect Columbus Day into a 9-day continuous break.
Veterans Day
Nov 7 – 15•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Nov 9 – 10, Nov 12 – 13 to connect Veterans Day into a 9-day continuous break.
Thanksgiving Day
Nov 21 – 29•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Nov 23 – 25, Nov 27 to connect Thanksgiving Day into a 9-day continuous break.
Christmas Day
Dec 19 – 27•Total Vacation: 9 days
Take 4 days of annual leave on Dec 21 – 24 to connect Christmas Day into a 9-day continuous break.
Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jan 10 – 19•Total Vacation: 10 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Jan 12 – 16 to connect Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. into a 10-day continuous break.
Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day)
Feb 7 – 16•Total Vacation: 10 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Feb 9 – 13 to connect Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day) into a 10-day continuous break.
Memorial Day
May 16 – 25•Total Vacation: 10 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on May 18 – 22 to connect Memorial Day into a 10-day continuous break.
Juneteenth National Independence Day
Jun 19 – 28•Total Vacation: 10 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Jun 22 – 26 to connect Juneteenth National Independence Day into a 10-day continuous break.
Independence Day (observed)
Jul 3 – 12•Total Vacation: 10 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Jul 6 – 10 to connect Independence Day (observed) into a 10-day continuous break.
Labor Day
Aug 29 – Sep 7•Total Vacation: 10 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Aug 31 – Sep 4 to connect Labor Day into a 10-day continuous break.
Columbus Day
Oct 3 – 12•Total Vacation: 10 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Oct 5 – 9 to connect Columbus Day into a 10-day continuous break.
Christmas Day
Dec 25, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027•Total Vacation: 10 days
Take 5 days of annual leave on Dec 28, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027 to connect Christmas Day into a 10-day continuous break.
New Year's Day
Dec 27, 2025 – Jan 1, 2026•Total Vacation: 6 days
Take 3 days of annual leave on Dec 29 – 31 to connect New Year's Day into a 6-day continuous break.
Thanksgiving Day
Nov 21 – 26•Total Vacation: 6 days
Take 3 days of annual leave on Nov 23 – 25 to connect Thanksgiving Day into a 6-day continuous break.
New Year's Day
Jan 1 – 11•Total Vacation: 11 days
Take 6 days of annual leave on Jan 2, Jan 5 – 9 to connect New Year's Day into a 11-day continuous break.
Thanksgiving Day
Nov 26 – Dec 6•Total Vacation: 11 days
Take 6 days of annual leave on Nov 27, Nov 30 – Dec 4 to connect Thanksgiving Day into a 11-day continuous break.
Veterans Day
Oct 31 – Nov 11•Total Vacation: 12 days
Take 7 days of annual leave on Nov 2 – 6, Nov 9 – 10 to connect Veterans Day into a 12-day continuous break.
Veterans Day
Nov 11 – 22•Total Vacation: 12 days
Take 7 days of annual leave on Nov 12 – 13, Nov 16 – 20 to connect Veterans Day into a 12-day continuous break.
Compliance Notice: Leave planning recommendations are calculated for vacation optimization. Taking annual leave is subject to your employment contract, employer approval, and local labor legislation.
How the July 4 weekend works in 2026
Independence Day is fixed to July 4, but in 2026 that is a Saturday. Under federal rules a Saturday holiday is observed the Friday before, so most federal employees get Friday July 3 off — producing a Fri–Sun long weekend while July 4 remains the statutory date.
Note that federal holidays bind federal employees; states and private employers set their own paid days. See the US federal holidays 2026 page for every date, observed-day rules and the full-year calendar.
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
How many long weekends does the US have in 2026?
Nine federal long weekends: eight three-day weekends (MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, observed Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day and Christmas) plus the four-day Thanksgiving break.
When is the July 4 long weekend in 2026?
July 3–5, 2026 (Fri–Sun). July 4 falls on a Saturday, so the observed federal holiday is Friday, July 3.
Which 2026 US holidays make a three-day weekend?
MLK Day (Jan 19), Presidents’ Day (Feb 16), Memorial Day (May 25), Labor Day (Sep 7) and Columbus Day (Oct 12) all fall on Mondays; Juneteenth (Jun 19), observed Independence Day (Jul 3) and Christmas Day (Dec 25) fall on Fridays.
How long is the Thanksgiving break in 2026?
Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov 26, 2026. With the popular day off on Friday Nov 27, it becomes a four-day weekend through Sunday, Nov 29.
Where can I download the US 2026 holiday calendar?
Our US 2026 federal holidays page and the holiday calendar downloads hub offer ICS and CSV files based on the OPM federal holiday schedule.