The 2026 federal holidays are eleven days set by 5 U.S.C. § 6103, and only one shifts on the calendar: Independence Day is observed on Friday, July 3, because July 4 falls on a Saturday. Every other holiday lands on its actual date, and most fall on a Monday or a Friday.
The Eleven Dates in 2026
- New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
- Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.: Monday, January 19
- Washington’s Birthday: Monday, February 16
- Memorial Day: Monday, May 25
- Juneteenth National Independence Day: Friday, June 19
- Independence Day (observed): Friday, July 3
- Labor Day: Monday, September 7
- Columbus Day: Monday, October 12
- Veterans Day: Wednesday, November 11
- Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 26
- Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
These are the holidays recognized under federal law.1U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Federal Holidays Juneteenth, the newest, was added to the list by Congress in June 2021.2govinfo. Public Law 117-17 – Juneteenth National Independence Day Act
The One Weekend Shift This Year
When a federal holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday is the observed day off. That is why July 3, 2026 shows up on the calendar as a paid holiday.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 USC 6103 – Holidays When a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed, a rule that traces to Executive Order 11582 and is still applied by OPM.1U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Federal Holidays No 2026 holiday falls on a Sunday, so the Monday rule does not come up this year.
Inauguration Day is not a 2026 event. It is a legal holiday only every four years, and only for federal employees in the District of Columbia and nearby counties in Maryland and Virginia. The next one is January 20, 2029.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 USC 6103 – Holidays
Banks, Direct Deposit, and Wire Transfers
The Federal Reserve closes on every holiday it observes, and that closure reaches into the payment systems most people rely on.4Federal Reserve Board. Holidays Observed – K.8 Fedwire, the large-value wire transfer system, does not operate on Federal Reserve holidays, and neither does FedACH, which handles direct deposits and electronic bill payments.5Federal Reserve Financial Services. Wholesale Services Operating Hours A paycheck scheduled to hit your account on a holiday will not clear until the next business day. If you have a wire to send around one of these dates, plan for it.
Stock Market Closures Are Not the Same List
The New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ use a related but different calendar. In 2026, the NYSE is closed on ten days:6NYSE. 2026 Trading Calendar
- New Year’s Day (January 1)
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (January 19)
- Washington’s Birthday (February 16)
- Good Friday (April 3)
- Memorial Day (May 25)
- Juneteenth (June 19)
- Independence Day observed (July 3)
- Labor Day (September 7)
- Thanksgiving Day (November 26)
- Christmas Day (December 25)
Two differences matter. Markets close on Good Friday, which is not a federal holiday, so government offices stay open while trading is halted. Markets stay open on Columbus Day and on Veterans Day, even though federal agencies are closed. The NYSE also has early closes at 1:00 p.m. Eastern on November 27 (the day after Thanksgiving) and December 24 (Christmas Eve).6NYSE. 2026 Trading Calendar
Tax and Court Filing Deadlines
Federal holidays can push a filing deadline forward. Under 26 U.S.C. § 7503, if the last day to file a return or make a payment falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 7503 The IRS applies the rule to all filing and payment deadlines, not just annual returns.8Internal Revenue Service. Topic No. 301, When, How and Where to File
In 2026 the standard April 15 individual filing deadline falls on a Wednesday, so no shift applies to it. The rule matters more often for estimated quarterly payments and other mid-year deadlines. The statute’s definition of “legal holiday” includes holidays in the District of Columbia and, in some cases, statewide holidays where the relevant IRS office sits, so a state holiday can occasionally extend a federal deadline even when the federal government is open.
Federal court filing periods work on the same principle. When the last day of a period falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the deadline extends to the next day that isn’t one of those, and the rule includes the eleven federal holidays plus any holiday of the state where the court sits. Federal courts themselves are closed on every federal holiday.
Mail and Social Security Payments
The Postal Service does not deliver regular mail on federal holidays and closes its retail counters on the same eleven days.9United States Postal Service. Holidays and Events Time-sensitive documents sent by mail sit until the next delivery day, so build the closure into your timeline for anything with a hard deadline.
Social Security and SSI payments shift in the opposite direction from bank transfers. If a scheduled payment date lands on a federal holiday, the Social Security Administration pays the benefit on the business day before the holiday, and the same early-payment rule applies when the payment date falls on a weekend.10Social Security Administration. When Will I Get My Benefits If the Payment Date Falls on a Weekend or Holiday If your regular payment day is the second Wednesday of the month and it falls on Veterans Day, expect the deposit on Tuesday.
Holiday Pay: Federal vs. Private Sector
Federal agencies close on all eleven holidays, and most federal workers receive a paid day off without using leave. Federal employees who have to work the holiday, such as essential personnel at hospitals, law enforcement, or military installations, earn holiday premium pay under 5 U.S.C. § 5546(b) equal to their basic rate, which effectively doubles their pay for hours worked that day.11U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Fact Sheet – Premium Pay Title 512U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Holidays Work Schedules and Pay
No federal law requires private employers to close on any holiday or to pay extra for holiday work. The Fair Labor Standards Act sets minimum wage and overtime rules but does not mandate holiday pay, holiday closures, or premium rates for holiday hours.13U.S. Department of Labor. Holiday Pay14U.S. Department of Labor. Handy Reference Guide to the Fair Labor Standards Act Whether you get the day off, get paid for it, or earn a premium for working it depends on your employer’s policy or your employment agreement.