Federal Holiday Calendar 2026 & 2027

Q: How many federal holidays are there in 2026?

There are 11 official federal holidays in 2026. When a holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed on the preceding Friday. When it falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday.

All 11 official US federal holidays with exact dates, observed dates, and payroll implications. Bookmark this page, updated each year.

Federal Holidays/Year

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Remaining in 2026

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Days to Next Holiday

Payroll note: Federal law does not require private employers to give employees time off on federal holidays, nor to pay a premium for holiday work. These requirements apply only to federal government employees. However, most employers with holiday pay policies use this calendar as their reference. Always check your employee handbook or applicable collective bargaining agreement.

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About US Federal Holidays

The United States has 11 permanent federal public holidays established by federal law (5 U.S.C. § 6103). These apply to federal government employees and to banks and financial institutions. Private employers are not legally required to observe them, but the majority of full-time employers do provide paid time off for some or all of these days.

When a holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed the preceding Friday. When it falls on a Sunday, it is observed the following Monday. This is why some federal holidays may appear on different dates in different years.

Bank Holidays & Payroll

Federal Reserve banks are closed on federal holidays. If your payroll direct deposit falls on a holiday, funds typically arrive one business day early or one business day late depending on your payroll provider's policy.

Holiday Pay Laws

No federal law requires premium pay for working on holidays. FLSA only requires overtime for hours over 40 in a workweek, holiday hours don't trigger overtime on their own. State and local laws may differ.

Floating Holidays

Many employers offer 1–2 "floating holidays" employees can take on any day of their choosing. These are common as an alternative to mandating specific federal holidays that may not align with an employee's cultural background.

Juneteenth (June 19)

Juneteenth National Independence Day became an official federal holiday in 2021. It commemorates June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved people in the US received word of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Federal Holiday Pay Rules for Employers

The Department of Labor confirms that FLSA does not require private employers to pay premium rates for holiday work or to provide paid time off on any holiday. Holiday pay is entirely a matter of employment contracts, offer letters, and employee handbooks. If your written policy states that employees receive a paid holiday, that policy is enforceable, even though state or federal law doesn't mandate it.

Two states impose requirements for certain retail workers: Massachusetts and Rhode Island have historically required premium pay (1.5×) for employees working on specific holidays. Massachusetts has phased down the list of covered holidays in recent years, so employers in those states should verify current requirements with their state's labor department before setting holiday pay policy. For all other states, paid holidays are an employer-discretion benefit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are private employers required to give employees federal holidays off? ▾

No. Federal law does not require private employers to give employees time off on federal holidays, nor to pay a premium for holiday work. Federal holiday requirements apply only to federal government employees. However, many private employers voluntarily observe these holidays as part of their benefits package.

What happens to direct deposit when payday falls on a federal holiday? ▾

Federal Reserve banks are closed on federal holidays, which means ACH direct deposit transfers cannot process on those days. Most payroll providers will either advance the payroll by one business day (employees receive funds on the prior business day) or delay it by one business day. Check your payroll provider's holiday schedule, Gusto, ADP, and QuickBooks Payroll all publish their holiday processing deadlines annually.

Do part-time employees get federal holidays? ▾

For federal government employees, part-time workers receive holiday pay on a prorated basis based on their scheduled hours. For private employers, holiday pay for part-time workers is entirely at the employer's discretion, your employee handbook or employment contract governs this.

How many federal holidays are there in 2026? ▾

There are 11 official federal holidays in 2026. The list is fixed by federal statute and does not change from year to year, though the observed dates shift based on which day of the week each holiday falls on.