US Federal Holidays Explained: All 11 Holidays and How They Work
Table of Contents (12 sections)
- What Is a Federal Holiday?
- How Many Federal Holidays Are There?
- The 11 Federal Holidays and Their Rules
- What Happens When a Holiday Falls on a Weekend?
- Federal Holidays in 2026 and 2027
- Who Actually Gets Federal Holidays Off?
- Federal Holidays vs State Holidays vs Observances
- How to Plan Around Federal Holidays
- Why is it "Washington's Birthday" and not "Presidents' Day"?
- Why do so many holidays fall on a Monday?
- Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day?
- A note on banks
Federal holidays shape the whole American calendar. They decide when banks close, when the mail stops and which weekends turn into long weekends. Yet a lot of people are unsure how many there are, why some move around every year, or why their own office stays open on a day that is marked as a holiday.
This guide explains all of it in plain English.
What Is a Federal Holiday?
A federal holiday is a day set by US law (Title 5 of the US Code, section 6103) as a paid day off for federal government employees. Federal offices close, and so do most banks and all post offices.
The key word is federal. The law covers federal workers. It does not force private companies, states or schools to close, although many of them follow the same list.
How Many Federal Holidays Are There?
There are 11 permanent federal holidays. The newest is Juneteenth, which was added in 2021.
There is also a twelfth day that comes around every four years: Inauguration Day (January 20 after a presidential election). It is a holiday only for federal employees in and around Washington, DC. The next one is January 20, 2029.
The 11 Federal Holidays and Their Rules
Some holidays have a fixed date. Others always fall on a set weekday, so the date changes every year.
| Holiday | Rule | Type |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1 | Fixed date |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Third Monday in January | Monday holiday |
| Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day) | Third Monday in February | Monday holiday |
| Memorial Day | Last Monday in May | Monday holiday |
| Juneteenth National Independence Day | June 19 | Fixed date |
| Independence Day | July 4 | Fixed date |
| Labor Day | First Monday in September | Monday holiday |
| Columbus Day | Second Monday in October | Monday holiday |
| Veterans Day | November 11 | Fixed date |
| Thanksgiving Day | Fourth Thursday in November | Set weekday |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Fixed date |
Why is it "Washington's Birthday" and not "Presidents' Day"?
The official federal name is still Washington's Birthday. "Presidents' Day" is the name most people, stores and many states use. It is the same day off.
Why do so many holidays fall on a Monday?
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act, passed in 1968, moved several holidays to Mondays so workers would get more three-day weekends. That is why Memorial Day and Labor Day never fall midweek.
Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day?
At the federal level the holiday is Columbus Day. Many states and cities mark Indigenous Peoples' Day on the same Monday instead, or alongside it. Which name you see depends on where you live.
What Happens When a Holiday Falls on a Weekend?
This is where most confusion comes from. For most federal employees, the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) uses this rule:
- Holiday on a Saturday: the day off is the Friday before.
- Holiday on a Sunday: the day off is the Monday after.
Two real examples:
- July 4, 2026 is a Saturday, so the federal day off is Friday, July 3.
- July 4, 2027 is a Sunday, so the federal day off is Monday, July 5.
This rule can even push a holiday into the year before. January 1, 2028 is a Saturday, so the New Year's Day holiday for federal workers is Friday, December 31, 2027.
On our holiday lists, these moved days show up as "substitute" days, so you can see both the real date and the day off.
Federal Holidays in 2026 and 2027
These are the days federal offices are closed, including the moved weekend days. They match the official OPM schedule.
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thu, Jan 1 | Fri, Jan 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 19 | Mon, Jan 18 |
| Washington's Birthday | Mon, Feb 16 | Mon, Feb 15 |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25 | Mon, May 31 |
| Juneteenth | Fri, Jun 19 | Fri, Jun 18 (moved from Sat) |
| Independence Day | Fri, Jul 3 (moved from Sat) | Mon, Jul 5 (moved from Sun) |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 | Mon, Sep 6 |
| Columbus Day | Mon, Oct 12 | Mon, Oct 11 |
| Veterans Day | Wed, Nov 11 | Thu, Nov 11 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26 | Thu, Nov 25 |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 | Fri, Dec 24 (moved from Sat) |
For the full list with state holidays and observances, see US holidays in 2026 and US holidays in 2027.
Who Actually Gets Federal Holidays Off?
It depends on who you work for and what you need to get done that day.
| Who or what | On a federal holiday |
|---|---|
| Federal government offices | Closed |
| US Postal Service | Post offices closed, no regular mail delivery |
| Most banks | Usually closed, because the Federal Reserve is closed |
| Private employers | Their choice. No federal law requires paid holidays for private jobs |
| State and local government | Set by each state, often similar but not identical |
| Public schools | Set by each school district |
| Stock market | Has its own holiday list, which is not the same as the federal one |
A note on banks
Banks follow the Federal Reserve, and the Federal Reserve handles weekend holidays a little differently. When a holiday falls on a Saturday, Federal Reserve Banks stay open on the Friday before. So on a day like Friday, July 3, 2026, federal offices are closed but many banks may be open. If a payment or transfer matters, check with your bank.
Federal Holidays vs State Holidays vs Observances
You will see three kinds of days on a US calendar:
- Federal holidays: the 11 days above. Federal offices close.
- State holidays: set by a state for its own workers, such as Cesar Chavez Day in California or Patriots' Day in Massachusetts and Maine. They only apply in that state.
- Observances: days people mark but work through, like Valentine's Day, Mother's Day or Halloween. Nothing closes.
This is why two holiday calendars can look different. One may list only federal holidays, while another adds state holidays and observances. Our US holidays page lets you filter by category so you only see what you need.
How to Plan Around Federal Holidays
- Spot the long weekends early. Five holidays always fall on a Monday, and the moved weekend holidays often create extra ones.
- Watch deadlines and deliveries. Mail and bank transfers pause, so send important things a day or two early.
- Book travel early for busy weekends. Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day and Thanksgiving weekends are usually busy travel times.
- Print the months you need. A printed calendar with holidays marked makes planning easier for a family or team.
Holiday dates can change if the law changes, so for anything important, check the official OPM federal holidays page before you plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many federal holidays are there in the US?
There are 11 permanent federal holidays. Inauguration Day is an extra holiday every four years, but only for federal workers in the Washington, DC area.
What is the newest federal holiday?
Juneteenth National Independence Day, on June 19, is the newest. It became a federal holiday in 2021.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday, do I get Friday off?
Most federal employees do. The day off moves to the Friday before. Private employers can choose their own rule, so check your company policy.
Do private companies have to give federal holidays off?
No. There is no federal law that requires private employers to give paid holidays. Many do, but it is their choice.
Is mail delivered on federal holidays?
No. Post offices are closed and there is no regular USPS mail delivery on federal holidays.
Is Presidents Day a federal holiday?
Yes. Its official federal name is Washington's Birthday, and it falls on the third Monday in February.
