United States 2026 federal holiday guide
U.S. federal holidays apply to federal institutions and are widely used as a business reference. They include New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day (varies by state), Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
A federal holiday does not mean every store closes. Retail is often busiest around Thanksgiving and Christmas. School calendars and private employers differ, and states may add or rename holidays.
Use this page for U.S.–Asia collaboration and travel timing. Flights are tightest around Thanksgiving and the Christmas–New Year window.
Planning tips
- Thanksgiving: one of the busiest air-travel periods.
- Independence Day: fireworks and crowded city events.
- Labor Day: a common marker for the end of summer.
- MLK Day / Presidents’ Day: winter Monday holidays for short trips.
United States 2026 public holiday table
This 2026 view lists 12 public holiday dates for United States. The earliest entry is 2026-01-01 (New Year's Day, Thu) and the latest is 2026-12-25 (Christmas Day). The table below is fully readable without JavaScript.
| Date | Weekday | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 | Thu | New Year's Day |
| 2026-01-19 | Mon | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| 2026-02-16 | Mon | Presidents' Day |
| 2026-05-25 | Mon | Memorial Day / Spring Bank Holiday |
| 2026-06-19 | Fri | Juneteenth |
| 2026-07-03 | Fri | Independence Day (observed) |
| 2026-07-04 | Sat | Independence Day |
| 2026-09-07 | Mon | Labor Day |
| 2026-10-12 | Mon | Sports Day / Columbus Day |
| 2026-11-11 | Wed | Veterans Day |
| 2026-11-26 | Thu | Thanksgiving Day |
| 2026-12-25 | Fri | Christmas Day |
Note: Compiled from public notices for planning. Confirm critical dates with official sources.
Cross-border planning notes
Compared with the UK, U.S. federal holidays often create Monday long weekends, while the UK clusters around Easter and August bank holidays. For U.S.–Asia teams, Thanksgiving and Christmas usually slow replies more than China’s National Day week.
U.S. holiday FAQ
Must private employers close?
Usually not legally required, though many follow market practice or pay premium rates.
Same in every state?
No. Observance of Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day varies widely.
Is Black Friday a federal holiday?
No, but it is a major shopping peak the day after Thanksgiving.