U.S. federal holidays calendar
Pick a year and a country: the calendar lists each holiday with its date, weekday and the observed date. The U.S. has 11 federal holidays. When a fixed-date holiday lands on a Saturday it is observed the Friday before, and on a Sunday the Monday after. In 2026, Independence Day (Saturday, July 4) is observed on Friday, July 3.
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The 11 U.S. federal holidays
Federal law sets 11 holidays for federal employees and the Federal Reserve. Six fall on a set weekday; five have a fixed date.
| Holiday | Rule | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1 | Thu 01/01 | Fri 01/01 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | 3rd Monday of January | 01/19 | 01/18 |
| Washington's Birthday | 3rd Monday of February | 02/16 | 02/15 |
| Memorial Day | last Monday of May | 05/25 | 05/31 |
| Juneteenth | June 19 | Fri 06/19 | observed Fri 06/18 |
| Independence Day | July 4 | observed Fri 07/03 | observed Mon 07/05 |
| Labor Day | 1st Monday of September | 09/07 | 09/06 |
| Columbus Day | 2nd Monday of October | 10/12 | 10/11 |
| Veterans Day | November 11 | Wed 11/11 | Thu 11/11 |
| Thanksgiving | 4th Thursday of November | 11/26 | 11/25 |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Fri 12/25 | observed Fri 12/24 |
The observed-date rule
If a fixed-date holiday falls on a Saturday, federal employees get the Friday before as the holiday. If it falls on a Sunday, the Monday after is the holiday.
\[ \text{observed date} = \text{date} - 1 \, \text{day if Saturday} \,;\, \text{date} + 1 \, \text{day if Sunday} \]
This can cross a year boundary: when New Year's Day 2028 falls on a Saturday, the observed day off is Friday, December 31, 2027. Private employers and banks often follow their own calendars. The Federal Reserve, for example, does not close on the Friday before a Saturday holiday.
Other countries on the same page
Switch the country to compare bank holidays. England and Wales has 8 bank holidays and uses substitute days when Christmas or New Year fall on a weekend. Canada's federal list includes Victoria Day (the Monday before May 25), Canada Day (July 1) and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30). Germany's nationwide holidays include Unity Day (October 3).
| Country | Holidays in this list |
|---|---|
| United States | 11 |
| United Kingdom | 8 |
| Canada (federal) | 10 |
| Germany (nationwide) | 9 |
3 real-life examples
Federal holidays in 2026
All 11 holidays give a weekday off once observed dates are used. Independence Day (Saturday, July 4) moves to Friday, July 3, so you get a long weekend from July 3 to July 5.
Thanksgiving through the years
The 4th Thursday of November gives November 26 in 2026, November 25 in 2027 and November 23 in 2028. It can only fall between the 22nd and the 28th.
A holiday observed in the previous year
New Year's Day 2028 is a Saturday, so the federal day off is Friday, December 31, 2027. Pick 2028 in the calendar and you will see it listed first with its observed date.