What is this dataset?
It is OPM's published federal holiday schedule for the current year and the next, with each holiday's actual date and the date it is observed. OPM publishes schedules years in advance from the statute, so the 2027 dates are already set.
Source: OPM federal holidays page (5 U.S.C. 6103), 2026 and 2027 tables. opm.gov, retrieved 2026-10-11, effective 2026-01-01.
2026 federal holidays
| Holiday | Date | Day | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1, 2026 | Thursday | |
| Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. | January 19, 2026 | Monday | |
| Washington's Birthday | February 16, 2026 | Monday | |
| Memorial Day | May 25, 2026 | Monday | |
| Juneteenth National Independence Day | June 19, 2026 | Friday | |
| Independence Day | July 3, 2026 | Friday | Observed date (the holiday falls on a weekend) |
| Labor Day | September 7, 2026 | Monday | |
| Columbus Day | October 12, 2026 | Monday | |
| Veterans Day | November 11, 2026 | Wednesday | |
| Thanksgiving Day | November 26, 2026 | Thursday | |
| Christmas Day | December 25, 2026 | Friday |
2027 federal holidays
| Holiday | Date | Day | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | January 1, 2027 | Friday | |
| Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. | January 18, 2027 | Monday | |
| Washington's Birthday | February 15, 2027 | Monday | |
| Memorial Day | May 31, 2027 | Monday | |
| Juneteenth National Independence Day | June 18, 2027 | Friday | Observed date (the holiday falls on a weekend) |
| Independence Day | July 5, 2027 | Monday | Observed date (the holiday falls on a weekend) |
| Labor Day | September 6, 2027 | Monday | |
| Columbus Day | October 11, 2027 | Monday | |
| Veterans Day | November 11, 2027 | Thursday | |
| Thanksgiving Day | November 25, 2027 | Thursday | |
| Christmas Day | December 24, 2027 | Friday | Observed date (the holiday falls on a weekend) |
How do I read the table?
- HolidayThe name as it appears in 5 U.S.C. 6103.
- DateThe legal date of the holiday that year.
- ObservedThe day federal offices close, if different, under the weekend rule.
What rule sets federal holidays?
Federal law, 5 U.S.C. 6103, sets the public holidays for federal employees (OPM, retrieved 2026-10-11). Some fall on fixed dates, such as Independence Day on July 4; others fall on a set weekday, such as Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday of November. Juneteenth National Independence Day is the most recent addition. Holidays on a weekend move to the nearest weekday for most employees. Extra days off, such as a Christmas Eve closure, come only by executive order in the year they are granted and are not permanent holidays.
Where to go next
Holidays matter when you count workdays to retirement. See them laid out in the retirement countdown, and read about annual and sick leave in the leave guide. DailyFED covers any extra days off in workforce news.
Planning your last day around holidays and the leave year?
FFEBA is an education organization. If you want someone to look at your own numbers, we can match you with a Federal Retirement Consultant (FRC®), a professional trained on federal benefits. The FRC designation is listed with FINRA. The first review is free, nothing is booked until you choose a time, and you are never obligated to work with anyone we introduce. Get matched with an FRC.
Questions about this data
How many federal holidays are there in 2026?
There are 11: New Year's Day, Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day (OPM, retrieved 2026-10-11).
Is Christmas Eve a federal holiday?
No. Christmas Eve is not one of the holidays set by law. In some years the President gives federal employees the day off, or part of it, by executive order. When that happens, DailyFED reports it and we add it here as a separate note.
What happens when a federal holiday falls on a weekend?
For most full-time employees, a Saturday holiday is observed on the Friday before and a Sunday holiday on the Monday after (OPM, retrieved 2026-10-11). Employees on other schedules follow OPM's in-lieu-of rules.
Is Inauguration Day a federal holiday?
Inauguration Day, January 20 following a presidential election, is a holiday for federal employees in the Washington, DC area, which OPM lists separately in the years it applies.
Reviewed by the FFEBA education team. Last reviewed October 2026.
Sources
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, federal holidays, retrieved 2026-10-11
Every government figure on this page carries its source and retrieval date. Worked examples are educational estimates on the assumptions shown, not a projection of any person's benefit. FFEBA is an education organization, not a financial advisor.
