US Federal Holidays 2026-2027: Dates and What Closes

What actually counts as a federal holiday?

A federal holiday is a day set by an act of Congress that's mandatory paid leave for federal government employees. Federal government offices, the US Postal Service (USPS), and often banks, the stock market, and federal courts close on these days. But it is not legally required for private-sector employers; most companies follow the calendar as a norm rather than an obligation, and some stores and restaurants stay open with reduced hours.

2026 federal holiday calendar

2027 federal holiday calendar

These dates are taken directly from the official OPM page. Note that some "observed" dates differ from the holiday's "actual" date, following the rule for holidays that fall on a weekend.

What actually happens when a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday?

OPM explains that if a holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday is treated as the holiday for most federal employees, and if it falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is. That's why Independence Day appears on the 2026 table as Friday, July 3, even though its actual date is July 4 (which falls on a Saturday that year).

What actually closes on these days?

The practical rule: before any official errand (bank, post office, court, DMV), check the holiday calendar first so you don't show up at a closed office.

Inauguration Day: the exceptional holiday that doesn't repeat every year

Inauguration Day, on January 20, is sometimes added as a federal holiday, but it only applies once every four years (the year a new president takes office), and is generally limited to federal employees in the greater Washington, DC area. It won't appear on the 2026 or 2027 calendar, since the next one falls in January 2029.

How do Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and Ramadan fit into the US calendar?

Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, and Ramadan are not federal holidays and don't appear on OPM's calendar, since the US doesn't set federal holidays for non-Christian religious observances beyond the general national holidays. That said:

• You can generally request a day off (paid or unpaid, depending on your employer's policy) to attend Eid prayers, under religious freedom protections in US employment law.
• Many public schools in areas with a large Muslim population (parts of New York, Michigan, and New Jersey, for example) have added Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as official days off on their own calendars, so check your children's specific school calendar.
• Because the Islamic calendar shifts each year based on moon-sighting, we can't fix an exact date here in advance for Ramadan or the Eids; check your local Islamic organizations' announcements as the month approaches.

For practical details on work and school during Eid, see our Eid at work and school guide, and for Ramadan specifically, see our Ramadan in the US guide.

State and city holidays: why do they differ from the federal list?

Beyond the 11 federal holidays, each state adds its own, and sometimes renames or simply doesn't observe a federal holiday for state employees. A common example: Columbus Day is an official federal holiday, but a number of states and cities instead, or alongside it, observe "Indigenous Peoples' Day" on the same date — the state office may stay open while federal offices close. Other examples: some Southern states add their own historical observances, and some states give employees the Friday after Thanksgiving as an extra official day off even though it isn't a federal holiday. So if your errand is with a state agency (like the DMV) rather than the federal government, check that state's own calendar, not just this table.

Planning around a long weekend

Eight of the 11 federal holidays fall on a Monday by design (MLK Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Columbus Day among them), because Congress deliberately moved them to the nearest Monday to create a three-day weekend. This matters practically for three reasons:

• Travel prices rise: flights and hotel bookings around these long weekends fill up fast and get pricier; book early if you're planning to travel.
• Roads and airports get crowded: especially the Thursday and Friday before a long weekend like Thanksgiving.
• Some government services pause for two days straight: if your errand is urgent, handle it a day or two before the holiday, not at the last minute.

Common mistakes

• Assuming every private business closes: many stores and restaurants stay open, while banks and government offices actually do close.
• Not checking your children's specific school calendar: it may differ from OPM's federal calendar, adding or combining days.
• Showing up for a government errand on a holiday without confirming first: call or check the official website before visiting any government office near a holiday.
• Confusing the "observed" date with the "actual" date: as with Independence Day 2026, observed on July 3 even though the actual date is July 4.

What's next?

Save this table or add the dates to your phone's calendar before planning any official errand or travel. If you're planning to enroll your kids in school, see our school enrollment guide to see how school breaks intersect with this federal calendar.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources we reviewed

• OPM — Federal Holidays ↗
• USAGov — Federal holidays ↗