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Public holidays

Holidays & Celebrations

Public holidays in the US

Knowing a country’s public holidays will help you plan your calendar, spot opportunities for short trips, and understand how much extra time you might get off from work. Whether you live in the US or are just visiting, this guide will help you learn about both national and local public holidays.

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Updated 4-3-2026

For travelers and expats, holidays can also mean extra expanses and may require additional financial planning. Booking trips, buying seasonal gifts and supplies, or budgeting for holiday festivals often involves managing money across borders.

📆 An overview of US public holidays 🇺🇲

The US observes 11 federal holidays each year. In addition, individual states and cities may recognize their own holidays to mark important local historical or cultural events.

Federal law does not require private businesses to close on public holidays, although federal and many state government offices are usually closed. Private employers decide whether to close and whether to offer paid time off. Many do so for major holidays such as:

  • New Year’s Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Day

Some states or local authorities may impose special rules or restrictions for certain holidays, so it’s a good idea to check official holiday calendars for your state and city.

Alongside the 11 annual federal holidays, there is also Inauguration Day. This falls on January 20th every four years following a presidential election (or 21st, if the 20th falls on a Sunday). It is a legal holiday for federal employees in Washington, D.C. The next Inauguration Day will be Saturday January 20, 2029.

If you’re employed, it’s worth checking your company’s policy on public holidays. Many workers receive paid time off, while others who work on a holiday may receive additional pay or a substitute day off. These benefits vary by employer, and temporary or casual workers often have fewer entitlements.

When are the US public holidays in 2026?

Here are the dates for federal public holidays in 2026:

📅 DateWeekdayHoliday
January 1ThursdayNew Year’s Day
January 19MondayBirthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
February 16MondayPresidents Day (Washington’s Birthday)
May 25MondayMemorial Day
June 19FridayJuneteenth National Independence Day
July 4 (observed by many companies in 2026 on July 3 to avoid the weekend)SaturdayIndependence Day
September 7MondayLabor Day
October 12MondayColumbus Day
November 11WednesdayVeterans Day
November 26ThursdayThanksgiving Day
December 25FridayChristmas Day
*Information checked 25th January 2026

Local holidays in 2026

In addition to the federal public holidays, there are also around 25–30 state or local public holidays. These vary across US states and cities. Some are observed in several states, while others are specific to a single state (e.g. state independence or foundation day). Observance and time off vary widely by state and employer, so check the rules for your region.

Here are some of the main local public holidays in the US for 2026:

📅 DateWeekdayHolidayWhere celebrated
February 17TuesdayMardi GrasAlabama, Louisiana, Mississippi
March 31TuesdayCésar Chávez DayArizona, California, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico
April 16ThursdayEmancipation DayWashington, D.C.
April 20MondayPatriots’ DayMaine, Massachusetts
July 24FridayPioneer DayUtah
*Information checked 25th January 2026

Other important dates in 2026

Like other countries, the US has various important dates or occasions that are celebrated annually, even though they are not public holidays. Here is a list of some of the key dates to note down for 2026:

📅 DateWeekdayOccasion
March 19–20Thu–FriEid al-Fitr
April 3FridayGood Friday
April 5SundayEaster
April 1–9Wed–ThuPassover
May 5TuesdayCinco de Mayo
May 10SundayMother’s Day
May 25–26Mon–TueEid al-Adha
June 21SundayFather’s Day
October 31SaturdayHalloween
November 8SundayDiwali
December 4–12Fri–SatHanukkah
*Information checked 25th January 2026

Whether you’re taking time off or working during a holiday, planning ahead financially can help. If you manage money across borders, opening a Wise account can help you save time and money.

Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate with no hidden costs or foreign transaction fees. You can send, receive, and hold money in USD and multiple foreign currencies, making cross-border financial planning much easier.

Go to Wise

When are the US public holidays in 2027?

📅 DateWeekdayHoliday
January 1FridayNew Year’s Day
January 18MondayBirthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
February 15MondayPresidents Day (Washington’s Birthday)
May 31MondayMemorial Day
June 19SaturdayJuneteenth National Independence Day
July 4 (observed by many companies in 2027 on July 5 to avoid the weekend)SundayIndependence Day
September 6MondayLabor Day
October 11MondayColumbus Day
November 11ThursdayVeterans Day
November 25ThursdayThanksgiving Day
December 25SaturdayChristmas Day
*Information checked 25th January 2026

Local holidays in 2027

📅 DateWeekdayHolidayWhere celebrated
February 9TuesdayMardi GrasAlabama, Louisiana, Mississippi
March 31WednesdayCésar Chávez DayArizona, California, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico
April 16FridayEmancipation DayWashington, D.C.
April 19MondayPatriots’ DayMaine, Massachusetts
July 24 (observed by many companies in 2027 on July 23 to avoid the weekend)SaturdayPioneer DayUtah
*Information checked 25th January 2026

Other important dates in 2027

📅 DateWeekdayOccasion
March 9–10Tue–WedEid al-Fitr
March 26FridayGood Friday
March 29SundayEaster
April 21–29Wed–ThuPassover
May 5WednesdayCinco de Mayo
May 9SundayMother’s Day
May 16–17Sun–MonEid al-Adha
June 20SundayFather’s Day
October 29FridayDiwali
October 31SundayHalloween
Dec 24–Jan 1Fri–SatHanukkah
*Information checked 25th January 2026

When were the US public holidays in 2025?

📅 DateWeekdayHoliday
January 1WednesdayNew Year’s Day
January 20MondayBirthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
January 20MondayInauguration Day
February 17MondayPresidents Day (Washington’s Birthday)
May 26MondayMemorial Day
June 19ThursdayJuneteenth National Independence Day
July 4FridayIndependence Day
September 1MondayLabor Day
October 13MondayColumbus Day
November 11TuesdayVeterans Day
November 27ThursdayThanksgiving Day
December 25ThursdayChristmas Day
*Information checked 25th January 2026

Local holidays in 2025

📅 DateWeekdayHolidayWhere celebrated
March 4TuesdayMardi GrasAlabama, Louisiana, Mississippi
March 31MondayCésar Chávez DayArizona, California, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico
April 16WednesdayEmancipation DayWashington, D.C.
April 21MondayPatriots’ DayMaine, Massachusetts
July 24ThursdayPioneer DayUtah
*Information checked 25th January 2026

Other important dates in 2025

📅 DateWeekdayOccasion
March 30–31Sun–MonEid al-Fitr
April 18FridayGood Friday
April 20SundayEaster
April 12–20Sat–SunPassover
May 5MondayCinco de Mayo
May 11SundayMother’s Day
June 7–8Sat–SunEid al-Adha
June 15SundayFather’s Day
October 20MondayDiwali
October 31FridayHalloween
December 14–22Sun–MonHanukkah
*Information checked 25th January 2026

When are the school holidays in the US? 🏫

School holidays in the US vary by state. However, most will follow a similar pattern during the school year, which starts in late August/early September and ends in late May/early June.

US schools may have holidays on either federal or local public holidays, for example Labor Day or Thanksgiving Day. Typically, they will have longer holidays (one week or more) at the following times:

  • Fall Break – around a week in October
  • Winter Break – one or two weeks for Christmas in December/January
  • Spring Break – one week around Easter in March/April
  • Summer Break – 8–10 weeks at the end of the school year, starting around the end of May/beginning of June.

To check the exact school holiday dates for your area, you should visit the website of your child’s school or your state Department of Education.

Author

Gary Buswell

About the author

Based in London, Gary has been freelancing for Expatica since 2016. An expert writer with experience in social research and community development, he focuses on topics such as politics and current affairs, healthcare, recruitment, human rights and migration.