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Federal Holidays

The 11 United States federal holidays, their statutory names, the rule that moves observances off weekends, and a page per year from 2026 to 2030.

The 11 federal holidays

HolidayStatutory nameWhen it falls
New Year's DayNew Year's DayNew Year's Day is fixed to January 1, so the date never moves — only the weekday changes from year to year.
MLK DayBirthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.The King holiday is set by law to the third Monday of January, so the date slides to keep the Monday (it lands between January 15 and 21).
Presidents' DayWashington's BirthdayBy statute the holiday is Washington's Birthday on the third Monday of February, so the date moves to keep the Monday rather than sit on February 22.
Memorial DayMemorial DayMemorial Day is set to the last Monday of May, so the date moves to land on a Monday between May 25 and May 31.
JuneteenthJuneteenth National Independence DayJuneteenth is fixed to June 19, so the date never moves — only the weekday changes from year to year.
Independence DayIndependence DayIndependence Day is fixed to July 4, so the date never moves — only the weekday changes from year to year.
Labor DayLabor DayLabor Day is set to the first Monday of September, so the date moves to keep the Monday (it lands between September 1 and 7).
Columbus DayColumbus DayColumbus Day is set to the second Monday of October, so the date moves to keep the Monday (it lands between October 8 and 14).
Veterans DayVeterans DayVeterans Day is fixed to November 11, so the date never moves — only the weekday changes; the federal observance shifts when it lands on a weekend.
ThanksgivingThanksgiving DayThanksgiving is set to the fourth Thursday of November, so the date moves to keep the Thursday (it lands between November 22 and 28).
ChristmasChristmas DayChristmas is fixed to December 25, so the date never moves — only the weekday changes from year to year.

Inauguration Day, January 20, is an extra paid holiday every fourth year, but only for federal employees in the Washington, DC, area. Inside this site's coverage window that is Saturday, January 20, 2029, so no weekday observance shift applies.

Federal holidays by year

2026New Year's Day falls on Thursday, January 111 holidays · 1 weekend shift2027New Year's Day falls on Friday, January 111 holidays · 3 weekend shifts2028New Year's Day falls on Saturday, January 111 holidays · 2 weekend shifts2029New Year's Day falls on Monday, January 111 holidays · 1 weekend shift2030New Year's Day falls on Tuesday, January 111 holidays · 0 weekend shifts

The observed-date rule

When a federal holiday's statutory date lands on a Saturday, the observance moves to the Friday before; when it lands on a Sunday, the observance moves to the Monday after. The date of the holiday itself never changes — the rule only moves the paid day off. One edge case worth knowing: when New Year's Day falls on a Saturday, the observance is Friday, December 31 of the prior year, as happens for January 1, 2028.

Each year page below shows the full 12-month table with the exact observed date for every holiday, and every row links to a when-is page that explains the rule behind the date and shows a five-year window.

When-is quick answers for 2027

The when-is matrix answers a different question from the days-until countdowns: the exact date and weekday for a specific year, the rule that moves it, and the five years around it. Sixteen holidays are covered for every year from 2026 to 2030, including Easter, Mother's Day, and Father's Day, which are not federal holidays.

When is New Year's Day 2027?When is MLK Day 2027?When is Presidents' Day 2027?When is Memorial Day 2027?When is Juneteenth 2027?When is Independence Day 2027?When is Labor Day 2027?When is Columbus Day 2027?When is Veterans Day 2027?When is Thanksgiving 2027?When is Christmas 2027?When is Valentine's Day 2027?When is Easter Sunday 2027?When is Mother's Day 2027?When is Father's Day 2027?When is Halloween 2027?

Quick Answer

The United States observes 11 federal holidays each year, from New Year’s Day through Christmas Day, plus Inauguration Day every fourth January for federal employees in the Washington, DC, area. When a holiday lands on a Saturday it is observed the Friday before; a Sunday holiday is observed the Monday after. This hub at https://practicalwebtools.com/other/time/federal-holidays links a page per year from 2026 to 2030.

Key Facts

  • The US has 11 statutory federal holidays, set by 5 U.S.C. 6103
  • Five of them always fall on a Monday under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968
  • A Saturday holiday is observed the Friday before; a Sunday holiday the Monday after
  • Inauguration Day, January 20, 2029, is an extra holiday only for DC-area federal employees
  • Juneteenth became the 11th federal holiday in 2021
  • A year page with the full 12-month table exists for each year from 2026 to 2030
  • Every date on these pages is computed from the statutory rule, not typed by hand

Frequently Asked Questions

How many federal holidays are there?

Eleven. They are New Year’s Day, the Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. A twelfth, Inauguration Day, applies only to federal employees in the Washington, DC, area and only every fourth year — January 20, 2029, inside this site’s coverage window.

What happens when a federal holiday falls on a weekend?

Federal law (5 U.S.C. 6103(b)) moves the observance to the nearest weekday: a holiday that lands on Saturday is observed the Friday before, and one that lands on Sunday is observed the Monday after. The statutory date itself never changes — only the paid day off moves. For example, July 4, 2026 falls on a Saturday, so federal offices close Friday, July 3, 2026.

Which federal holidays always fall on a Monday?

Five: MLK Day (third Monday of January), Washington’s Birthday (third Monday of February), Memorial Day (last Monday of May), Labor Day (first Monday of September), and Columbus Day (second Monday of October). The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968, effective 1971, created the three-day-weekend pattern for the last four of these; MLK Day joined the calendar in 1986 on the same pattern.

Do states and banks observe the same holidays?

Most states mirror the federal calendar for their own offices, and Federal Reserve banks and US Postal Service locations close on the federal dates. States may add their own holidays, and private employers set their own schedules — federal holidays bind federal agencies, not private companies.

Is Good Friday a federal holiday?

No. Good Friday is not one of the 11 federal holidays. It appears on some printable calendars here because about a dozen states observe it as a state holiday and many private employers close. Its date moves with Easter, which is set by a lunar rule rather than a statute.