What Are Federal Holidays?
Federal holidays are the days that the U.S. government officially recognizes. On these dates, federal offices are closed and most federal workers get the day off with pay. A lot of private companies follow too, giving employees either time off or extra pay if they work.
For workers, federal holidays can mean a chance to relax, or sometimes a bigger paycheck. For payroll managers, it means making sure things like regular hours, holiday hours, and accrued leave are tracked correctly.
Federal Holidays in 2026
Here’s the list of U.S. federal holidays in 2026:
- New Year’s Day – January 1, 2026 (Thursday)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 19, 2026 (Monday)
- Washington’s Birthday (Presidents’ Day) – February 16, 2026 (Monday)
- Memorial Day – May 25, 2026 (Monday)
- Juneteenth National Independence Day – June 19, 2026 (Friday)
- Independence Day – July 4, 2026 (Saturday, observed Friday July 3rd)
- 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)
Note: Since July 4th is on a Saturday, it will be observed the day before, on Friday, July 3rd. Employers need to plan for this since it changes work schedules and payroll a bit.
Payroll and Holiday Pay in 2026
Federal holidays play a bigger role in payroll than most people realize.
- Holiday Pay – Many companies give workers their normal pay even if they don’t work that day.
- Extra Pay for Working – If someone works a holiday, they might get time-and-a-half or double pay, depending on company rules.
- Independent Contractors – Self-employed folks usually don’t get holiday pay. Instead, their income shows up in forms like 1099 NEC or 1099 MISC.
- Observed Dates – When a holiday is moved to a Friday or Monday, payroll systems have to reflect it so that leave balances and overtime don’t get messed up.
Example on a Pay Stub
Let’s say Maria works at a company that pays for holidays. On Christmas Day 2026 (December 25) she takes the day off, so her stub might look like this:
- Regular Hours: 40
- Holiday Hours (Christmas): 8
- Overtime Hours: 0
- Holiday Pay: 1.5× hourly rate (if company offers it)
If Maria was self-employed, none of this would show as holiday pay. Her income would just be recorded on a 1099 form at the end of the year.
Why Federal Holidays Matter
Holidays aren’t just about a day off. They connect directly to how people are paid, how PTO is tracked, and whether overtime kicks in. If payroll doesn’t separate holiday hours from regular hours, errors happen quickly.
Some employees use holiday pay as a little financial boost, sometimes putting it toward savings or even investments like a Roth IRA.
And for HR, having clean records is essential too. Even things like social media background screening sometimes include checking job and time-off histories.
Key Points to Remember
- There are 11 federal holidays in 2026.
- July 4th is observed on July 3rd because it’s a Saturday.
- Workers may get the day off with pay or extra pay if they work.
- Contractors don’t get holiday pay but still report income on 1099 forms.
- Keeping holiday hours separate from regular ones makes payroll cleaner.
If you want to check how the schedule looked the year before, here’s the list of Federal Holidays 2025. Comparing them helps businesses plan staffing and payroll from year to year.
FAQs About Federal Holidays 2026
1) How many federal holidays are in 2026?
There are 11 holidays.
2) Do all companies give holidays off?
Not all. Federal workers do, but private employers make their own call.
3) What about July 4th being on a Saturday?
It’s observed on Friday, July 3rd. Most workplaces will close that day.
4) Does holiday pay always mean extra pay?
Not always. Some employers just give the day off with regular pay. Others offer time-and-a-half if you work.
5) Where to check official info?
You can see the complete list on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
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