Federal law, 5 U.S.C. 6103, sets these holidays for federal employees. OPM
Most federal employees work Monday through Friday. For them, a holiday that falls on a Saturday is usually observed the Friday before, and one that falls on a Sunday the Monday after. OPM
Federal Holiday and Mail Lookup
Pick a federal holiday to see the day federal employees get off in 2026 and 2027, from OPM’s schedules, whether post offices close and mail runs, and how the Federal Reserve observes it. State holidays and private employers’ schedules are separate, and each result says so.
How to answer this
Most federal employees work Monday through Friday. For them, a holiday that falls on a Saturday is usually observed the Friday before, and one that falls on a Sunday the Monday after. OPM
Post offices and Federal Reserve Banks follow their own rules; the result shows them.
Jan. 1, 2028, falls on a Saturday, so OPM’s 2028 schedule gives federal employees the New Year’s Day holiday on Friday, Dec. 31, 2027. OPM
Part-time and intermittent federal employees don’t get a substitute day off when a holiday falls on a weekend. If the office closes on the substitute day, the agency may give part-time employees scheduled to work that day administrative leave. OPM
Federal law, 5 U.S.C. 6103, sets these holidays for federal employees. OPM
How this lookup works:
- Federal law, 5 U.S.C. 6103, sets these holidays for federal employees. OPM
- The Postal Service’s holiday page lists its 2026 holidays. USPS
- The Federal Reserve’s holiday table covers 2026 through 2030. Federal Reserve
See the day off for each federal holiday in 2026 and 2027
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day (Jan. 1) | Thursday, Jan. 1 | Friday, Jan. 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday in January) | Monday, Jan. 19 | Monday, Jan. 18 |
| Presidents Day (Washington’s Birthday, third Monday in February) | Monday, Feb. 16 | Monday, Feb. 15 |
| Memorial Day (last Monday in May) | Monday, May 25 | Monday, May 31 |
| Juneteenth (June 19) | Friday, June 19 | Friday, June 18 (observed) |
| Independence Day (July 4) | Friday, July 3 (observed) | Monday, July 5 (observed) |
| Labor Day (first Monday in September) | Monday, Sept. 7 | Monday, Sept. 6 |
| Columbus Day (second Monday in October) | Monday, Oct. 12 | Monday, Oct. 11 |
| Veterans Day (Nov. 11) | Wednesday, Nov. 11 | Thursday, Nov. 11 |
| Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday in November) | Thursday, Nov. 26 | Thursday, Nov. 25 |
| Christmas Day (Dec. 25) | Friday, Dec. 25 | Friday, Dec. 24 (observed) |
Most federal employees work Monday through Friday. For them, a holiday that falls on a Saturday is usually observed the Friday before, and one that falls on a Sunday the Monday after. OPM
Jan. 1, 2028, falls on a Saturday, so OPM’s 2028 schedule gives federal employees the New Year’s Day holiday on Friday, Dec. 31, 2027. OPM
Each table links to its official sources, last checked September 25, 2026.
How the Lookup Works
- Federal law, 5 U.S.C. 6103, sets these holidays for federal employees. OPM
- The Postal Service’s holiday page lists its 2026 holidays. USPS
- The Federal Reserve’s holiday table covers 2026 through 2030. Federal Reserve
Federal Holidays in 2026
- Thursday, Jan. 1: New Year’s Day. OPM
- Monday, Jan. 19: Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. OPM
- Monday, Feb. 16: Washington’s Birthday. OPM
- Monday, May 25: Memorial Day. OPM
- Friday, June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day. OPM
- Friday, July 3: Independence Day, observed the day before July 4, a Saturday. OPM
- Monday, Sept. 7: Labor Day. OPM
- Monday, Oct. 12: Columbus Day. OPM
- Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day. OPM
- Thursday, Nov. 26: Thanksgiving Day. OPM
- Friday, Dec. 25: Christmas Day. OPM
Federal Holidays in 2027
- Friday, Jan. 1: New Year’s Day. OPM
- Monday, Jan. 18: Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. OPM
- Monday, Feb. 15: Washington’s Birthday. OPM
- Monday, May 31: Memorial Day. OPM
- Friday, June 18: Juneteenth National Independence Day, observed the day before June 19, a Saturday. OPM
- Monday, July 5: Independence Day, observed the day after July 4, a Sunday. OPM
- Monday, Sept. 6: Labor Day. OPM
- Monday, Oct. 11: Columbus Day. OPM
- Thursday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day. OPM
- Thursday, Nov. 25: Thanksgiving Day. OPM
- Friday, Dec. 24: Christmas Day, observed the day before Dec. 25, a Saturday. OPM
- Jan. 1, 2028, falls on a Saturday, so OPM’s 2028 schedule gives federal employees the New Year’s Day holiday on Friday, Dec. 31, 2027. OPM
How Each Date Is Set
- New Year’s Day is Jan. 1. OPM
- The Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. is the third Monday in January. OPM
- Washington’s Birthday is the third Monday in February. OPM
- Memorial Day is the last Monday in May. OPM
- Juneteenth National Independence Day is June 19. OPM
- Independence Day is July 4. OPM
- Labor Day is the first Monday in September. OPM
- Columbus Day is the second Monday in October. OPM
- Veterans Day is Nov. 11. OPM
- Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday in November. OPM
- Christmas Day is Dec. 25. OPM
- Federal employees in the Washington, D.C., area also get Inauguration Day, Jan. 20 every fourth year, when a president is sworn in. When Jan. 20 falls on a Sunday, the holiday moves to Monday, Jan. 21. OPM
When a Holiday Falls on a Weekend
- Most federal employees work Monday through Friday. For them, a holiday that falls on a Saturday is usually observed the Friday before, and one that falls on a Sunday the Monday after. OPM
- Part-time and intermittent federal employees don’t get a substitute day off when a holiday falls on a weekend. If the office closes on the substitute day, the agency may give part-time employees scheduled to work that day administrative leave. OPM
- Federal employees whose workweek isn’t Monday through Friday get a substitute day under separate rules, usually the workday before the day off on which the holiday fell. OPM
- When a holiday falls on a Saturday, Federal Reserve Banks open the Friday before, though the Fed’s Board of Governors closes. When it falls on a Sunday, all Federal Reserve offices close the Monday after. Federal Reserve
- In 2026 the Postal Service observed Independence Day on July 4 itself, a Saturday. Post offices were open with normal delivery on Friday, July 3, closed on July 4, and regular mail delivery resumed Monday, July 6. USPS
Mail and Post Offices
- On Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026, all post offices closed; regular mail delivery and retail service resumed Tuesday, Sept. 8. USPS
- On Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, all post offices closed and only Priority Mail Express was delivered; regular mail delivery and retail service resumed Tuesday, Jan. 20. USPS
- In 2025, carriers also delivered Priority Mail Express packages on Christmas Day in some places, for an extra fee. USPS
- When post offices are closed, usps.com still sells stamps and takes Hold Mail and change-of-address requests, and self-service kiosks in some post office lobbies print postage for Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express and international shipping. USPS
What the Federal List Doesn’t Cover
- Federal wage law, the Fair Labor Standards Act, doesn’t require employers to pay for time not worked, including federal holidays. Paid holidays are generally a matter of agreement between employer and employee. DOL
- On some federal contracts, the contract’s wage determination can require holiday pay. DOL
- OPM’s list sets holidays for federal employees; it doesn’t decide whether state or local government offices close. OPM
- Federal law names the February holiday Washington’s Birthday. OPM notes that state and local governments and private businesses may use other names. OPM
- An executive order can declare an additional federal holiday, which counts as a holiday for pay and leave. OPM