List of federal holidays in the United States

2026 Federal Holiday Dates
  • New Year’s Day: January 1
  • Martin Luther King, Jr., Day: January 19
  • Washington’s Birthday: February 16
  • Memorial Day: May 25
  • Juneteenth: June 19
  • Independence Day: July 4 (observed on July 3)
  • Labor Day: September 7
  • Columbus Day: October 12
  • Veterans Day: November 11
  • Thanksgiving Day: November 26
  • Christmas Day: December 25
Juneteenth celebrationMembers of the Reedy Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church marching during a Juneteenth celebration in Galveston, Texas, June 19, 2021.

The U.S. Congress has established 12 permanent federal holidays, 11 of which are observed annually. The 12th—Inauguration Day—is celebrated every four years following a presidential election and applies only to the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Federal holidays are legally mandated only for federal employees, though they are widely observed by local governments and private businesses. Four holidays—New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day—were established by Congress in 1870; the remaining holidays were added gradually over the next 150 years. Creating a new federal holiday requires approval by both chambers of Congress and the president’s signature. The most recent addition—Juneteenth National Independence Day—was signed into law by Pres. Joe Biden in June 2021.

U.S. Federal Holidays
official name date date established reason
1If a holiday falls on a Saturday, the Friday immediately before the holiday is the legal holiday. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is the legal holiday. Inauguration Day has its own exceptions: If January 20 is a Saturday, the holiday is on the Saturday, and if January 20 is a Sunday, the holiday is on Monday, January 21.
2Inauguration Day is a federal holiday only in the metropolitan area of Washington, D.C., which includes surrounding areas of Maryland and Virginia.
3Commonly known as Presidents’ Day.
4Memorial Day was formerly known as Decoration Day. The holiday’s name changed informally following World War I and was officially codified by Congress as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act on June 27, 1968, and signed by Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson on June 28.
5Indigenous Peoples’ Day is often celebrated instead of or in addition to Columbus Day, and some Americans use the names interchangeably. In 2021 Pres. Joe Biden became the first U.S. president to officially recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day, but it is not a congressionally approved federal holiday.
6Veterans Day was formerly known as Armistice Day. The name was officially changed in 1954.
New Year’s Day January 11 June 28, 1870 celebrates the beginning of the calendar year
Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. third Monday in January November 2, 1983 honors American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.
Inauguration Day2 January 20 or 21, every four years following a presidential election1 January 11, 1957 honors the ceremony during which the president of the United States is sworn into office
Washington’s Birthday3 third Monday in February January 31, 1879 honors George Washington, the first president of the United States, and is commonly recognized to be a celebration of the birthdays of all U.S. presidents
Memorial Day4 last Monday in May June 28, 1968 honors members of the U.S. armed forces who died during service
Juneteenth National Independence Day June 191 June 17, 2021 commemorates the end of slavery in the United States
Independence Day July 41 June 28, 1870 commemorates the passage of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776
Labor Day first Monday in September June 28, 1894 honors workers and their contributions to American society
Columbus Day5 second Monday in October June 28, 1968 commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas on October 12, 1492
Veterans Day6 November 111 May 13, 1938 honors veterans of the U.S. armed forces
Thanksgiving Day fourth Thursday in November June 28, 1870 celebrates annual harvests and other blessings of the past year
Christmas Day December 251 June 28, 1870 commemorates the Christian holiday of Christmas
Mindy Johnston
Citation Information
Article Title: List of federal holidays in the United States
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 01 November 2026
Access Date: November 15, 2026