Although remote work can be done from anywhere, taking the laptop on trips might not be on the bucket list for many.
So, to enjoy a good trip, remote employees can leave the laptop behind.
But for that, they need to plan properly. Ensuring they can take time off from work without spending all their paid leave.
That’s why it is vital to know about the US federal holidays.
Now, given that the US federal holidays are observed by offering paid time off to most employees, remote workers can plan trips around these holidays.
So, here I have brought you the complete list of all the US Holidays 2026. In this blog, I have focused on—
- Key differences between federal and non-federal US holidays,
- List of both federal and commonly celebrated cultural holidays,
- Their impact on the daily lives in the US, and more.
So, come dive right in!
What Are US Federal & Non-Federal Holidays?
To explain in simple terms, US holidays can be segregated into federal and non-federal categories.
That is, the US calendar comes with a list of both official and cultural holidays to celebrate and observe certain historical events. So, the key differences between them are—
Federal Holidays
Firstly, Federal US holidays refer to the 11 official holidays mentioned on the calendar. So, these dates are legally paid time off for the federal employees.
That is, the US government ensures that the employees can observe these dates and celebrate the events. So, even when these holidays fall on weekends, the nearest weekday is marked for the holiday.
Non-Federal Holidays
Unlike the federal holidays, non-federal holidays are the common cultural holidays that are not officially celebrated. But the employees can take time off during these dates.
Also, the employers of diverse sectors can choose to either offer paid time off or not during the non-federal holidays.
Additionally, these holidays mainly revolve around the cultural context. So, there is no legal or official notice to observe them or celebrate them as needed.
Complete List Of US Holidays 2026
So, here is the complete list of all the US holidays 2026 for you to plan your trips accordingly.
| Holiday Date | Day of the Week | Holiday Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Thursday | First day of the new year. |
| 19 January | Monday | Martin Luther King Jr. Day. |
| 16 February | Monday | Presidents Day (birthday of Washington). |
| 25 May | Monday | Memorial Day. |
| 19 June | Friday | Juneteenth celebrations. |
| 4 July | Saturday | Independence Day; As it falls on a weekend, it will be observed on 3 July (Friday). |
| 7 September | Monday | Labor Day. |
| 12 October | Monday | Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples’ Day. |
| 11 November | Wednesday | Veterans Day. |
| 26 November | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day. |
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas Holiday. |
Significant Cultural & Non-Federal US Holidays 2026
Although there are 11 federal US holidays, here is a list of some of the common non-federal holidays.
| Holiday Date | Day of the Week | Holiday Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 2 February | Monday | Groundhog Day. |
| 14 February | Saturday | Valentine’s Day. |
| 17 February | Tuesday | Mardi Gras / Ramadan begins. |
| 18 February | Wednesday | Ash Wednesday. |
| 3 March | Wednesday | Chinese New Year. |
| 17 March | Tuesday | St. Patrick’s Day. |
| 3 April | Friday | Good Friday. |
| 5 April | Sunday | Easter Sunday. |
| 1 May | Friday | May Day. |
| 5 May | Tuesday | Cinco De Mayo. |
| 10 May | Sunday | Mother’s Day. |
| 14 June | Sunday | Flag Day. |
| 21 June | Sunday | Father’s Day. |
| 31 October | Saturday | Halloween. |
| 2 November | Monday | Day of the Dead. |
| 8 November | Sunday | Diwali. |
| 27 November | Friday | Black Friday. |
| 30 November | Monday | Cyber Monday. |
| 4 December | Friday | Hanukkah begins. |
| 24 December | Thursday | Christmas Eve. |
| 31 December | Thursday | New Year’s Eve. |
How Holidays Affect Daily Lives In US?
Given that most federal and some non-federal holidays are observed in the US, the daily lives are impacted massively. That is, most federal offices and banks remain closed.
Moreover, the retail stores or delivery services offer limited services. That is, they operate at modified hours to keep the sales and logistics moving, but not the 24/7 time frame.
In addition to this, if the holidays are associated with certain religious or cultural aspects, then there might be a shortage of staff members.
So, it might be difficult to get the regular services from the stores and places. That is, making it slightly difficult for the public to navigate through the holiday season.
Now, with this complete list of all the US federal and non-federal holidays, you can plan your long weekend trips.
So, take this chance to plan, pack, and go on that long-awaited trip without taking up all your paid leave. Enjoying culture and nature without being glued to the laptop.
Infograhic US Holidays
Here, I have created a simple infographic listing all the US Holidays in 2026!
FAQs
Here, I have brought some common questions around the federal and cultural holidays in the US that most people look for.
Unlike other countries, if federal holidays fall on a weekend, it is generally observed on the nearest weekday. This way, the federal employees can get a guaranteed day off.
That is, if the federal holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed on Friday. But if it falls on Sunday, it is observed on Monday. So, the employees enjoy the holidays on the closest weekday.
Although there is no specified rule that the federal holidays in the US should be paid, it depends on the employers’ policies, contracts, and agreements.
So, different employers can either pay or choose not to pay for the federal holidays. But the federal employees get paid time off on these dates.
To plan for long weekends, employees can choose the weekends with federal holiday observances on either Friday or Monday.
So, they can plan a 5-day trip with only 2 days of paid leave. This way, they can enjoy the tour without taking too many leaves altogether.
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