• There are eleven federal holidays in 2026.
• Private employers are not legally obligated to provide paid holidays.
• Work performed by hourly, nonexempt employees on a holiday is compensable.

Although federal law does not require private businesses to provide paid holidays, many companies voluntarily recognize certain federal holidays as paid holidays in order to boost recruiting, retention, and morale. Some companies choose to include paid holidays within their combined paid time off (PTO) policy, so that employees can pick which holidays they prefer to observe.

In 2026, there are eleven federal holidays: New Year’s Day (January 1), Martin Luther King, Jr., Day (January 19), Inauguration Day (January 20), President’s Day (February 16), Memorial Day (May 25), Juneteenth (June 19), Independence Day (July 4), Labor Day (September 7), Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day (October 12), Veterans Day (November 11), Thanksgiving Day (November 26), and Christmas Day (December 25).

In addition, some states recognize certain holidays beyond the federally recognized list, although they do not require private employers to provide paid holidays. For example, Louisiana recognized Mardi Gras and Good Friday on February 17 and April 3 this year. Utah will celebrate Pioneer Day on July 24, 2026. Hawaii will celebrate King Kamehameha Day on June 11, 2026, and Hawaii Admission Day on August 21, 2026. In Rhode Island, employees who are required to work on Sundays and certain holidays must be...

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