Is today a federal holiday in the United States?

Federal Holidays, Banking & Workplace Rules

In the United States, the federal government recognizes 11 holidays established by law for federal employees under 5 U.S.C. § 6103. These dates determine federal employee holiday schedules, but they do not create a nationwide requirement for private employers to close or provide paid holiday leave.

Federal vs. Private-Sector Holidays

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor, private employers are not required to provide paid time off for holidays or pay premium rates (such as time-and-a-half) merely because work is performed on a statutory holiday. Holiday pay, paid time off, and premium allowances in the private sector are determined by individual employment contracts, company policies, or collective bargaining agreements.

Weekend & In-Lieu Rules

To prevent midweek disruptions, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act shifted several historical holidays, including Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day), Memorial Day, and Columbus Day—to designated Mondays. For holidays with fixed calendar dates (such as New Year's Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Veterans Day, and Christmas Day), federal observance follows statutory 'in-lieu-of' rules under Executive Order 11582:

• Sunday Holidays: Observed by federal offices on the following Monday.
• Saturday Holidays: Observed by the federal civil service on the preceding Friday (for example, Friday, July 3, 2026 for Independence Day; in 2027, Friday, June 18, 2027 for Juneteenth, Friday, December 24, 2027 for Christmas Day, and Friday, December 31, 2027 for New Year's Day 2028 per official U.S. OPM schedules).

Federal Reserve Note: When a holiday falls on a Saturday, Federal Reserve Banks and Branches operate on the preceding Friday, while the Board of Governors remains closed.

Banking & Payment Processing

The Federal Reserve System observes all 11 federal holidays. On these dates, regional Federal Reserve Banks halt wholesale funds transfers (Fedwire), check clearing, and Automated Clearing House (FedACH) settlement services. (The Federal Reserve has announced plans to expand Fedwire Funds Service and National Settlement Service operating days to include Sundays and weekday holidays, targeted for implementation no earlier than 2028; through 2026, the service operates Monday through Friday excluding holidays.)

Federal Reserve closures do not legally require commercial banks to close. Commercial banks and branches set their own holiday schedules. If a scheduled payroll date falls on a Federal Reserve holiday, employers and payroll providers may need to submit payment files earlier so employees receive funds on the intended date. Calculate net business days around Federal Reserve holidays using the Working Days Calculator.

Stock & Bond Market Holidays

U.S. financial markets do not follow a uniform holiday schedule:

• Equity markets (NYSE & NASDAQ): Commercial exchanges operate as private entities. They close for major federal holidays (such as Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas), but stay fully open on Columbus Day and Veterans Day. Exchanges also close on Good Friday, which is not a federal holiday.
• Fixed-income markets: The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) publishes holiday recommendations for U.S. dollar-denominated fixed-income markets. These are recommendations, not mandatory closures, and individual firms determine their own operating schedules. Read our breakdown on Columbus Day market hours.

State-Level Differences

State governments maintain independent authority over state civil service holidays. Several states celebrate distinct regional commemorations (e.g., Patriots' Day in Massachusetts, Juneteenth before it gained federal status, or Cesar Chavez Day in California). Additionally, while the second Monday in October remains a statutory federal holiday under the name Columbus Day, over 29 states and territories officially observe it as Indigenous Peoples' Day or recognize both concurrently.

United States Payment Rails, Exchange Cutoffs & Statutory Pay Matrix (2026–2027)

When a statutory public holiday or in-lieu bank holiday occurs in United States, commercial banking counters, central bank real-time gross settlement (RTGS) rails, and retail instant payment systems follow distinct operational rules:

Key 2026 vs. 2027 Holiday Date Shifts & Bridge-Day Planning in United States

Because fixed calendar holidays shift one weekday forward between 2026 and 2027 (and movable lunar or liturgical holidays shift by 10 to 15 days), HR teams, payroll processors, and employees in United States should account for the following 2026–2027 date comparisons and leave-bridge opportunities: