This 2026 and 2027 holiday calendar includes federal holidays and observed dates, California state employee holidays, and other major holidays and observances. The federal government recognizes 11 annual federal holidays. California state employee holiday schedules are separate from federal holidays, and private employers are generally not required to close or provide paid time off simply because a date is a federal holiday.
Federal vs. California Holidays
Federal holidays apply to federal government offices and employees. California maintains a separate holiday schedule for state employees. California also recognizes certain commemorative dates that eligible state employees may observe in lieu of a personal holiday, including Lunar New Year, Genocide Remembrance Day, Juneteenth and Native American Day. These rules should not be interpreted as requiring private California employers to provide paid time off.
2026 Holiday Calendar
- New Year’s Day (Federal/California Holiday): Thursday, January 1, 2026; Observed Thursday, January 1, 2026 * CA Paid Holiday
- Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday (Federal Holiday/California)*1: Monday, January 19, 2026; Third Monday in January * CA Paid Holiday
- Rosa Parks Day (California Holiday): Wednesday, February 4, 2026
- Valentine’s Day: Saturday, February 14, 2026
- Washington’s Birthday aka President’s Day*2 (Federal Holiday/California): Monday, February 16, 2026; Third Monday in February * CA Paid Holiday
- Lunar New Year: Tuesday, February 17, 2026
- Ramadan: Expected to begin around the evening of Tuesday, February 17, 2026 and continue for about one lunar month. Islamic calendar dates can vary by location and moon sighting.
- St. Patrick’s Day: Tuesday, March 17, 2026
- César Chávez Day (California Holiday)*3: Tuesday, March 31, 2026 * CA Paid Holiday
- Easter: Sunday, April 5, 2026
- Tax Day*4: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 (filing date)
- Earth Day: Wednesday, April 22, 2026
- Genocide Remembrance Day: Friday, April 24, 2026
- Cinco de Mayo: Tuesday, May 5, 2026
- Mother’s Day: Sunday, May 10, 2026; Second Sunday in May
- Memorial Day (Federal Holiday/California): Monday, May 25, 2026; Last Monday in May * CA Paid Holiday
- D-Day: Saturday, June 6, 2026
- Juneteenth (Federal Holiday): Friday, June 19, 2026
- Father’s Day: Sunday, June 21, 2026; Third Sunday in June
- Independence Day: Saturday, July 4, 2026; Federal holiday observed Friday, July 3, 2026. California state employee observance may depend on the applicable state holiday schedule or bargaining agreement.
- Labor Day (Federal/California Holiday): Monday, September 7, 2026; First Monday in September * CA Paid Holiday
- Patriot Day: Friday, September 11, 2026
- Native American Day: Friday, September 25, 2026
- Columbus Day (Federal Holiday)*5: Monday, October 12, 2026
- Indigenous People’s Day: Monday, October 12, 2026
- Halloween: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026
- Election Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026; Always on a Tuesday
- Veteran’s Day (Federal/California Holiday): Wednesday, November 11, 2026; Observed Wednesday, November 11, 2026 * CA Paid Holiday
- Thanksgiving Day (Federal/California Holiday): Thursday, November 26, 2026; Fourth Thursday in November * CA Paid Holiday
- Day After Thanksgiving (California Holiday): Friday, November 27, 2026 * CA Paid Holiday
- Black Friday: Friday, November 27, 2026; Fourth Friday in November
- Cyber Monday: Monday, November 30, 2026; Monday after Black Friday
- Giving Tuesday: Tuesday, December 1, 2026; Tuesday after Thanksgiving
- Pearl Harbor: Monday, Dec. 7, 2026
- Christmas Eve: Thursday, December 24, 2026
- Christmas Day (Federal/California Holiday): Friday, December 25, 2026 * CA Paid Holiday
- New Year’s Eve: Thursday, December 31, 2026
For Federal and California, when a holiday falls on a Saturday, employees shall receive holiday credit.
For the Federal and California, when a holiday falls on a Sunday, the holiday is observed on the following Monday.
An Observed Holiday is when a public federal, state, or local holiday is celebrated on a date that is not the actual event’s anniversary date.
Private employers set their own holiday and paid-time-off policies subject to applicable employment laws and agreements. A federal holiday does not by itself require a private California employer to close or provide employees with paid time off.
2027 Holiday Calendar
- New Year’s Day (Federal Holiday): Friday, January 1, 2027
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Federal Holiday): Monday, January 18, 2027
- Valentine’s Day: Sunday, February 14, 2027
- Washington’s Birthday (Presidents Day) (Federal Holiday): Monday, February 15, 2027
- Lunar New Year: Saturday, February 6, 2027
- St. Patrick’s Day: Wednesday, March 17, 2027
- César Chávez Day: Wednesday, March 31, 2027
- Easter: Sunday, March 28, 2027
- Tax Day: Thursday, April 15, 2027, unless the IRS announces an adjusted filing deadline
- Earth Day: Thursday, April 22, 2027
- Genocide Remembrance Day: Saturday, April 24, 2027
- Cinco de Mayo: Wednesday, May 5, 2027
- Mother’s Day: Sunday, May 9, 2027
- Memorial Day (Federal Holiday): Monday, May 31, 2027
- D-Day: Sunday, June 6, 2027
- Juneteenth (Federal Holiday): Saturday, June 19, 2027; observed Friday, June 18, 2027
- Father’s Day: Sunday, June 20, 2027
- Independence Day (Federal Holiday): Sunday, July 4, 2027; observed Monday, July 5, 2027
- Labor Day (Federal Holiday): Monday, September 6, 2027
- Patriot Day: Saturday, September 11, 2027
- Columbus Day (Federal Holiday): Monday, October 11, 2027
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Monday, October 11, 2027
- Halloween: Sunday, October 31, 2027
- Veterans Day (Federal Holiday): Thursday, November 11, 2027
- Thanksgiving Day (Federal Holiday): Thursday, November 25, 2027
- Day After Thanksgiving: Friday, November 26, 2027
- Black Friday: Friday, November 26, 2027
- Cyber Monday: Monday, November 29, 2027
- Giving Tuesday: Tuesday, November 30, 2027
- Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day: Tuesday, December 7, 2027
- Christmas Eve: Friday, December 24, 2027
- Christmas Day (Federal Holiday): Saturday, December 25, 2027; observed Friday, December 24, 2027
- New Year’s Eve: Friday, December 31, 2027
California State Employee Holidays
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday
- Washington Day
- César Chávez Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Day After Thanksgiving
- Christmas Day
In addition to the above state paid holiday, effective January 1, 2023, the Governor proclaimed the following holidays, which may be taken in lieu of receiving a personal holiday.
- Lunar New Year
- Genocide Remembrance Day: April 24
- Juneteenth: June 19
- Native American Day: September 22
California Public School Closure Days
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day or the Monday or Friday in the week in which January 15 falls
- The Monday or Friday of the week in which Lincoln Day falls
- Washington Day
- Memorial Day
- July 4th
- Labor Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
- Any other day designated by the president or governor
- Any other day designated by the governing school board
Holiday Calendar Notes
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day is celebrated to mark the birthday of Dr. King, and is observed on the third Monday in January. His actual birthday is January 15.
- According to the federal government, the holiday observed on the third Monday in February is officially Washington’s Birthday. But many Americans believe that this holiday is called “Presidents’ Day,” in honor of both Presidents Washington and Lincoln, whose birthdays are Feb. 22 and Feb. 12, respectively.
- Cesar Chavez Day (March 31) is not a Holiday observed statewide. Although State of California employees get the day off, most school districts, businesses and federal employees still have to work.
- April 15th of each year is National Tax Day. The Federal income tax filing deadline is midnight on April 15th of every year, with extensions occurring when the 15th lands on a Saturday, Sunday, or a holiday.
- Columbus Day is not a paid holiday for State of California employees.
