US Public Holiday Cheatsheet 2026

Public holidays in the United States recognize moments, people, and events that shape the country at both the national and state level. These dates often connect to historical milestones, cultural traditions, or public remembrance.

As a result, many government offices and schools close on public holidays, while private businesses may reduce hours or follow their own schedules.

Since observance depends on state rules and employer policy, public holidays do not look the same across the country.

Federal holidays usually affect government operations nationwide. State-recognized holidays, however, may only apply within specific states.

Private employers decide how to observe these dates, which leads to differences in business closures, reduced hours, or regular operations depending on the workplace.

US labor laws do not require private employers to observe public holidays. Employers set their own policies around closures, scheduling, and holiday observance.

Because of this, the same public holiday may result in a day off at one workplace and a normal workday at another.

Federal law does not require employers to provide paid time off on public holidays. Some employers include paid holidays as part of their benefits, while others treat these dates as regular workdays.

In certain cases, employers may offer premium pay instead, based on company policy rather than legal obligation.

No. States do not follow a single public holiday calendar. While some holidays apply nationwide, others only apply in specific states.

In addition, states may observe certain holidays on different dates, which creates variation across the US each year.

The US Public Holiday Cheat Sheet 2026 includes widely observed federal holidays such as New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. It also includes state-recognized public holidays that apply only in certain states during 2026.

Each holiday appears with its date, day of the week, and the states that observe it. The poster focuses on official public holidays only and does not include local city observances or unofficial holidays.