California holidays 2026
California observes 10 paid holidays for state employees in 2026: 8 federal holidays and 2 California-specific holidays, plus 3 optional or partial-staffing days. California does not give state employees a Friday off when a holiday falls on a Saturday; they get holiday credit instead. A Sunday holiday moves to Monday. In 2026 that means no weekday off for Independence Day. Federal offices still use the federal observed dates.
Federal holidays observed in California
| Date | Day | Holiday | Observed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Thu | New Year's Day Federal holiday | — | |
| Jan 19 | Mon | Martin Luther King Jr. Day Federal holiday | — | |
| Feb 16 | Mon | Presidents' Day Federal holiday | — | |
| May 25 | Mon | Memorial Day Federal holiday | — | |
| Jul 4 | Sat | Independence Day Federal holiday | No day off | Saturday holidays give holiday credit rather than a Friday off |
| Sep 7 | Mon | Labor Day Federal holiday | — | |
| Nov 11 | Wed | Veterans Day Federal holiday | — | |
| Nov 26 | Thu | Thanksgiving Day Federal holiday | — | |
| Dec 25 | Fri | Christmas Day Federal holiday | — |
Dates computed from the governing statutes and last verified October 3, 2026. Years beyond officially published schedules are projected from the rule that sets the date.
California state holidays
Paid days off for California state employees that are not federal holidays. Post offices, federal offices and most banks stay open on these days.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Observed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31 | Tue | César Chávez Day State holiday | — | Paid state holiday (since 2000) |
| Nov 27 | Fri | Day After Thanksgiving State holiday | — | Paid state holiday (CalHR) |
Optional and partial-staffing holidays
Days California recognizes in law but where offices stay open with reduced staff, employees may choose the day, or the holiday depends on an annual proclamation.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Observed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 24 | Fri | Genocide Remembrance Day State holiday | — | State employees may elect 8 hours of holiday credit in lieu of their personal holiday |
| Jun 19 | Fri | Juneteenth National Independence Day Federal holiday | — | Not an automatic paid day off for California state employees: it is not in Government Code 6700, and CalHR lets employees elect eight hours of holiday credit in lieu of their personal holiday. |
| Sep 25 | Fri | Native American Day State holiday | — | Fourth Friday in September; state employees may elect 8 hours of holiday credit in lieu of their personal holiday |
Observances (not days off)
| Date | Day | Holiday | Observed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2 | Mon | Groundhog Day Observance | — | |
| Feb 8 | Sun | Super Bowl Sunday Observance | — | |
| Feb 12 | Thu | Lincoln's Birthday Observance | — | Legal holiday in Gov. Code 6700 but no longer a paid state-employee holiday (since 2009) |
| Feb 14 | Sat | Valentine's Day Observance | — | |
| Feb 18 | Wed | Ash Wednesday Religious observance | — | |
| Mar 8 | Sun | Daylight Saving Time Begins Observance | — | |
| Mar 17 | Tue | St. Patrick's Day Observance | — | |
| Mar 29 | Sun | Palm Sunday Religious observance | — | |
| Apr 1 | Wed | April Fools' Day Observance | — | |
| Apr 5 | Sun | Easter Sunday Religious observance | — | |
| Apr 15 | Wed | Tax Day Observance | — | |
| Apr 22 | Wed | Earth Day Observance | — | |
| May 5 | Tue | Cinco de Mayo Observance | — | |
| May 10 | Sun | Mother's Day Observance | — | |
| May 16 | Sat | Armed Forces Day Observance | — | |
| Jun 14 | Sun | Flag Day Observance | — | |
| Jun 21 | Sun | Father's Day Observance | — | |
| Sep 11 | Fri | Patriot Day Observance | — | |
| Sep 13 | Sun | National Grandparents Day Observance | — | |
| Sep 17 | Thu | Constitution Day Observance | — | |
| Oct 31 | Sat | Halloween Observance | — | |
| Nov 1 | Sun | Daylight Saving Time Ends Observance | — | |
| Nov 30 | Mon | Cyber Monday Observance | — | |
| Dec 7 | Mon | Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Observance | — | |
| Dec 26 | Sat | Kwanzaa Observance | — |
Long weekends in California, 2026
What closes
State offices, courts and driver-license offices close on the paid state holidays above; most public schools follow the state calendar. Banks and the post office follow the federal list, not the state one.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does California have in 2026?
California observes 10 paid holidays for state employees in 2026: 8 federal holidays plus 2 California-specific holidays (César Chávez Day, Day After Thanksgiving). Another 3 days are optional or partial-staffing holidays.
What is the next holiday in California?
The next holiday in California is Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11, 2026 (11 days away).
Does California observe all federal holidays?
California does not give state employees a paid day off for Columbus Day. Juneteenth National Independence Day is a partial-staffing holiday: agencies stay open with minimal staff, but most employees have the day off. Federal offices in California still close on every federal holiday.
Are banks and post offices closed on California state holidays?
Not necessarily. U.S. Post Offices and the Federal Reserve follow the federal holiday schedule, so they stay open on California-only holidays. State offices, courts, DMV branches and many public schools close on state holidays; private businesses set their own policy.