District of Columbia holidays 2026
District of Columbia observes 13 paid holidays for D.C. government employees in 2026: 11 federal holidays and 2 District of Columbia-specific holidays. Dates below show the actual date and, where a holiday falls on a weekend, the day it is observed.
Federal holidays observed in District of Columbia
| 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 | Washington's Birthday Federal holiday | — | Officially "Washington's Birthday" (federal name: "Presidents' Day"). |
| May 25 | Mon | Memorial Day Federal holiday | — | |
| Jun 19 | Fri | Juneteenth National Independence Day Federal holiday | — | |
| Jul 4 | Sat | Independence Day Federal holiday | Fri, Jul 3 | |
| Sep 7 | Mon | Labor Day Federal holiday | — | |
| Oct 12 | Mon | Indigenous Peoples' Day Federal holiday | — | Officially "Indigenous Peoples' Day" (federal name: "Columbus Day"). paid public 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.
District of Columbia state holidays
Paid days off for District of Columbia state employees that are not federal holidays. Post offices, federal offices and most banks stay open on these days.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Observed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 16 | Thu | Emancipation Day State holiday | — | D.C. Code 1-612.02: April 16, legal public holiday since 2005; commemorates the 1862 D.C. Compensated Emancipation Act |
| Oct 12 | Mon | Indigenous Peoples' Day State holiday | — | Replaced Columbus Day in the D.C. Code (1-612.02) |
Observances (not days off)
| Date | Day | Holiday | Observed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2 | Mon | Groundhog Day Observance | — | |
| Feb 8 | Sun | Super Bowl Sunday Observance | — | |
| 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 District of Columbia, 2026
What closes
D.C. government offices, courts and D.C. public schools close on the paid holidays above. Because the District is also the federal seat, many holidays overlap with the federal calendar.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does District of Columbia have in 2026?
District of Columbia observes 13 paid holidays for D.C. government employees in 2026: 11 federal holidays plus 2 District of Columbia-specific holidays (Emancipation Day, Indigenous Peoples' Day).
What is the next holiday in District of Columbia?
The next holiday in District of Columbia is Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11, 2026 (11 days away).
Does District of Columbia observe all federal holidays?
District of Columbia observes all 11 federal holidays as paid holidays for D.C. government employees, in addition to its own D.C.-only days.
Are banks and post offices closed on District of Columbia holidays?
D.C. has its own holiday (Emancipation Day, Apr 16) that is not a federal holiday. Post offices and most banks stay open on D.C.-only holidays; D.C. government offices close.