Louisiana holidays 2026
Louisiana observes 14 paid holidays for state employees in 2026: 10 federal holidays and 4 Louisiana-specific holidays, plus 3 optional or partial-staffing days. Dates below show the actual date and, where a holiday falls on a weekend, the day it is observed.
Federal holidays observed in Louisiana
| 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"). observed only if proclaimed by the Governor Not automatic — the Governor may proclaim it as one of up to two additional holidays per year |
| May 25 | Mon | Memorial Day Federal holiday | — | Observed only by annual gubernatorial proclamation (one of the two proclaimed holidays must be Memorial Day) |
| Jun 19 | Fri | Juneteenth National Independence Day Federal holiday | — | Observed by annual gubernatorial proclamation (e.g. Proclamation 37 JML 2025) |
| Jul 4 | Sat | Independence Day Federal holiday | Fri, Jul 3 | |
| 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.
Louisiana state holidays
Paid days off for Louisiana state employees that are not federal holidays. Post offices, federal offices and most banks stay open on these days.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Observed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2 | Fri | Day after New Year's Day State holiday | — | Extra state holiday proclaimed by the Governor for 2026. |
| Feb 17 | Tue | Mardi Gras State holiday | — | Statutory state holiday (R.S. 1:55); the Governor also proclaimed Lundi Gras (the Monday before) a holiday in 2026 |
| Apr 3 | Fri | Good Friday State holiday | — | Statutory state holiday (R.S. 1:55) |
| Nov 3 | Tue | General Election Day State holiday | — | Statutory state holiday in even-numbered years (R.S. 1:55) |
Optional and partial-staffing holidays
Days Louisiana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 27 | Fri | Acadian Day State holiday | — | Not statutory for state offices; proclaimed by the Governor each year (e.g. Proclamation 70 JML 2025) on the Friday after Thanksgiving |
| Dec 24 | Thu | Christmas Eve State holiday | — | Proclaimed by the Governor in recent years (e.g. Dec 24, 2025); not statutory |
| Dec 26 | Sat | Day After Christmas State holiday | — | Proclaimed by the Governor in recent years (e.g. Dec 26, 2025) |
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 Louisiana, 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 Louisiana have in 2026?
Louisiana observes 14 paid holidays for state employees in 2026: 10 federal holidays plus 4 Louisiana-specific holidays (Day after New Year's Day, Mardi Gras, Good Friday, General Election Day). Another 3 days are optional or partial-staffing holidays.
What is the next holiday in Louisiana?
The next holiday in Louisiana is General Election Day on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 (3 days away).
Does Louisiana observe all federal holidays?
Louisiana does not give state employees a paid day off for Columbus Day. Federal offices in Louisiana still close on every federal holiday.
Are banks and post offices closed on Louisiana state holidays?
Not necessarily. U.S. Post Offices and the Federal Reserve follow the federal holiday schedule, so they stay open on Louisiana-only holidays. State offices, courts, DMV branches and many public schools close on state holidays; private businesses set their own policy.