Massachusetts holidays 2026
Massachusetts observes 11 paid holidays for state employees in 2026: 10 federal holidays and 1 Massachusetts-specific holiday. Massachusetts observes a Saturday holiday on the Saturday, so state offices open as usual on the Friday before. 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 Massachusetts
| 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 / Presidents' Day Federal holiday | — | Officially "Washington's Birthday / Presidents' Day" (federal name: "Presidents' Day"). |
| May 25 | Mon | Memorial Day Federal holiday | — | |
| Jun 19 | Fri | Juneteenth Independence Day Federal holiday | — | Officially "Juneteenth Independence Day" (federal name: "Juneteenth National Independence Day"). |
| Jul 4 | Sat | Independence Day Federal holiday | No day off | Saturday holiday: observed on the Saturday, state offices open on Friday. Saturday holidays are observed on the Saturday itself |
| Sep 7 | Mon | Labor Day Federal holiday | — | |
| Oct 12 | Mon | Columbus 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.
Massachusetts state holidays
Paid days off for Massachusetts 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 20 | Mon | Patriots' Day State holiday | — | Third Monday in April; statewide legal holiday |
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 17 | Tue | Evacuation Day Observance | — | Suffolk County (Boston, Chelsea, Revere, Winthrop) only; since the FY2011 budget state and municipal offices in Suffolk County must stay open |
| 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 17 | Wed | Bunker Hill Day Observance | — | Suffolk County only; since the FY2011 budget state and municipal offices in Suffolk County must stay open |
| 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 Massachusetts, 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 Massachusetts have in 2026?
Massachusetts observes 11 paid holidays for state employees in 2026: 10 federal holidays plus 1 Massachusetts-specific holiday (Patriots' Day).
What is the next holiday in Massachusetts?
The next holiday in Massachusetts is Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11, 2026 (9 days away).
Does Massachusetts observe all federal holidays?
Massachusetts observes all 11 federal holidays as paid holidays for state employees, in addition to its own state days.
Are banks and post offices closed on Massachusetts state holidays?
Not necessarily. U.S. Post Offices and the Federal Reserve follow the federal holiday schedule, so they stay open on Massachusetts-only holidays. State offices, courts, DMV branches and many public schools close on state holidays; private businesses set their own policy.