North Carolina holidays 2026
North Carolina observes 12 paid holidays for state employees in 2026: 8 federal holidays and 4 North Carolina-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 North Carolina
| Date | Day | Holiday | Observed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Thu | New Year's Day Federal holiday | — | |
| Jan 19 | Mon | Martin Luther King Jr. Day Federal holiday | — | |
| May 25 | Mon | Memorial Day Federal holiday | — | |
| 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.
North Carolina state holidays
Paid days off for North Carolina 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 3 | Fri | Good Friday State holiday | — | State holiday |
| Nov 27 | Fri | Day After Thanksgiving State holiday | — | Second day of the Thanksgiving holiday |
| Dec 24 | Thu | Christmas Eve State holiday | — | First of three Christmas holiday days (dates shift to weekdays when Christmas falls near a weekend) |
| Dec 26 | Sat | Day After Christmas State holiday | Mon, Dec 28 | Third day of the Christmas holiday; Dec 26 is a Saturday, so it is observed on Monday, Dec 28. |
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 10 | Sun | Confederate Memorial Day Observance | — | Listed as a public holiday in G.S. 103-4 (May 10) but not a state-employee holiday |
| May 16 | Sat | Armed Forces Day Observance | — | |
| Jun 14 | Sun | Flag Day Observance | — | |
| Jun 19 | Fri | Juneteenth National Independence Day Federal holiday | — | |
| 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 North Carolina, 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 North Carolina have in 2026?
North Carolina observes 12 paid holidays for state employees in 2026: 8 federal holidays plus 4 North Carolina-specific holidays (Good Friday, Day After Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Day After Christmas).
What is the next holiday in North Carolina?
The next holiday in North Carolina is Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11, 2026 (9 days away).
Does North Carolina observe all federal holidays?
North Carolina does not give state employees a paid day off for Presidents' Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day or Columbus Day. Federal offices in North Carolina still close on every federal holiday.
Are banks and post offices closed on North Carolina state holidays?
Not necessarily. U.S. Post Offices and the Federal Reserve follow the federal holiday schedule, so they stay open on North Carolina-only holidays. State offices, courts, DMV branches and many public schools close on state holidays; private businesses set their own policy.