Wisconsin holidays 2026
Wisconsin observes 9 paid holidays for state employees in 2026: 6 federal holidays and 2 Wisconsin-specific holidays, plus 1 floating day in lieu of a weekend holiday. Wisconsin does not close state offices on the Friday before a Saturday holiday; employees get a floating holiday 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 Wisconsin
| 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 | No day off | Saturday holiday: state employees get a floating holiday, not a Friday off. |
| Sep 7 | Mon | Labor 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.
Wisconsin state holidays
Paid days off for Wisconsin state employees that are not federal holidays. Post offices, federal offices and most banks stay open on these days.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Observed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 24 | Thu | Christmas Eve State holiday | — | 'Christmas Eve Day' statutory paid holiday (Wis. Stat. 230.35) |
| Dec 31 | Thu | New Year's Eve State holiday | — | 'New Year's Eve Day' statutory paid holiday (Wis. Stat. 230.35) |
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 16 | Mon | Presidents' Day Federal holiday | — | Federal holiday — federal offices, banks and post offices close. Wisconsin state offices stay open. |
| 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 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 12 | Mon | Columbus Day Federal holiday | — | Federal holiday — federal offices, banks and post offices close. State offices stay open. |
| Oct 31 | Sat | Halloween Observance | — | |
| Nov 1 | Sun | Daylight Saving Time Ends Observance | — | |
| Nov 11 | Wed | Veterans Day Federal holiday | — | Federal holiday — federal offices, banks and post offices close. Wisconsin state offices stay open. |
| Nov 30 | Mon | Cyber Monday Observance | — | |
| Dec 7 | Mon | Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Observance | — | |
| Dec 26 | Sat | Kwanzaa Observance | — |
Long weekends in Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin have in 2026?
Wisconsin observes 8 paid holidays for state employees in 2026: 6 federal holidays plus 2 Wisconsin-specific holidays (Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve).
What is the next holiday in Wisconsin?
The next holiday in Wisconsin is Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, November 26, 2026 (26 days away).
Does Wisconsin observe all federal holidays?
Wisconsin does not give state employees a paid day off for Presidents' Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Columbus Day or Veterans Day. Federal offices in Wisconsin still close on every federal holiday.
Are banks and post offices closed on Wisconsin state holidays?
Not necessarily. U.S. Post Offices and the Federal Reserve follow the federal holiday schedule, so they stay open on Wisconsin-only holidays. State offices, courts, DMV branches and many public schools close on state holidays; private businesses set their own policy.