2026 Holiday & Observance Calendar

This comprehensive guide outlines the Federal holidays, major religious observances, and significant cultural dates for the 2026 calendar year.

Focus: Renewal, Global Heritage, and Wellness

DateObservanceStatus
Jan 1New Year’s Day / Solemnity of MaryFederal / Religious (Catholic)
Jan 4World Braille DayAwareness
Jan 6Epiphany / Three Kings DayReligious (Christian)
Jan 19Martin Luther King Jr. DayFederal Holiday
Jan 20Inauguration Day (D.C. Area) / Cheese Lovers DayFederal / Fun
Jan 28Data Privacy DayTechnical Awareness
Jan 29Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse)Cultural
Feb 1National Freedom DayObservance
Feb 2Groundhog DayCultural
Feb 8Super Bowl LXMajor Event
Feb 11Int. Day of Women and Girls in ScienceAwareness
Feb 14Valentine’s DayObservance
Feb 16Presidents’ DayFederal Holiday
Feb 17Mardi Gras / Shrove TuesdayReligious / Cultural
Feb 18Ramadan Begins (at sundown)Religious (Islamic)
Feb 18Ash Wednesday (Lent Begins)Religious (Christian)
Mar 3World Wildlife Day / HoliAwareness / Religious (Hindu)
Mar 8International Women’s DayGlobal Awareness
Mar 14Pi Day (3.14)Educational
Mar 17St. Patrick’s DayCultural / Religious
Mar 20Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)Religious (Islamic)
Mar 20Spring Equinox / Int. Day of HappinessSeasonal / Awareness

Second Quarter (Q2)

Focus: Growth, Advocacy, and Family

DateObservanceStatus
Apr 1April Fool’s DayFun
Apr 2Passover Begins (at sundown)Religious (Jewish)
Apr 2World Autism Awareness DayHealth Awareness
Apr 3Good FridayReligious (Christian)
Apr 5Easter SundayReligious (Christian)
Apr 12Orthodox EasterReligious (Eastern Christian)
Apr 14VaisakhiReligious (Sikh)
Apr 22Earth DayAwareness
Apr 23World Book DayAwareness
May 1May Day / Int. Workers’ DayGlobal Observance
May 4Star Wars Day (May the 4th)Pop Culture
May 5Cinco de Mayo / Giving Tuesday (Spring)Cultural / Charity
May 10Mother’s DayObservance
May 14Ascension DayReligious (Christian)
May 23Shavuot Begins (at sundown)Religious (Jewish)
May 24PentecostReligious (Christian)
May 25Memorial DayFederal Holiday
May 27Eid al-AdhaReligious (Islamic)
June 8World Oceans DayAwareness
June 14Flag DayNational
June 19JuneteenthFederal Holiday
June 21Father’s Day / Summer SolsticeObservance / Seasonal

Third Quarter (Q3)

Focus: Civic Pride, History, and Exploration

DateObservanceStatus
July 3Independence Day (Observed)Federal Holiday
July 4Independence Day (U.S. 250th Anniversary)National Milestone
July 17World Emoji DaySocial Media
July 18Nelson Mandela International DayAwareness
July 26Parents’ Day / ADA 36th AnniversaryNational / Awareness
Aug 9Int. Day of World’s Indigenous PeoplesAwareness
Aug 15Assumption of MaryReligious (Catholic)
Aug 19World Photography Day / Humanitarian DayCreative / Awareness
Aug 26Women’s Equality DayNational
Sept 7Labor DayFederal Holiday
Sept 8International Literacy DayAwareness
Sept 12Rosh Hashanah Begins (at sundown)Religious (Jewish)
Sept 21Yom Kippur Begins (at sundown)Religious (Jewish)
Sept 21International Day of PeaceAwareness
Sept 22Autumnal EquinoxSeasonal
Sept 26Sukkot Begins (at sundown)Religious (Jewish)

Fourth Quarter (Q4)

Focus: Gratitude, Giving, and Celebration

DateObservanceStatus
Oct 1International Coffee DayFun
Oct 4World Animal Day / Feast of St. FrancisAwareness / Religious
Oct 10World Mental Health DayHealth Awareness
Oct 12Indigenous Peoples’ Day / Columbus DayFederal Holiday
Oct 16World Food DayAwareness
Oct 31Halloween / Reformation DayObservance / Religious
Nov 1All Saints’ DayReligious (Christian)
Nov 2All Souls’ Day / Día de los MuertosReligious / Cultural
Nov 8DiwaliReligious (Hindu/Sikh)
Nov 11Veterans DayFederal Holiday
Nov 13World Kindness DayAwareness
Nov 26Thanksgiving DayFederal Holiday
Nov 27Black Friday / Native American Heritage DayCommercial / National
Nov 30Cyber MondayCommercial
Dec 1World AIDS Day / Giving TuesdayHealth / Charity
Dec 4Hanukkah Begins (at sundown)Religious (Jewish)
Dec 10Human Rights DayGlobal Awareness
Dec 21Winter SolsticeSeasonal
Dec 25Christmas DayFederal Holiday
Dec 26Kwanzaa Begins / Boxing DayCultural / Observance
Dec 31New Year’s EveObservance