Alabama Holidays 2026
Alabama has 11 federal holidays and 4 state holidays in 2026. Private employers don't have to give any of them.
Last updated on Nov 1, 2026
11 federal holidays, 4 state holidays and 1 commonly given in 2026.
11 federal holidays and 4 state holidays in 2026.
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All 2026 holidays in Alabama
18 days listed| Month | Date | Holiday | Type | Paid by law? | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1Thu | New Year's Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| 19Mon | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | ||
| February | 16Mon | Washington's Birthday | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| 17Tue | Mardi GrasState holiday in Baldwin and Mobile Counties only; other state employees get a personal leave day | State | Not required for private employers | ||
| April | 5Sun | Easter Sunday | Observance | Not a day off | |
| 27Mon | Confederate Memorial Day | State | Not required for private employers | ||
| May | 25Mon | Memorial Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| June | 1Mon | Jefferson Davis' birthday | State | Not required for private employers | |
| 19Fri | Juneteenth | Federal | Not required for private employers | ||
| July | 4Sat | Independence DayFalls on a Saturday. Observed Fri Jul 3 | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| September | 7Mon | Labor Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| October | 12Mon | Columbus Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| November | 11Wed | Veterans Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| 26Thu | Thanksgiving Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | ||
| 27Fri | Day after ThanksgivingOn the 2026 state holiday list, upon designation by the Governor | State | Not required for private employers | ||
| December | 1Tue | Mrs. Rosa L. Parks DayCommemoration only; not a day off | Observance | Not a day off | |
| 25Fri | Christmas Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | ||
| 31Thu | New Year's Eve | Commonly given | Not required |
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What employers need to know
Paid holidays
Federal law (the FLSA) doesn't require Alabama employers to pay for holidays that aren't worked. Holiday pay is a matter of agreement between the employer and the employee.
Working on a holiday
Federal law (the FLSA) doesn't require overtime pay just because an employee works on a holiday. Overtime is owed for hours worked over 40 in a workweek.
No state wage and hour law
Alabama has no state laws on wage and hour issues. Employers in Alabama follow the federal guidelines of the US Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division.
Holidays that fall on a weekend
Federal offices observe Saturday holidays on Friday and Sunday holidays on Monday.
Unused vacation when someone leaves
Alabama law does not require employers to pay out accrued vacation or other PTO when employment ends. Unused vacation must be paid only if the company's own policy or employment contract promises it.
From our Alabama leave laws guideSick leave
No Alabama law requires private sector employers to provide sick leave, paid or unpaid. Private sector employees in Alabama have only the rights guaranteed by federal FMLA.
From our Alabama leave laws guideMaximize your PTO in 2026
These are our suggestions for the best days to take off in Alabama. They use the 11 federal holidays plus the days Alabama state offices close for: Confederate Memorial Day, Jefferson Davis' birthday and Day after Thanksgiving. Take all 14 suggested PTO days and you get 54 days off across 13 breaks, including 11 long weekends. Pick a break to see it on the calendar.
- Federal
- State
- Commonly given
- Suggested PTO day
- Weekend
- Today
January 2026
February 2026
March 2026
April 2026
May 2026
June 2026
July 2026
August 2026
September 2026
October 2026
November 2026
December 2026
When US teams take time off
The national pattern from Vacation Tracker data. We don't have enough Alabama data for a state view yet.
How Alabama holidays differ
State holidays
Alabama has 4 holidays of its own in 2026 on top of the federal ones. The median across the 50 states and DC is 2; 5 have more and 37 have fewer.
Only in Alabama
Only Alabama has Jefferson Davis' birthday as a holiday in 2026.
Shared with a few states
Mardi Gras is also a state holiday in Louisiana. Confederate Memorial Day is also a state holiday in Mississippi and South Carolina.
Federal holidays
Alabama state offices observe all 11 federal holidays.
Neighboring states in 2026
- Florida3 holidays of its own
- Georgia2 holidays of its own
- Mississippi1 holiday of its own
- Tennessee4 holidays of its own
Sources
- State Holidays - State of Alabama Personnel Department (2026 and 2027 official state holidays)
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Federal holidays
- Holiday Pay | U.S. Department of Labor
- Fact Sheet #23: Overtime Pay Requirements of the FLSA | U.S. Department of Labor
- Wage and Hour Info | Alabama Department of Labor
- FLSA Hours Worked Advisor: Holidays, Vacations and Sick Time | U.S. Department of Labor
Holiday calendar data includes date-holidays (CC BY-SA 3.0), checked against the official sources above.
Last updated on Nov 1, 2026. Holiday dates come from public sources. Check your employment contract and the official sources above before you rely on them.
Frequently asked questions
Not under federal law: the FLSA doesn't require pay for holidays that aren't worked, so holiday pay is a matter of agreement between employer and employee. Alabama has no state wage and hour laws of its own.
In 2026, Alabama has the 11 federal holidays and 4 state holidays: Mardi Gras (February 17), Confederate Memorial Day (April 27), Jefferson Davis' birthday (June 1) and Day after Thanksgiving (November 27).
Yes. Juneteenth is a federal holiday and an Alabama state holiday. In 2026 it falls on Friday, June 19.
Yes. Columbus Day is a federal holiday and an Alabama state holiday, where it's called Columbus Day, Fraternal Day and American Indian Heritage Day. In 2026 it falls on Monday, October 12.
Yes. The day after Thanksgiving (Friday, November 27) is an Alabama state holiday. Private employers don't have to give it.
Not under federal law. The FLSA doesn't require overtime pay for holiday work as such; overtime is owed only for hours worked over 40 in a workweek. Alabama has no state wage and hour law that adds a holiday premium.
No, under federal law (the FLSA), which is what Alabama employers follow. Paid time off for a holiday isn't hours worked, so it doesn't have to be counted toward the 40 hours that trigger overtime.
Federal offices observe Saturday holidays on Friday and Sunday holidays on Monday. In 2026, Independence Day falls on a Saturday and is observed on Friday, July 3.