California Holidays 2026
California has 11 federal holidays and 3 state holidays in 2026. Private employers don't have to give any of them.
Last updated on Nov 1, 2026
11 federal holidays, 3 state holidays and 2 commonly given in 2026.
11 federal holidays and 3 state holidays in 2026.
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All 2026 holidays in California
20 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 | 15Sun | Susan B. Anthony Day | Observance | Not a day off | |
| 16Mon | Washington's Birthday | Federal | Not required for private employers | ||
| March | 31Tue | Farmworkers Day | State | Not required for private employers | |
| April | 5Sun | Easter Sunday | Observance | Not a day off | |
| May | 19Tue | Malcolm X Day | Observance | Not a day off | |
| 22Fri | Harvey Milk Day | Observance | Not a day off | ||
| 25Mon | Memorial Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | ||
| June | 19Fri | JuneteenthNot a paid California state holiday; state employees may elect holiday credit for it | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| July | 4Sat | Independence DayFalls on a Saturday. Observed Fri Jul 3California state offices don't move it to a weekday | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| September | 7Mon | Labor Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| 25Fri | Native American DayNot a paid state-employee holiday; state employees may elect holiday credit for it | State | Not required for private employers | ||
| October | 12Mon | Columbus DayLegal holiday under California Government Code 6700, but not a paid holiday for California state employees | 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 Thanksgiving | State | Not required for private employers | ||
| December | 24Thu | Christmas Eve | Commonly given | Not required | |
| 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
California law doesn't require private employers to give paid holidays, close on any holiday, or give employees a particular holiday off. If you give paid holidays, that comes from your own policy, a union contract or an employment agreement.
Working on a holiday
California employers don't have to pay a special premium for holiday work. The only premium required is overtime: 1.5 times the regular rate for work over 8 hours in a workday or 40 hours in a workweek, and double the regular rate for work over 12 hours in a workday.
Holidays and overtime
In California, a paid holiday that isn't worked doesn't count as hours worked for overtime. Overtime depends on hours actually worked, not hours paid.
Holidays that fall on a weekend
Federal offices observe Saturday holidays on Friday and Sunday holidays on Monday. California state offices don't move Independence Day to a weekday.
Unused vacation when someone leaves
California requires employers to pay out earned, unused vacation when an employee leaves. Earned vacation is treated as wages, goes on the final paycheck and can't expire or be taken away.
From our California leave laws guideSick leave
Every California employer, regardless of size, must provide paid sick leave. The minimum is 40 hours (5 days) a year, and the accrual rate is 1 hour for every 30 hours of work.
From our California leave laws guideMaximize your PTO in 2026
These are our suggestions for the best days to take off in California. They use the 11 federal holidays plus the days California state offices close for: Farmworkers Day and Day after Thanksgiving. Take all 13 suggested PTO days and you get 50 days off across 12 breaks, including 10 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 California teams take time off
The 5 weeks when the most California employees using Vacation Tracker were off, compared with an average week.
- Dec 21 – 27Week 52 2.8× a normal week2.8×
- Jul 6 – 12Week 28 1.8× a normal week1.8×
- Jun 29 – Jul 5Week 27 1.8× a normal week1.8×
- Jul 27 – Aug 2Week 31 1.8× a normal week1.8×
- Aug 31 – Sep 6Week 36 1.6× a normal week1.6×
How California holidays differ
State holidays
California has 3 holidays of its own in 2026 on top of the federal ones. The median across the 50 states and DC is 2; 14 have more and 31 have fewer.
Only in California
Only California has Farmworkers Day and Native American Day as holidays in 2026.
Federal holidays
Not a paid day off for California state employees: Juneteenth and Columbus Day.
Neighboring states in 2026
Compare all 50 states and DCSources
- State Holidays - CalHR
- State Holidays - California Secretary of State
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Federal holidays
- California DIR (Labor Commissioner): Holidays FAQ
- California DIR (Labor Commissioner): Overtime FAQ
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
No. California law doesn't require private employers to give paid holidays. Paid holidays come from the employer's policy or practice, a collective bargaining agreement, or an employment agreement.
In 2026, California has the 11 federal holidays and 3 state holidays: Farmworkers Day (March 31), Native American Day (September 25) and Day after Thanksgiving (November 27).
Partly. Juneteenth is a federal holiday. Not a paid California state holiday. State employees may elect holiday credit for it. In 2026 it falls on Friday, June 19.
Partly. Columbus Day is a federal holiday. Legal holiday under California Government Code 6700, but not a paid holiday for California state employees. In 2026 it falls on Monday, October 12.
Yes. The day after Thanksgiving (Friday, November 27) is a California state holiday. Private employers don't have to give it.
No special holiday premium is required in California. Employers must still pay overtime on a holiday as on any other day: 1.5 times the regular rate over 8 hours in a workday or 40 in a workweek, and double the regular rate over 12 hours in a workday.
No. In California, holiday pay for a day not worked doesn't count as hours worked when working out 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. California state offices don't move Independence Day to a weekday.