Maryland Holidays 2026
Maryland has 11 federal holidays and 2 state holidays in 2026. Private employers don't have to give any of them.
Last updated on Nov 1, 2026
11 federal holidays, 2 state holidays and 2 commonly given in 2026.
11 federal holidays and 2 state holidays in 2026.
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All 2026 holidays in Maryland
16 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 | |
| April | 5Sun | Easter Sunday | Observance | Not a day off | |
| May | 25Mon | Memorial Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| June | 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 | 3Tue | Election DayState employee holiday for the statewide general election (even years only) | State | Not required for private employers | |
| 11Wed | Veterans Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | ||
| 26Thu | Thanksgiving Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | ||
| 27Fri | American Indian Heritage Day | 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
Unless a contract, agreement or policy provides it, Maryland law doesn't guarantee private-sector employees days off for holidays or holiday pay. One exception: retail employees who give prior written notice get an unpaid religious day of rest each week.
Working on a holiday
Maryland employers can require employees to work on a holiday and don't have to pay extra for it.
Holidays and overtime
In Maryland, holiday, vacation and sick hours don't count toward the weekly hours for overtime. Overtime is calculated on hours actually worked.
Holidays that fall on a weekend
Federal offices observe Saturday holidays on Friday and Sunday holidays on Monday.
Unused vacation when someone leaves
Maryland employers pay out unused vacation when someone leaves unless they have a written forfeiture policy and told employees in writing at hiring that unused vacation is forfeited.
From our Maryland leave laws guideSick leave
Under the Maryland Healthy Working Families Act, employers with 15 or more employees must offer paid sick leave, accrued at 1 hour per 30 hours worked up to 40 hours a year. Smaller employers must provide unpaid sick leave.
From our Maryland leave laws guideMaximize your PTO in 2026
These are our suggestions for the best days to take off in Maryland. They use the 11 federal holidays plus the days Maryland state offices close for: Election Day and American Indian Heritage Day. 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 US teams take time off
The national pattern from Vacation Tracker data. We don't have enough Maryland data for a state view yet.
How Maryland holidays differ
State holidays
Maryland has 2 holidays of its own in 2026 on top of the federal ones. The median across the 50 states and DC is 2; 20 have more and 16 have fewer.
Only in Maryland
Only Maryland has American Indian Heritage Day as a holiday in 2026.
Federal holidays
Maryland state offices observe all 11 federal holidays.
Neighboring states in 2026
- Delaware4 holidays of its own
- District of Columbia2 holidays of its own
- Pennsylvania1 holiday of its own
- Virginia4 holidays of its own
- West Virginia6 holidays of its own
Sources
- State Holidays - Maryland Secretary of State
- Maryland Manual - State Employee Holidays 2026 (Maryland State Archives)
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Federal holidays
- Maryland Department of Labor: Holidays and Holiday Pay: No Entitlement
- Maryland Department of Labor: The Maryland Guide to Wage Payment and Employment Standards
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. Unless a contract, agreement or policy provides it, Maryland law doesn't guarantee private-sector employees holidays off or holiday pay.
In 2026, Maryland has the 11 federal holidays and 2 state holidays: Election Day (November 3) and American Indian Heritage Day (November 27).
Yes. Juneteenth is a federal holiday and a Maryland state holiday. In 2026 it falls on Friday, June 19.
Yes. Columbus Day is a federal holiday and a Maryland state holiday. In 2026 it falls on Monday, October 12.
Yes. The day after Thanksgiving (Friday, November 27) is a Maryland state holiday, American Indian Heritage Day. Private employers don't have to give it.
No. Maryland employers can require holiday work and aren't required to pay extra for it.
No. In Maryland, holiday leave hours don't count toward the weekly total for overtime, which is calculated on hours actually worked.
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.