Nebraska Holidays 2026
Nebraska 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 Nebraska
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 | |
| 24Fri | Arbor Day | State | Not required for private employers | ||
| 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 | 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
Nebraska doesn't require employers to offer holiday pay. The Nebraska Department of Labor lists it as a fringe benefit employers may offer at their discretion.
Working on a holiday
Federal law (the FLSA) doesn't require extra pay for work on a holiday unless the hours are overtime hours.
Holidays and overtime
Under federal law (the FLSA), paid holiday time off isn't hours worked, so it doesn't have to count toward overtime. Nebraska's labor department sends overtime questions to the US Department of Labor.
Holidays that fall on a weekend
Federal offices observe Saturday holidays on Friday and Sunday holidays on Monday.
Unused vacation when someone leaves
Nebraska requires employers to pay all earned, unused vacation when an employee leaves, regardless of the reason, unless the employer and employee or a collective-bargaining representative have specifically agreed otherwise.
From our Nebraska leave laws guideSick leave
Under Nebraska's paid sick leave law, employees accrue 1 hour for every 30 hours worked. Employers with 11 to 19 employees provide up to 40 hours a year, and those with 20 or more up to 56.
From our Nebraska leave laws guideMaximize your PTO in 2026
These are our suggestions for the best days to take off in Nebraska. They use the 11 federal holidays plus the days Nebraska state offices close for: Arbor 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 US teams take time off
The national pattern from Vacation Tracker data. We don't have enough Nebraska data for a state view yet.
How Nebraska holidays differ
State holidays
Nebraska 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 Nebraska
Only Nebraska has Arbor Day as a holiday in 2026.
Federal holidays
Nebraska state offices observe all 11 federal holidays.
Neighboring states in 2026
- Colorado3 holidays of its own
- Iowa1 holiday of its own
- Kansas2 holidays of its own
- Missouri2 holidays of its own
- South Dakota1 holiday of its own
- Wyomingno holidays of its own
Sources
- Nebraska DAS: State Personnel Holiday Schedule
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Federal holidays
- Wages (Nebraska Department of Labor guidance sheet)
- Overtime Pay | U.S. 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
No. The Nebraska Department of Labor says fringe benefits, including holiday pay, are not required, and employers may offer them at their discretion.
In 2026, Nebraska has the 11 federal holidays and 2 state holidays: Arbor Day (April 24) and Day after Thanksgiving (November 27).
Yes. Juneteenth is a federal holiday and a Nebraska state holiday. In 2026 it falls on Friday, June 19.
Yes. Columbus Day is a federal holiday and a Nebraska state holiday, where it's called Indigenous Peoples' Day and Columbus Day. In 2026 it falls on Monday, October 12.
Yes. The day after Thanksgiving (Friday, November 27) is a Nebraska state holiday. Private employers don't have to give it.
Federal law (the FLSA) doesn't require extra pay for work on a holiday unless the hours are overtime hours.
Under federal law (the FLSA), paid time off for a holiday isn't hours worked and doesn't need to be counted toward 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.