North Carolina Holidays 2026
North Carolina 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 North Carolina
17 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 BirthdayNot a North Carolina state holiday | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| April | 3Fri | Good Friday | State | Not required for private employers | |
| 5Sun | Easter Sunday | Observance | Not a day off | ||
| May | 25Mon | Memorial Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| June | 19Fri | JuneteenthNot a North Carolina state holiday | 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 DayNot a North Carolina state holiday | 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 | State | Not required for private employers | |
| 25Fri | Christmas Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | ||
| 28Mon | Christmas HolidayThird state Christmas holiday (Dec 24, 25 & 28) | State | 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
North Carolina law doesn't require employers to give holiday pay, vacation pay or sick leave. Whether to offer them is up to each employer.
Holidays and overtime
In North Carolina, overtime is based on hours worked in each workweek, not hours worked in a day or the number of days worked. Time and a half is owed for hours over 40 unless the employee is exempt.
Promised holiday pay
If you promise holiday pay in North Carolina, you must pay it under your policy, agreement or practice. Policies on promised wages must be made available to employees in writing or a posted notice.
Holidays that fall on a weekend
Federal offices observe Saturday holidays on Friday and Sunday holidays on Monday.
Unused vacation when someone leaves
North Carolina leaves PTO payout to the employer's written policy or agreement, and forfeiture must be in a written policy given in advance. If the policy or contract doesn't address payout, the employer must still pay it.
From our North Carolina leave laws guideSick leave
North Carolina has no state law that requires sick leave, paid or unpaid. Employers that decide to offer it must follow the terms in their employment contract or employee handbook.
From our North Carolina leave laws guideMaximize your PTO in 2026
These are our suggestions for the best days to take off in North Carolina. They use the 11 federal holidays plus the days North Carolina state offices close for: Good Friday, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Holiday. Take all 13 suggested PTO days and you get 52 days off across 12 breaks, including 9 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 North Carolina teams take time off
The 5 weeks when the most North Carolina employees using Vacation Tracker were off, compared with an average week.
- Jun 22 – 28Week 26 2.4× a normal week2.4×
- Jun 29 – Jul 5Week 27 2.1× a normal week2.1×
- May 18 – 24Week 21 1.9× a normal week1.9×
- May 11 – 17Week 20 1.7× a normal week1.7×
- Jul 13 – 19Week 29 1.6× a normal week1.6×
How North Carolina holidays differ
State holidays
North Carolina 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 North Carolina
Only North Carolina has Christmas Holiday as a holiday in 2026.
Federal holidays
Not a paid day off for North Carolina state employees: Washington's Birthday, Juneteenth and Columbus Day.
Neighboring states in 2026
- Georgia2 holidays of its own
- South Carolina4 holidays of its own
- Tennessee4 holidays of its own
- Virginia4 holidays of its own
Sources
- 2027 Holiday Schedule - NC Office of State Human Resources
- 2026 Holiday Schedule - NC OSHR
- 2028 Holiday Schedule - NC OSHR (New Year's 2028 observed Jan 3, 2028)
- NC OSHR: Holidays
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Federal holidays
- Promised Wages Including Wage Benefits | NC Department of Labor
- Overtime Pay, Salary and Comp Time | NC 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. North Carolina law doesn't require employers to give holiday pay or other wage benefits; giving them is entirely up to each employer.
In 2026, North Carolina has the 11 federal holidays and 4 state holidays: Good Friday (April 3), Day after Thanksgiving (November 27), Christmas Eve (December 24) and Christmas Holiday (December 28). Washington's Birthday, Juneteenth and Columbus Day are federal holidays, but not North Carolina state holidays.
No. Juneteenth is a federal holiday, but it isn't a North Carolina state holiday. In 2026 it falls on Friday, June 19.
No. Columbus Day is a federal holiday, but it isn't a North Carolina state holiday. In 2026 it falls on Monday, October 12.
Yes. The day after Thanksgiving (Friday, November 27) is a North Carolina state holiday. Private employers don't have to give it.
Not by statute. North Carolina's labor department treats overtime pay for certain days worked as a promised wage, owed only if you promise it; the law itself requires overtime only for hours over 40 in a workweek.
Not under federal law. Under the FLSA, paid time off for a holiday isn't hours worked and doesn't have 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.