North Dakota Holidays 2026
North Dakota 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 North Dakota
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 | 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 Dakota state holiday: Designated observance; state offices open | 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 Dakota 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 | Commonly given | Not required | ||
| December | 24Thu | Christmas EveHalf day: state offices close at 12 noon (N.D.C.C. 1-03-01.1) | State | Not required for private employers | |
| 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 North Dakota employers to pay for holidays that aren't worked. Holiday pay is a matter of agreement between the employer and the employee.
Paid holidays and overtime
In North Dakota, overtime is owed for hours actually worked over 40 in a workweek. Paid holidays, paid time off and sick leave don't count toward those hours.
Unused PTO at separation
In North Dakota, once paid time off is made available to an employee, any unused portion counts as wages when they leave and must be paid, unless one of two limitations applies. Both limitations require written notice to the employee.
Holidays that fall on a weekend
Federal offices observe Saturday holidays on Friday and Sunday holidays on Monday.
Sick leave
North Dakota doesn't mandate paid or unpaid sick days, and no state law adds to federal FMLA's 12 weeks of unpaid leave. Employers that offer sick days must follow their company policy or employment agreement.
From our North Dakota leave laws guideMaximize your PTO in 2026
These are our suggestions for the best days to take off in North Dakota. They use the 11 federal holidays plus the days North Dakota state offices close for: Good Friday. Take all 13 suggested PTO days and you get 49 days off across 12 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 North Dakota data for a state view yet.
How North Dakota holidays differ
State holidays
North Dakota 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.
Federal holidays
Not a paid day off for North Dakota state employees: Juneteenth and Columbus Day.
Neighboring states in 2026
Compare all 50 states and DCSources
- N.D.C.C. ch. 1-03 Holidays (1-03-01, 1-03-01.1, 1-03-02, 1-03-02.1, 1-03-13, 1-03-18)
- ND Secretary of State - State Office Holiday Closings
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Federal holidays
- Holiday Pay | U.S. Department of Labor
- Wage and Hour FAQ | North Dakota Department of Labor and Human Rights
- Fact Sheet #23: Overtime Pay Requirements of the FLSA | 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
Federal law (the FLSA) doesn't require pay for holidays that aren't worked; it's a matter of agreement between employer and employee. Check your own policy or contracts for any holiday pay you've promised in North Dakota.
In 2026, North Dakota has the 11 federal holidays and 2 state holidays: Good Friday (April 3) and Christmas Eve (December 24). Juneteenth and Columbus Day are federal holidays, but not North Dakota state holidays.
No. Juneteenth is a federal holiday, but it isn't a North Dakota state holiday. Designated observance. State offices open. In 2026 it falls on Friday, June 19.
No. Columbus Day is a federal holiday, but it isn't a North Dakota state holiday. In 2026 it falls on Monday, October 12.
No. It isn't a North Dakota state holiday, so private employers don't have to give it. In 2026 it falls on Friday, November 27.
Not under federal law. The FLSA doesn't require overtime pay for holiday work as such, so North Dakota employers only owe time-and-a-half if the employee works more than 40 hours in the workweek.
No. North Dakota overtime is based on actual hours worked, and paid holidays, paid time off and sick leave aren't counted when computing overtime hours.
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.