Rhode Island Holidays 2026
Rhode Island 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 3 commonly given in 2026.
11 federal holidays and 2 state holidays in 2026.
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All 2026 holidays in Rhode Island
17 days listed| Month | Date | Holiday | Type | Paid by law? | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1Thu | New Year's Day | Federal | Day off not required; work on it is paid at least 1.5x for covered employees | |
| 19Mon | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | ||
| February | 16Mon | Washington's BirthdayLegal holiday under R.I. Gen. Laws 25-1-1, but not a paid holiday for Rhode Island state employees | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| April | 5Sun | Easter Sunday | Observance | Not a day off | |
| May | 25Mon | Memorial Day | Federal | Day off not required; work on it is paid at least 1.5x for covered employees | |
| June | 19Fri | Juneteenth | Federal | Day off not required; work on it is paid at least 1.5x for covered employees | |
| July | 4Sat | Independence DayFalls on a Saturday. Observed Fri Jul 3Rhode Island state offices observe it on Monday, July 6 | Federal | Day off not required; work on it is paid at least 1.5x for covered employees | |
| August | 10Mon | Victory Day | State | Day off not required; work on it is paid at least 1.5x for covered employees | |
| September | 7Mon | Labor Day | Federal | Day off not required; work on it is paid at least 1.5x for covered employees | |
| October | 12Mon | Columbus Day | Federal | Day off not required; work on it is paid at least 1.5x for covered employees | |
| November | 3Tue | Election DayState holiday in state general-election (even) years | State | Not required for private employers | |
| 11Wed | Veterans Day | Federal | Day off not required; work on it is paid at least 1.5x for covered employees | ||
| 26Thu | Thanksgiving Day | Federal | Day off not required; work on it is paid at least 1.5x for covered employees | ||
| 27Fri | Day after Thanksgiving | Commonly given | Not required | ||
| December | 24Thu | Christmas Eve | Commonly given | Not required | |
| 25Fri | Christmas Day | Federal | Day off not required; work on it is paid at least 1.5x for covered employees | ||
| 31Thu | New Year's Eve | Commonly given | Not required |
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What employers need to know
Working on a holiday
Rhode Island requires work performed on Sundays and holidays to be paid at least 1.5 times the normal rate of pay. The holidays are New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Victory Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Who the holiday premium doesn't cover
Rhode Island's Sunday and holiday pay law excludes some workers, including those in agriculture, health care, restaurants, hotels and other recreational facilities, and supervisory employees. Check the full list in R.I. Gen. Laws 25-3-1 before applying the rule.
Holidays and overtime
Rhode Island requires overtime at 1.5 times the regular rate after 40 hours in a workweek. Retail stores can't open on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day, with some exceptions (pharmacies, bakeries, garden and flower stores, and small food stores). Retail employees who work a Sunday or holiday get at least time and a half, and those hours are left out of the overtime calculation.
Holidays that fall on a weekend
Federal offices observe Saturday holidays on Friday and Sunday holidays on Monday. Rhode Island state employees observe a holiday that falls on a Saturday or Sunday on the following Monday.
Unused vacation when someone leaves
Rhode Island requires employers to pay out earned, unused vacation when an employee leaves after 1 year of service. At that point, all accrued, unused vacation counts as wages.
From our Rhode Island leave laws guideSick leave
Rhode Island employers with 18 or more employees must give paid sick leave, while smaller firms offer it without pay. Employees accrue 1 hour for every 35 hours worked, up to 40 hours per year.
From our Rhode Island leave laws guideMaximize your PTO in 2026
These are our suggestions for the best days to take off in Rhode Island. They use the 11 federal holidays plus the days Rhode Island state offices close for: Victory Day and Election Day. Take all 14 suggested PTO days and you get 53 days off across 13 breaks, including 12 long weekends. Pick a break to see it on the calendar.
- Federal
- State
- Commonly given
- Suggested PTO day
- Weekend
- Today
January 2026
February 2026
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April 2026
May 2026
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November 2026
December 2026
When US teams take time off
The national pattern from Vacation Tracker data. We don't have enough Rhode Island data for a state view yet.
How Rhode Island holidays differ
State holidays
Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island
Only Rhode Island has Victory Day as a holiday in 2026.
Federal holidays
Not a paid day off for Rhode Island state employees: Washington's Birthday.
Neighboring states in 2026
Compare all 50 states and DCSources
- RI Division of Human Resources - 2027 Payroll & Holiday Calendar
- RI Division of Human Resources - 2026 Payroll & Holiday Calendar
- R.I. Gen. Laws 25-1-1 General holidays enumerated
- RI Secretary of State - State Holidays
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Federal holidays
- Legal Holidays | RI Department of Labor & Training
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 25-3-1, Definitions | State of Rhode Island General Assembly
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-12-4.1, Overtime pay | State of Rhode Island General Assembly
- Holiday Pay | U.S. Department of Labor
- Rhode Island General Laws § 25-3-3 (Sunday and holiday work)
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 not worked; Rhode Island's rule is about premium pay when employees do work on a Sunday or holiday.
In 2026, Rhode Island has the 11 federal holidays and 2 state holidays: Victory Day (August 10) and Election Day (November 3).
Yes. Juneteenth is a federal holiday and a Rhode Island state holiday. In 2026 it falls on Friday, June 19.
Yes. Columbus Day is a federal holiday and a Rhode Island state holiday. In 2026 it falls on Monday, October 12.
No. It isn't a Rhode Island state holiday, so private employers don't have to give it. In 2026 it falls on Friday, November 27.
Yes, for covered employees. Rhode Island law requires at least 1.5 times the normal rate for work on Sundays and holidays, and an employee can't be fired or penalized for refusing that work. Manufacturers that operate seven continuous days a week are exempt from the refusal protection, and 24/7 chauffeur-driven limousine and taxi companies are exempt from the premium pay rule.
Rhode Island overtime is due after 40 hours in a workweek.
Federal offices observe Saturday holidays on Friday and Sunday holidays on Monday. Rhode Island state employees observe a holiday that falls on a Saturday or Sunday on the following Monday. In 2026, Independence Day falls on a Saturday; federal offices observe it on Friday, July 3 and state offices on Monday, July 6.