SOURCE: Vacation Tracker TITLE: Rhode Island State Holidays 2026: Dates & Holiday Pay Rules URL: https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/united-states/rhode-island/2026/ LANG: en PUBLISHED: 2026-10-31 UPDATED: 2026-11-01 SUMMARY: All 11 federal and 2 Rhode Island state holidays for 2026, with observed dates, holiday pay rules and free calendar downloads. # 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. ## All 2026 holidays in Rhode Island | Holiday | Date | Day of week | Notes | Type | Paid by law? | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | New Year's Day | 2026-01-01 | Thursday | | Federal | Day off not required; work on it is paid at least 1.5x for covered employees | | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | 2026-01-19 | Monday | | Federal | Not required for private employers | | Washington's Birthday | 2026-02-16 | Monday | Legal 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 | | Easter Sunday | 2026-04-05 | Sunday | | Observance | Not a day off | | Memorial Day | 2026-05-25 | Monday | | Federal | Day off not required; work on it is paid at least 1.5x for covered employees | | Juneteenth | 2026-06-19 | Friday | | Federal | Day off not required; work on it is paid at least 1.5x for covered employees | | Independence Day | 2026-07-04 | Saturday | Falls on a Saturday. Observed Fri Jul 3. Rhode 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 | | Victory Day | 2026-08-10 | Monday | | State | Day off not required; work on it is paid at least 1.5x for covered employees | | Labor Day | 2026-09-07 | Monday | | Federal | Day off not required; work on it is paid at least 1.5x for covered employees | | Columbus Day | 2026-10-12 | Monday | | Federal | Day off not required; work on it is paid at least 1.5x for covered employees | | Election Day (State holiday in state general-election (even) years) | 2026-11-03 | Tuesday | | State | Not required for private employers | | Veterans Day | 2026-11-11 | Wednesday | | Federal | Day off not required; work on it is paid at least 1.5x for covered employees | | Thanksgiving Day | 2026-11-26 | Thursday | | Federal | Day off not required; work on it is paid at least 1.5x for covered employees | | Day after Thanksgiving | 2026-11-27 | Friday | | Commonly given | Not required | | Christmas Eve | 2026-12-24 | Thursday | | Commonly given | Not required | | Christmas Day | 2026-12-25 | Friday | | Federal | Day off not required; work on it is paid at least 1.5x for covered employees | | New Year's Eve | 2026-12-31 | Thursday | | Commonly given | Not required | ## 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. (https://vacationtracker.io/leave-laws/usa/rhode-island/#payment-of-accrued-unused-vacation-on-termination) **Sick 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. (https://vacationtracker.io/leave-laws/usa/rhode-island/#sick-leave-in-rhode-island) Full rules: Rhode Island leave laws: https://vacationtracker.io/leave-laws/usa/rhode-island/ ## Maximize 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. - Take Friday, January 2 off to get a 4-day weekend from January 1 to 4 (New Year's Day). - Take Friday, January 16 off to get a 4-day weekend from January 16 to 19 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day). - Take Friday, February 13 off to get a 4-day weekend from February 13 to 16 (Washington's Birthday). - Take Friday, May 22 off to get a 4-day weekend from May 22 to 25 (Memorial Day). - Take Thursday, June 18 off to get a 4-day weekend from June 18 to 21 (Juneteenth). - Take Friday, July 3 off to get a 4-day weekend from July 3 to 6 (Independence Day). - Take Friday, August 7 off to get a 4-day weekend from August 7 to 10 (Victory Day). - Take Friday, September 4 off to get a 4-day weekend from September 4 to 7 (Labor Day). - Take Friday, October 9 off to get a 4-day weekend from October 9 to 12 (Columbus Day). - Take Monday, November 2 off to get a 4-day weekend from October 31 to November 3 (Election Day). - Take Friday, November 27 off to get a 4-day weekend from November 26 to 29 (Thanksgiving Day). - Take Thursday, December 24 off to get a 4-day weekend from December 24 to 27 (Christmas Day). - Take Monday, November 9 and Tuesday, November 10 off to get a 5-day break from November 7 to 11 (Veterans Day). ## 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. - Dec 21 – 27 (Week 52): 2.5× a normal week - Jun 29 – Jul 5 (Week 27): 1.5× a normal week - Jul 6 – 12 (Week 28): 1.5× a normal week - Jul 27 – Aug 2 (Week 31): 1.5× a normal week - Aug 3 – 9 (Week 32): 1.5× a normal week ## 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: - [Connecticut](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/united-states/connecticut/2026/): 2 holidays of its own - [Massachusetts](https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/united-states/massachusetts/2026/): 1 holiday of its own Compare all 50 states and DC: https://vacationtracker.io/holidays/united-states/2026/#compare ## Frequently asked questions Q: Do private employers in Rhode Island have to give paid holidays? 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. Q: What are the Rhode Island state holidays in 2026? In 2026, Rhode Island has the 11 federal holidays and 2 state holidays: Victory Day (August 10) and Election Day (November 3). Q: Is Juneteenth a Rhode Island state holiday? Yes. Juneteenth is a federal holiday and a Rhode Island state holiday. In 2026 it falls on Friday, June 19. Q: Is Columbus Day a Rhode Island state holiday? Yes. Columbus Day is a federal holiday and a Rhode Island state holiday. In 2026 it falls on Monday, October 12. Q: Is the day after Thanksgiving a holiday in Rhode Island? 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. Q: Do employers in Rhode Island have to pay extra for working on a holiday? 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. Q: Do paid holidays count toward overtime in Rhode Island? Rhode Island overtime is due after 40 hours in a workweek. Q: What happens if a holiday falls on a weekend in Rhode Island? 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. ## Sources - RI Division of Human Resources - 2027 Payroll & Holiday Calendar: https://hr.ri.gov/documents/Calendars/HR%20Calendar%202027.pdf - RI Division of Human Resources - 2026 Payroll & Holiday Calendar: https://hr.ri.gov/documents/Calendars/HR%20Calendar%202026.pdf - R.I. Gen. Laws 25-1-1 General holidays enumerated: https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE25/25-1/25-1-1.htm - RI Secretary of State - State Holidays: https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/civics-and-education/reference-desk/ri-state-holidays - U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Federal holidays: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/federal-holidays/ - Legal Holidays | RI Department of Labor & Training: https://dlt.ri.gov/regulation-and-safety/labor-standards/legal-holidays - R.I. Gen. Laws § 25-3-1, Definitions | State of Rhode Island General Assembly: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE25/25-3/25-3-1.htm - R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-12-4.1, Overtime pay | State of Rhode Island General Assembly: http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE28/28-12/28-12-4.1.htm - Holiday Pay | U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/workhours/holidays - Rhode Island General Laws § 25-3-3 (Sunday and holiday work): http://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE25/25-3/25-3-3.htm Holiday calendar data includes date-holidays (CC BY-SA 3.0), checked against the official sources above. Holiday dates come from public sources. Check your employment contract and the official sources above before you rely on them. CSV: https://vacationtracker.io/static/data/holiday-pages/united-states/rhode-island-holidays-2026.csv