Virginia Holidays 2026
Virginia 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 Virginia
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 Birthday | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| April | 5Sun | Easter Sunday | Observance | Not a day off | |
| 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 | 3Tue | Election Day | State | Not required for private employers | |
| 11Wed | Veterans Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | ||
| 25Wed | Day before Thanksgiving (half day)4 hours of additional holiday time for state employees | State | Not required for private employers | ||
| 26Thu | Thanksgiving Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | ||
| 27Fri | Day after ThanksgivingVirginia state holiday. | State | Not required for private employers | ||
| December | 24Thu | Christmas Eve8 hours of additional holiday time for state employees | 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
Holiday pay isn't wages
Virginia's Department of Labor and Industry says paid holidays, vacation leave and sick leave are not wages under the state wage statute, so they can't be part of a state unpaid-wage claim.
State now enforces overtime
Since July 1, 2026, Virginia's Department of Labor and Industry can investigate and enforce overtime claims, including for holiday-week hours. Overtime owed for work before that date goes to the U.S. Department of Labor or to court.
Paid sick leave from July 2027
Virginia's general paid sick leave law starts July 1, 2027, for employers with at least 50 employees. It extends to employers with 25 or more on January 1, 2028, and to all employers on January 1, 2029.
Holidays that fall on a weekend
Federal offices observe Saturday holidays on Friday and Sunday holidays on Monday.
Unused vacation when someone leaves
Virginia does not require employers to provide a PTO payout at termination. A company policy or employment contract defines whether accrued, untaken vacation is paid.
From our Virginia leave laws guideMaximize your PTO in 2026
These are our suggestions for the best days to take off in Virginia. They use the 11 federal holidays plus the days Virginia state offices close for: Election Day, Day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Take all 13 suggested PTO days and you get 51 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 Virginia teams take time off
The 5 weeks when the most Virginia employees using Vacation Tracker were off, compared with an average week.
- Dec 21 – 27Week 52 3.6× a normal week3.6×
- Aug 17 – 23Week 34 1.9× a normal week1.9×
- Aug 10 – 16Week 33 1.6× a normal week1.6×
- Sep 21 – 27Week 39 1.6× a normal week1.6×
- Jul 13 – 19Week 29 1.5× a normal week1.5×
How Virginia holidays differ
State holidays
Virginia 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 Virginia
Only Virginia has Day before Thanksgiving (half day) as a holiday in 2026.
Federal holidays
Virginia state offices observe all 11 federal holidays.
Neighboring states in 2026
- District of Columbia2 holidays of its own
- Kentucky5 holidays of its own
- Maryland2 holidays of its own
- North Carolina4 holidays of its own
- Tennessee4 holidays of its own
- West Virginia6 holidays of its own
Sources
- Pay and Holiday Calendar - Virginia DHRM
- Commonwealth of Virginia 2027 Pay and Holiday Calendar
- Commonwealth of Virginia 2026 Pay and Holiday Calendar
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Federal holidays
- Virginia Department of Labor and Industry: Claim for Unpaid Wages form and instructions
- Virginia Department of Labor and Industry: Payment of Wage
- Code of Virginia § 40.1-33.6:1 (effective July 1, 2027): paid sick leave definitions
- Holiday Pay | U.S. Department of Labor
- Fact Sheet #23: Overtime Pay Requirements of the FLSA | 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
Federal law (the FLSA) doesn't require pay for holidays not worked; it treats holiday pay as a matter of agreement between employer and employee.
In 2026, Virginia has the 11 federal holidays and 4 state holidays: Election Day (November 3), Day before Thanksgiving (half day) (November 25), Day after Thanksgiving (November 27) and Christmas Eve (December 24).
Yes. Juneteenth is a federal holiday and a Virginia state holiday. In 2026 it falls on Friday, June 19.
Yes. Columbus Day is a federal holiday and a Virginia state holiday. In 2026 it falls on Monday, October 12.
Yes. The day after Thanksgiving (Friday, November 27) is a Virginia state holiday. Private employers don't have to give it.
Federal law (the FLSA) doesn't require overtime pay for work on holidays as such.
Under federal law (the FLSA), paid holiday time off 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.