Washington Holidays 2026
Washington has 11 federal holidays and 1 state holiday in 2026. Private employers don't have to give any of them.
Last updated on Nov 1, 2026
11 federal holidays, 1 state holiday and 2 commonly given in 2026.
11 federal holidays and 1 state holiday in 2026.
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All 2026 holidays in Washington
15 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 DayNot a Washington 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 | Native American Heritage Day | State | Not required for private employers | ||
| December | 24Thu | Christmas Eve | Commonly given | Not required | |
| 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
Washington doesn't require employers to give leave or pay for holidays. Holiday benefits come from your own policies or a collective bargaining agreement.
Working on a holiday
Washington law doesn't require overtime or premium pay for working on a holiday unless those hours go over 40 in the workweek. Workers on public projects may have contract rights under the state's prevailing wage law.
Holidays and overtime
In Washington, overtime is based on actual hours worked, so a paid holiday taken as a day off doesn't count toward the 40-hour overtime threshold.
Holidays that fall on a weekend
Federal offices observe Saturday holidays on Friday and Sunday holidays on Monday.
Unused vacation when someone leaves
Washington has no law requiring PTO payout at termination, and none is owed if the policy or contract is silent. If a company policy or employment contract requires it, the employer must pay unused PTO.
From our Washington leave laws guideSick leave
All Washington employers must provide paid sick leave, with employees earning 1 hour for every 40 hours worked. Employees may carry over up to 40 hours to the following year.
From our Washington leave laws guideMaximize your PTO in 2026
These are our suggestions for the best days to take off in Washington. They use the 11 federal holidays plus the days Washington state offices close for: Native American Heritage Day. Take all 12 suggested PTO days and you get 46 days off across 11 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 US teams take time off
The national pattern from Vacation Tracker data. We don't have enough Washington data for a state view yet.
How Washington holidays differ
State holidays
Washington has 1 holiday of its own in 2026 on top of the federal ones. The median across the 50 states and DC is 2; 35 have more and 4 have fewer.
Only in Washington
Only Washington has Native American Heritage Day as a holiday in 2026.
Federal holidays
Not a paid day off for Washington state employees: Columbus Day.
Neighboring states in 2026
Compare all 50 states and DCSources
- RCW 1.16.050 Legal holidays
- State holiday schedule | Washington Department of Revenue
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Federal holidays
- Holiday, Vacation & Bereavement Leave | Washington State Department of Labor & Industries
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. Washington doesn't require employers to provide leave or pay for holidays; these benefits come from employer policies or a collective bargaining agreement.
In 2026, Washington has the 11 federal holidays and 1 state holiday: Native American Heritage Day (November 27). Columbus Day is a federal holiday, but not a Washington state holiday.
Yes. Juneteenth is a federal holiday and a Washington state holiday. In 2026 it falls on Friday, June 19.
No. Columbus Day is a federal holiday, but it isn't a Washington state holiday. In 2026 it falls on Monday, October 12.
Yes. The day after Thanksgiving (Friday, November 27) is a Washington state holiday, Native American Heritage Day. Private employers don't have to give it.
No. Washington doesn't require overtime or premium pay for holiday work unless the hours go over 40 in the workweek; holiday pay is at the employer's discretion.
No. Washington overtime is based on actual hours worked, and a paid holiday taken as a day off isn't included.
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.