California state holidays 2026
California’s 2026 state holiday calendar lists 13 dates, including César Chávez Day, Native American Day and Day after Thanksgiving.
Next California state holiday: Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2026
| Date | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Thu | New Year’s Day | Offices closed |
| Mon | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Offices closed |
| Mon | Presidents’ Day | Offices closed |
| Tue | César Chávez DayCalifornia state holiday | Offices closed |
| Mon | Memorial Day | Offices closed |
| Fri | JuneteenthOptional holiday in place of personal holiday credit | Optional holiday |
| Sat | Independence DayFalls on Saturday; employees receive holiday credit instead | Not observed (weekend) |
| Mon | Labor Day | Offices closed |
| Fri | Native American DayOptional holiday (fourth Friday in September) | Optional holiday |
| Wed | Veterans Day | Offices closed |
| Thu | Thanksgiving Day | Offices closed |
| Fri | Day after ThanksgivingCalifornia state holiday | Offices closed |
| Fri | Christmas Day | Offices closed |
California does not give state employees these federal holidays off: Columbus Day. Federal offices, banks and the post office in California still follow the federal calendar.
How California compares with the federal calendar
- 10 of 11 federal holidays are on California’s 2026 list; California skips Columbus Day.
- 3 state-only dates: César Chávez Day (Mar 31), Native American Day (Sep 25), Day after Thanksgiving (Nov 27).
- Independence Day falls on Saturday, July 4 and is not moved to a weekday.
On a day that is a state holiday but not a federal one, federal offices, banks and the post office stay open. On a federal holiday that California skips, state offices stay open while federal services close.
Long weekends for California state employees in 2026
California’s 2026 closures create 6 breaks of three days or more without using leave:
| Dates | Days off | Because of |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 17 – Jan 19 | 3 days | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| Feb 14 – Feb 16 | 3 days | Presidents’ Day |
| May 23 – May 25 | 3 days | Memorial Day |
| Sep 5 – Sep 7 | 3 days | Labor Day |
| Nov 26 – Nov 29 | 4 days | Thanksgiving Day + Day after Thanksgiving |
| Dec 25 – Dec 27 | 3 days | Christmas Day |
Based on a Monday–Friday schedule. Agencies with shift work, and employees covered by union contracts, can differ. Want to stretch these further? Try the PTO optimizer.
California state holiday questions
How many paid holidays do California state employees get in 2026?
California’s 2026 list has 10 full office-closure days. It includes 10 of the 11 federal holidays and 3 state-specific dates. Floating or personal holidays, if any, are not counted because they have no fixed date.
Is Columbus Day a state holiday in California?
No. Columbus Day (Monday, October 12, 2026) is not on California’s 2026 state-employee holiday list, so state offices are expected to be open. Federal offices, banks and the post office still close.
Is Juneteenth a state holiday in California?
Yes. California state offices close for Juneteenth on Friday, June 19, 2026.
Are California state offices closed on Good Friday 2026?
No. Good Friday (Friday, April 3) is not on California’s 2026 list. The U.S. stock market is closed that day, but federal offices, banks and the post office are open.
Is the day after Thanksgiving a state holiday in California?
Yes. California state offices close on Friday, November 27, 2026; the state calendar lists it as Day after Thanksgiving.
What happens when a California state holiday falls on a weekend?
In 2026: Independence Day falls on Saturday, July 4 and is not moved to a weekday.
How to read this list
Holidays on a Sunday are observed the following Monday; Saturday holidays give employees holiday credit instead of a day off. Optional holidays (Lunar New Year, Genocide Remembrance Day, Diwali, Juneteenth, Native American Day) can be taken in place of the personal holiday.
Verified: Matched to the official source linked on this page. Scope: State employees (CalHR, executive branch). City, county and school calendars, courts, banks and private employers can follow different schedules.
Official source
Reviewed Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Confirm an important appointment with the agency responsible for it. Found a change? Tell us.