Illinois state holidays 2026
Illinois’s 2026 state holiday calendar lists 14 dates, including Lincoln’s Birthday, General Election Day and Day after Thanksgiving.
Next Illinois state holiday: General Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026
| Date | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Thu | New Year’s Day | Offices closed |
| Mon | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Offices closed |
| Thu | Lincoln’s BirthdayIllinois state holiday | Offices closed |
| Mon | Presidents’ Day | Offices closed |
| Mon | Memorial Day | Offices closed |
| Fri | Juneteenth | Offices closed |
| Fri | Independence Day (observed) | Offices closed |
| Mon | Labor Day | Offices closed |
| Mon | Columbus Day | Offices closed |
| Tue | General Election DayEven-numbered years | Offices closed |
| Wed | Veterans Day | Offices closed |
| Thu | Thanksgiving Day | Offices closed |
| Fri | Day after ThanksgivingIllinois state holiday | Offices closed |
| Fri | Christmas Day | Offices closed |
How Illinois compares with the federal calendar
- 11 of 11 federal holidays are on Illinois’s 2026 list, so every federal holiday is also a state holiday.
- 3 state-only dates: Lincoln’s Birthday (Feb 12), General Election Day (Nov 3), Day after Thanksgiving (Nov 27).
- Independence Day falls on Saturday, July 4; state offices close Friday, July 3 instead.
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 Illinois skips, state offices stay open while federal services close.
Long weekends for Illinois state employees in 2026
Illinois’s 2026 closures create 9 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 |
| Jun 19 – Jun 21 | 3 days | Juneteenth |
| Jul 3 – Jul 5 | 3 days | Independence Day (observed) |
| Sep 5 – Sep 7 | 3 days | Labor Day |
| Oct 10 – Oct 12 | 3 days | Columbus 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.
Illinois state holiday questions
How many paid holidays do Illinois state employees get in 2026?
Illinois’s 2026 list has 14 full office-closure days. It includes 11 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 Illinois?
Yes. Illinois state offices close for Columbus Day on Monday, October 12, 2026.
Is Juneteenth a state holiday in Illinois?
Yes. Illinois state offices close for Juneteenth on Friday, June 19, 2026.
Are Illinois state offices closed on Good Friday 2026?
No. Good Friday (Friday, April 3) is not on Illinois’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 Illinois?
Yes. Illinois state offices close on Friday, November 27, 2026; the state calendar lists it as Day after Thanksgiving.
What happens when a Illinois state holiday falls on a weekend?
In 2026: Independence Day falls on Saturday, July 4; state offices close Friday, July 3 instead.
How to read this list
Illinois adds Lincoln’s Birthday, the day after Thanksgiving and (in even years) General Election Day to the federal list.
Verified: Matched to the official source linked on this page. Scope: State agencies (Illinois CMS). 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.