Iowa state holidays 2026
Iowa’s 2026 state holiday calendar lists 9 dates, including Day after Thanksgiving.
Next Iowa state holiday: Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2026
| Date | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Thu | New Year’s Day | Offices closed |
| Mon | Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday | Offices closed |
| Mon | Memorial Day | Offices closed |
| Fri | Independence DayObserved; July 4 falls on a Saturday | Offices closed |
| Mon | Labor Day | Offices closed |
| Wed | Veterans Day | Offices closed |
| Thu | Thanksgiving Day | Offices closed |
| Fri | Day after Thanksgiving | Offices closed |
| Fri | Christmas Day | Offices closed |
Iowa does not give state employees these federal holidays off: Washington’s Birthday, Juneteenth, Columbus Day. Federal offices, banks and the post office in Iowa still follow the federal calendar.
How Iowa compares with the federal calendar
- 8 of 11 federal holidays are on Iowa’s 2026 list; Iowa skips Washington’s Birthday (Presidents’ Day), Juneteenth and Columbus Day.
- 1 state-only date: 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 Iowa skips, state offices stay open while federal services close.
Long weekends for Iowa state employees in 2026
Iowa’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 | Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday |
| May 23 – May 25 | 3 days | Memorial Day |
| Jul 3 – Jul 5 | 3 days | Independence 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.
Iowa state holiday questions
How many paid holidays do Iowa state employees get in 2026?
Iowa’s 2026 list has 9 full office-closure days. It includes 8 of the 11 federal holidays and 1 state-specific date. Floating or personal holidays, if any, are not counted because they have no fixed date.
Is Columbus Day a state holiday in Iowa?
No. Columbus Day (Monday, October 12, 2026) is not on Iowa’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 Iowa?
No. Juneteenth (Friday, June 19, 2026) is not on Iowa’s 2026 state-employee holiday list, so state offices are expected to be open. Federal offices, banks and the post office still close.
Are Iowa state offices closed on Good Friday 2026?
No. Good Friday (Friday, April 3) is not on Iowa’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 Iowa?
Yes. Iowa state offices close on Friday, November 27, 2026; the state calendar lists it as Day after Thanksgiving.
What happens when a Iowa 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
Iowa Code § 1C.2 moves a Saturday holiday to Friday and a Sunday holiday to Monday, so Independence Day is observed Friday, July 3. Employees also get two paid leave days a year added to vacation (no fixed date). Presidents’ Day, Juneteenth and Columbus Day are not paid state holidays.
Verified: Matched to the official source linked on this page. Scope: State employees (Iowa DAS). City, county and school calendars, courts, banks and private employers can follow different schedules.
Official source
- Iowa Department of Administrative Services — State Holidays
- Iowa Code § 1C.2 — Paid holidays for state employees
Reviewed Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Confirm an important appointment with the agency responsible for it. Found a change? Tell us.