Kentucky state holidays 2026
Kentucky’s 2026 state holiday calendar lists 13 dates, including Good Friday, Thanksgiving (second day), Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve (state closure).
Next Kentucky state holiday: Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2026
| Date | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Thu | New Year’s DayFrom the 2025–26 New Year’s schedule | Offices closed |
| Mon | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Offices closed |
| Fri | Good FridayHalf day | Partial day |
| Mon | Memorial Day | Offices closed |
| Fri | Juneteenth | Offices closed |
| Fri | Independence Day (observed) | Offices closed |
| Mon | Labor Day | Offices closed |
| Wed | Veterans Day | Offices closed |
| Thu | Thanksgiving | Offices closed |
| Fri | Thanksgiving (second day) | Offices closed |
| Thu | Christmas Eve | Offices closed |
| Fri | Christmas | Offices closed |
| Thu | New Year’s Eve (state closure) | Offices closed |
Kentucky does not give state employees these federal holidays off: Washington’s Birthday (Presidents’ Day), Columbus Day. Federal offices, banks and the post office in Kentucky still follow the federal calendar.
How Kentucky compares with the federal calendar
- 9 of 11 federal holidays are on Kentucky’s 2026 list; Kentucky skips Washington’s Birthday (Presidents’ Day) and Columbus Day.
- 4 state-only dates: Good Friday (Apr 3), Thanksgiving (second day) (Nov 27), Christmas Eve (Dec 24), New Year’s Eve (state closure) (Dec 31).
- 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 Kentucky skips, state offices stay open while federal services close.
Long weekends for Kentucky state employees in 2026
Kentucky’s 2026 closures create 7 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 |
| 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 |
| Nov 26 – Nov 29 | 4 days | Thanksgiving + Thanksgiving (second day) |
| Dec 24 – Dec 27 | 4 days | Christmas Eve + Christmas |
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.
Kentucky state holiday questions
How many paid holidays do Kentucky state employees get in 2026?
Kentucky’s 2026 list has 12 full office-closure days plus 1 partial day. It includes 9 of the 11 federal holidays and 4 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 Kentucky?
No. Columbus Day (Monday, October 12, 2026) is not on Kentucky’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 Kentucky?
Yes. Kentucky state offices close for Juneteenth on Friday, June 19, 2026.
Are Kentucky state offices closed on Good Friday 2026?
Partly. Kentucky lists Friday, April 3 as Good Friday (partial day).
Is the day after Thanksgiving a state holiday in Kentucky?
Yes. Kentucky state offices close on Friday, November 27, 2026; the state calendar lists it as Thanksgiving (second day).
What happens when a Kentucky 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
Kentucky observes a half day on Good Friday and two-day breaks at Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. It does not observe Presidents’ Day or Columbus Day.
Verified: Matched to the official source linked on this page. Scope: State employees (Kentucky Personnel Cabinet). 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.