South Carolina state holidays 2026
South Carolina’s 2026 state holiday calendar lists 13 dates, including Christmas Eve.
Next South Carolina 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 | George Washington’s Birthday / Presidents Day | Offices closed |
| Mon | Confederate Memorial Day | Offices closed |
| Mon | National Memorial Day | Offices closed |
| Fri | Independence DayObserved; July 4 is a Saturday | Offices closed |
| Mon | Labor Day | Offices closed |
| Wed | Veterans Day | Offices closed |
| Thu | Thanksgiving Day | Offices closed |
| Fri | Day after Thanksgiving Day | Offices closed |
| Thu | Christmas Eve | Offices closed |
| Fri | Christmas Day | Offices closed |
| Mon | Day after ChristmasObserved; December 26 is a Saturday | Offices closed |
South Carolina does not give state employees these federal holidays off: Juneteenth, Columbus Day. Federal offices, banks and the post office in South Carolina still follow the federal calendar.
How South Carolina compares with the federal calendar
- 9 of 11 federal holidays are on South Carolina’s 2026 list; South Carolina skips Juneteenth and Columbus Day.
- 1 state-only date: Christmas Eve (Dec 24).
- 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 South Carolina skips, state offices stay open while federal services close.
Long weekends for South Carolina state employees in 2026
South Carolina’s 2026 closures create 8 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 | George Washington’s Birthday / Presidents Day |
| May 9 – May 11 | 3 days | Confederate Memorial Day |
| May 23 – May 25 | 3 days | National 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 Day |
| Dec 24 – Dec 28 | 5 days | Christmas Eve + Christmas Day + Day after 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.
South Carolina state holiday questions
How many paid holidays do South Carolina state employees get in 2026?
South Carolina’s 2026 list has 13 full office-closure days. It includes 9 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 South Carolina?
No. Columbus Day (Monday, October 12, 2026) is not on South Carolina’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 South Carolina?
No. Juneteenth (Friday, June 19, 2026) is not on South Carolina’s 2026 state-employee holiday list, so state offices are expected to be open. Federal offices, banks and the post office still close.
Are South Carolina state offices closed on Good Friday 2026?
No. Good Friday (Friday, April 3) is not on South Carolina’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 South Carolina?
Yes. South Carolina state offices close on Friday, November 27, 2026; the state calendar lists it as Day after Thanksgiving Day.
What happens when a South Carolina 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
A Saturday holiday is observed the preceding Friday and a Sunday holiday the following Monday. Public colleges and universities may observe some holidays on different dates (S.C. Code § 53-5-10). Juneteenth and Columbus Day are not state holidays.
Verified: Matched to the official source linked on this page. Scope: State employees (SC Division of State Human Resources). City, county and school calendars, courts, banks and private employers can follow different schedules.
Official source
- South Carolina Department of Administration — Holiday Leave (2026 and 2027 Holiday Schedules)
- SC State Treasurer — 2026 State of SC vs. Federal/Banking Holidays memo
Reviewed Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Confirm an important appointment with the agency responsible for it. Found a change? Tell us.