Wisconsin state holidays 2026
Wisconsin’s 2026 state holiday calendar lists 9 dates, including Christmas Eve Day and New Year’s Eve Day.
Next Wisconsin state holiday: Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2026
| Date | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Thu | New Year’s Day | Offices closed |
| Mon | Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday | Offices closed |
| Mon | Memorial Day | Offices closed |
| Sat | Independence DaySaturday; not moved — employees receive floating holiday hours | Not observed (weekend) |
| Mon | Labor Day | Offices closed |
| Thu | Thanksgiving Day | Offices closed |
| Thu | Christmas Eve Day | Offices closed |
| Fri | Christmas Day | Offices closed |
| Thu | New Year’s Eve Day | Offices closed |
Wisconsin does not give state employees these federal holidays off: Washington's Birthday, Juneteenth, Columbus Day, Veterans Day. Federal offices, banks and the post office in Wisconsin still follow the federal calendar.
How Wisconsin compares with the federal calendar
- 7 of 11 federal holidays are on Wisconsin’s 2026 list; Wisconsin skips Washington’s Birthday (Presidents’ Day), Juneteenth, Columbus Day and Veterans Day.
- 2 state-only dates: Christmas Eve Day (Dec 24), New Year’s Eve Day (Dec 31).
- 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 Wisconsin skips, state offices stay open while federal services close.
Long weekends for Wisconsin state employees in 2026
Wisconsin’s 2026 closures create 4 breaks of three days or more without using leave:
| Dates | Days off | Because of |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 17 – Jan 19 | 3 days | Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday |
| May 23 – May 25 | 3 days | Memorial Day |
| Sep 5 – Sep 7 | 3 days | Labor Day |
| Dec 24 – Dec 27 | 4 days | Christmas Eve Day + 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.
Wisconsin state holiday questions
How many paid holidays do Wisconsin state employees get in 2026?
Wisconsin’s 2026 list has 8 full office-closure days. It includes 7 of the 11 federal holidays and 2 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 Wisconsin?
No. Columbus Day (Monday, October 12, 2026) is not on Wisconsin’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 Wisconsin?
No. Juneteenth (Friday, June 19, 2026) is not on Wisconsin’s 2026 state-employee holiday list, so state offices are expected to be open. Federal offices, banks and the post office still close.
Are Wisconsin state offices closed on Good Friday 2026?
No. Good Friday (Friday, April 3) is not on Wisconsin’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 Wisconsin?
No. The day after Thanksgiving (Friday, November 27, 2026) is not on Wisconsin’s 2026 list.
What happens when a Wisconsin 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
Nine paid legal holidays; a holiday on Sunday closes offices the following Monday, but a holiday on Saturday is not moved and employees get floating holiday hours instead. Employees also receive 36 hours of personal holiday each year (Veterans Day is not a closure day).
Rule-based: Calculated from the state law or rule linked on this page. Scope: State employees (Wisconsin DPM). City, county and school calendars, courts, banks and private employers can follow different schedules.
Official source
- Wisconsin Division of Personnel Management — State Holidays
- Wisconsin DPM — Leave Benefits (weekend holiday rules, personal holiday)
- Wisconsin DOA — State Employee Handbook, § 7.1 Legal Holidays
Reviewed Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Confirm an important appointment with the agency responsible for it. Found a change? Tell us.