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List: Take these dates off to maximize your vacation time in 2026

By
FOX Local
Lifestyle
Updated January 1, 2026 9:41 AM MST Published January 1, 2026 9:10 AM MST
article

FILE-People enjoy the beach and ocean on a beautiful sunny day on Kaanapali beach. (Photo by: Michael Siluk/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

The Brief

    • In 2026, there are a few federal holidays on the calendar that could allow workers to use their PTO for some extra time off.
    • Christmas Day, the Fourth of July, and Juneteenth are on Fridays this year, which can offer a nice three-day weekend depending on how workers want to use their vacation days.

Planning time off from work can require some maneuvering when it comes to figuring out the amount of time you have off between vacation and personal days and balancing that with company-observed holidays. 

Then there’s the task of coordinating time off scheduling with coworkers to make sure you're not requesting the same days off. 

RELATED: Best—and worst—states for working fathers this year

If you’re already blocking out time on your calendar or still mulling how to plan vacation time for next year, here is a list of the federal holidays in 2026 and ways you can leverage these days into extended time off work.

What’s the federal holiday schedule for 2026?

Why you should care:

New Year’s Day falls on a Thursday this year, but many workers utilize this day as a four-day vacation, or they may take the entire week off. There are also some federal holidays that are on Fridays and Mondays, which can also be beneficial for extended time off. 

  • Thursday, Jan. 1: New Year's Day
  • Monday, Jan. 19: Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.
  • Monday, Feb. 16: Washington's Birthday
  • Monday, May 25: Memorial Day
  • Friday, June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
  • Friday, July 3: Independence Day (observed)
  • Monday, Sept. 7: Labor Day
  • Monday, Oct. 12: Columbus Day
  • Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day
  • Thursday, Nov. 26: Thanksgiving
  • Friday, Dec. 25: Christmas Day

Best ways to extend vacation days in 2026

Dig deeper:

Paid time off differs at every company, but there are ways to combine these days without falling into a negative balance of accrued vacation days you save up during the year. 

RELATED: These are the 'hardest working states' in 2025, data suggests

This strategy can be effective if a federal holiday occurs at the end of the week or beginning of the week. 

New Year's Day Thursday, Jan. 1

Assuming you’re not working on New Year’s Day, you can always extend the break by taking paid time off on Friday, Jan. 2, giving you four straight days from Jan. 1 to Jan. 4.

Martin Luther King Jr. (Monday, Jan. 19)

Since MLK Day is on Monday, you can request paid time off on Friday, Jan. 16 to have four consecutive days, Jan. 16 to Jan. 19.

Presidents Day (Monday, Feb. 16)

Another holiday landing on a Monday gives you another chance for a four-day weekend. If you request paid time off on Friday, Feb. 13, you will have Feb. 13 to Feb. 16 off. 

Memorial Day (Monday, May 25)

Memorial Day is another popular time to take extended time off. You can request paid time off on Friday, May 22 to get four days off from May 22 through May 25.

Juneteenth (Friday, June 19)

To maximize your time off for Juneteenth, request paid time off for Monday, June 22 and you’ll have four days from June 19 to June 22.

Independence Day (Observed July 3 in 2026)

Independence Day is one of the popular holidays during the summer, especially when taking a trip. And whether you’re traveling or staying home, you can request paid time off for Monday, July 6, giving you four consecutive days off from July 3 to July 6.

Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 7)

You can request paid time off for Friday, Sept. 4 to get four days off from Sept. 4 to Sep. 7.

Columbus Day (Monday, Oct. 12)

By taking paid time off on Friday, Oct. 9, this will give you four straight days off from Oct. 9 to Oct. 12, with Columbus Day on a Monday this year. 

Veterans Day (Wednesday, Nov. 11)

To make the most of your time off on Veterans Day, request paid time off for Monday, Nov. 9, and Tuesday, Nov. 10; or Thursday, Nov. 12, and Friday, Nov. 13. By doing this, you’ll have five straight days off either Nov. 7 to Nov. 11 or Nov. 11 through Nov. 15. 

Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 26)

Thanksgiving is a great holiday to take advantage of getting extra time off. Using your paid time off for Monday, Nov. 23; Tuesday, Nov. 24, Wednesday, Nov. 25, and Friday, Nov. 27 (unless you already have Black Friday off). You will have nine days off from Nov. 21 to Nov. 29.

Christmas Day (Friday, Dec. 25)

And to wrap up the year, Christmas is another excellent time for time off. This can be accomplished by taking off Monday, Dec. 21; Tuesday, Dec. 22; Wednesday, Dec. 23, and Thursday, Dec. 24 (unless you already have Christmas Eve off).

The Source: Information for this story was provided by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management website, which lists the federal government holidays for 2026. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.  


 

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