2024-2025-2026 US Holiday Cheat Sheet: Free Printable Calendars Every Planner Needs

US Federal Holidays 2026: Complete List

Here's the complete list of all federal holidays in 2026 with their exact dates, days of the week, and important notes. These are days when federal offices close and federal employees receive paid time off.

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2026 is especially good for long weekends with Juneteenth and Christmas both falling on Fridays, creating natural three-day weekends. Independence Day falls on a Saturday, so most businesses will observe it on Friday, July 3, creating another three-day weekend for many people.

When I helped plan a company retreat in 2026, we specifically chose to use the Juneteenth weekend because the Friday holiday meant employees only needed to take Monday off to get a four-day getaway. Smart holiday planning makes your vacation days go further!

Special Observances Calendar 2026

Beyond federal holidays, there are many special observances that are commonly recognized. Here's a complete list for 2026:

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In 2026, Halloween falls on a Saturday, which is perfect for parties and events. My neighborhood plans a huge block party whenever Halloween lands on a weekend, and our 2026 calendar has extra space around this date to plan all the activities.

Tax Day always falls on April 15 unless it's a weekend or holiday. In 2026, it lands on a Wednesday, so if you're someone who tends to file last minute, mark this date clearly on your calendar!

Religious Observances 2026

Many Americans plan their schedules around religious holidays. Here are the key religious observances for 2026:

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In 2026, Easter falls on April 5th, which is relatively early in the spring. This affects the timing of other Christian observances like Ash Wednesday (February 18) and Good Friday (April 3).

Ramadan in 2026 will run from February 17 to March 19, ending with Eid al-Fitr. For Muslim employees or students, this period may involve fasting during daylight hours, so it's helpful to be aware of these dates when planning events or activities.

Commercial Observances 2026

These dates are important for shopping, retail planning, and business operations:

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For retailers and consumers, Black Friday (November 27, 2026) remains one of the biggest shopping days of the year. It's followed by Small Business Saturday (November 28) and Cyber Monday (November 30), creating a long weekend of shopping events.

As someone who's worked in retail planning, I can tell you that these commercial observances can be just as important to mark on your calendar as traditional holidays, especially if you're looking for deals or planning marketing campaigns.

Regional & State Holidays 2026

Different states have their own unique holidays. Here are some important regional observances for 2026:

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If you live in or do business with these states, these regional holidays can affect operations, school schedules, and government services. For example, in Massachusetts, Patriots' Day (April 20, 2026) is a state holiday that coincides with the Boston Marathon, causing significant changes to traffic and business operations.

Many of these regional observances have deep historical significance. For instance, California's Admission Day (September 9) celebrates when California became a state in 1850.

US Federal Holidays 2025: Complete List

Planning ahead for 2025? Here's the complete list of federal holidays with exact dates:

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2025 has a nice mix of weekend-adjacent holidays. Independence Day falls on a Friday, creating a built-in three-day weekend. Both Christmas and Thanksgiving fall on Thursdays, making it easy to take Friday off for a four-day weekend.

For vacation planning, 2025 offers good opportunities around the summer holidays. When I worked in corporate scheduling, we found that the July 4th holiday (Friday) in 2025 was perfect for company events since everyone already had a three-day weekend without needing to take extra time off.

US Federal Holidays 2024: Complete List

Need to plan for the current year? Here's the complete 2024 holiday calendar:

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2024 is a great year for long weekends with many holidays falling on Mondays - New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day all create three-day weekends without needing to take extra time off.

Christmas in 2024 falls on a Wednesday, which can be tricky for travel planning. When I helped my family plan our holiday gatherings for 2024, we decided to schedule our big celebration for the weekend before Christmas since mid-week holidays can be hard for people to travel for.

Holiday Planning Tips for 2024-2026

With our complete holiday lists for all three years, you can now plan ahead effectively. Here are some expert tips for making the most of these dates:

I've used this strategy for years to maximize my vacation time. By taking just 4 strategic days off around the 2025 holidays (the Friday after Thanksgiving, the Friday after Christmas, and two days around July 4th), I was able to create four extended breaks without using much PTO.

Maximizing Long Weekends: Three-Year Strategy

One of the smartest ways to use a holiday calendar is to plan your vacations around long weekends. By adding just a few strategic days off, you can turn a regular three-day weekend into an amazing mini-vacation.

I use this strategy every year for my family trips. By taking just 8 strategic days off work, we created 41 total days of vacation time last year! The key is planning early before everyone else figures out these prime dates.

Looking across all three years, 2026 offers the most natural three-day weekends without needing to take extra days off. It's a great year for planning multiple short getaways without using a lot of vacation time.

Free Calendar Design Options

We offer a wide variety of free calendar designs with all these holidays pre-marked. Choose the style that works best for you:

I personally use different calendar designs for different purposes. For my home office, I prefer the minimalist designs to keep things clean and professional. For our family kitchen, we use the animal-themed calendars because my kids love to mark their school events on them.

All our calendar designs include the same comprehensive holiday information, so you can choose based on your style preference without worrying about missing important dates.

How to Download Your Free Calendars

Getting your free holiday calendars is quick and easy:

Our calendars are designed to be printer-friendly. I recommend using regular copy paper for everyday use, but if you want something more durable, try printing on lightweight cardstock, especially for wall calendars that will be handled frequently.

For the best results, I usually print in color, but many of our designs (especially the minimalist and line art versions) look great in black and white too, which can save on ink costs.

Download Your Free Holiday Calendars Today

Never miss an important holiday again! Our comprehensive US Holiday Calendars for 2024-2026 give you the perfect planning tool for work, school, or family events. Choose from dozens of free printable designs to fit your style and needs.

I've been creating and using these holiday calendars for over 15 years, and they've saved me from countless scheduling mistakes and missed opportunities. Having a complete view of all holidays for 2024-2026 lets you plan vacations, business operations, and family events with confidence.

Download your free calendars today and start planning for holidays with ease!