California state holidays 2026
The California state holidays for 2026 give California state employees 10 days off, starting with New Year's Day on . A holiday that falls on a Saturday is not moved to a weekday; one that falls on a Sunday is observed the following Monday.
Last verified: October 16, 2026Sources & methodologyFound an error? Tell us
| Holiday | Date | Day off | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Same day | Cal. Gov. Code § 19853; CalHR state holidays (2026)official | official | |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Same day | Cal. Gov. Code § 19853; CalHR state holidays (2026)official | official | |
| Presidents' Day | Same day | Cal. Gov. Code § 19853; CalHR state holidays (2026)official | official | |
| Cesar Chavez Day | Same day | Cal. Gov. Code § 19853; CalHR state holidays (2026)official | official | |
| Genocide Remembrance DayOptional | Same dayOptional holiday: taking it as holiday credit uses the personal holiday (Gov. Code § 19853(e)). | Cal. Gov. Code § 19853; CalHR state holidays (2026)official | official | |
| Memorial Day | Same day | Cal. Gov. Code § 19853; CalHR state holidays (2026)official | official | |
| JuneteenthOptional | Same dayOptional holiday: taking it as holiday credit uses the personal holiday (Gov. Code § 19853(e)). | Cal. Gov. Code § 19853; CalHR state holidays (2026)official | official | |
| Independence Day | Not movedFalls on a Saturday. Not moved: state employees receive 8 hours of holiday credit instead. | Cal. Gov. Code § 19853; CalHR state holidays (2026)official | official | |
| Labor Day | Same day | Cal. Gov. Code § 19853; CalHR state holidays (2026)official | official | |
| Native American DayOptional | Same dayOptional holiday: taking it as holiday credit uses the personal holiday (Gov. Code § 19853(e)). | Cal. Gov. Code § 19853; CalHR state holidays (2026)official | official | |
| Veterans Day | Same day | Cal. Gov. Code § 19853; CalHR state holidays (2026)official | official | |
| Thanksgiving Day | Same day | Cal. Gov. Code § 19853; CalHR state holidays (2026)official | official | |
| Day after Thanksgiving | Same day | Cal. Gov. Code § 19853; CalHR state holidays (2026)official | official | |
| Christmas Day | Same day | Cal. Gov. Code § 19853; CalHR state holidays (2026)official | official |
How California sets its holidays
These are the days off for California state government employees (executive branch). They come from Cal. Gov. Code §§ 19853, 6700; CalHR state holiday schedule. Private employers, banks and schools in California may follow their own schedules.
Weekend rule
A holiday that falls on a Saturday is not moved to a weekday; one that falls on a Sunday is observed the following Monday.
Falls on a Saturday. Not moved: state employees receive 8 hours of holiday credit instead.
Some California holidays follow their own weekend rule:
- Veterans Day: on a Saturday: the Friday before; on a Sunday: the following Monday.
In 2026, no California holiday is moved for a weekend.
Not moved in 2026 (no weekday off): Independence Day.
Compared with the federal calendar
California adds 4 holidays that the federal calendar does not have: Cesar Chavez Day, Genocide Remembrance Day, Native American Day, and Day after Thanksgiving.
It does not list this federal holiday: Columbus Day. State offices are open on that day unless another rule applies.
Listed under a California name: Juneteenth National Independence Day as “Juneteenth”.
Special cases in 2026: Genocide Remembrance Day (optional), Juneteenth (optional), Independence Day (no weekday off), and Native American Day (optional).
Employees also get one personal holiday per year (Gov. Code § 19854); it has no fixed date.
Legal holidays without a day off
California law also names these days, but they are not days off for state employees, so offices are open:
- Lincoln Day:
- Good Friday:
- Admission Day:
- Columbus Day:
Sources
- Cal. Gov. Code § 19853 (state employee holidays)secondary copyunofficial reproduction (public.law)
- Cal. Gov. Code § 6700 (legal holidays)official · no link yet
- CalHR state holidaysofficial
Every date above is labeled official (confirmed on California's own calendar for that year), computed (calculated from statute or written policy) or projected (based on recent official lists). How we check each source: Sources & methodology. Banks in California follow the Federal Reserve holiday schedule, not the state calendar.
More for California
- California holidays 2027
- Is today a business day in California?
- Days until the next California holiday
- US federal holidays 2026
- Bank holidays 2026
- Business days calculator
- Arkansas holidays 2026
- Colorado holidays 2026
- All states
Frequently asked questions
How many paid holidays do California state employees get in 2026?
10 holidays with a day off, plus 4 special days: Genocide Remembrance Day (optional), Juneteenth (optional), Independence Day (no weekday off), and Native American Day (optional).
Is Columbus Day a holiday in California?
Not for California state offices. California's state calendar does not list Columbus Day, so California state offices are open on Monday, October 12, 2026 unless another rule applies. Federal offices are closed that day.
What happens when a California holiday falls on a weekend?
A holiday that falls on a Saturday is not moved to a weekday; one that falls on a Sunday is observed the following Monday. One holiday has their own rule: Veterans Day.
Are California bank holidays the same as state holidays?
No. Banks in California follow the Federal Reserve holiday schedule, which closes on 10 days in 2026 and does not move Saturday holidays. See the bank holidays 2026 page.