2026 calendar planning guide: holidays, long weekends, and key dates

2026 at a glance

Planning your year starts with knowing the key dates. 2026 is a regular year (not a leap year) with 365 days. It starts on a Thursday and ends on a Thursday. There are 261 weekdays and 104 weekend days.

Our 2026 calendar gives you a complete month-by-month view with all US federal holidays, observances, and week numbers. You can toggle between Sunday and Monday start, and print any month directly from your browser.

US federal holidays in 2026

The US observes 11 federal holidays when government offices, banks, and many businesses close. Here's the complete list:

• New Year's Day — Thursday, January 1 (January 2026 calendar)
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day — Monday, January 19 (January 2026)
• Presidents' Day — Monday, February 16 (February 2026)
• Memorial Day — Monday, May 25 (May 2026)
• Juneteenth — Friday, June 19 (June 2026)
• Independence Day — Saturday, July 4 (July 2026). Note: when July 4 falls on Saturday, the preceding Friday (July 3) is often observed as the holiday.
• Labor Day — Monday, September 7 (September 2026)
• Columbus Day — Monday, October 12 (October 2026)
• Veterans Day — Wednesday, November 11 (November 2026)
• Thanksgiving — Thursday, November 26 (November 2026)
• Christmas Day — Friday, December 25 (December 2026)

For countdowns to these holidays, check our holiday countdown pages.

Long weekends in 2026

Federal holidays that fall on Monday create three-day weekends — prime opportunities for travel, events, or extended rest:

• MLK Day weekend — January 17-19 (Saturday-Monday)
• Presidents' Day weekend — February 14-16 (Saturday-Monday). Valentine's Day falls on the Saturday!
• Memorial Day weekend — May 23-25 (Saturday-Monday)
• Independence Day — July 3-5 (Friday-Sunday, since July 4 is Saturday)
• Labor Day weekend — September 5-7 (Saturday-Monday)
• Columbus Day weekend — October 10-12 (Saturday-Monday)
• Thanksgiving break — November 26-29 (Thursday-Sunday for many)
• Christmas — December 25-27 (Friday-Sunday)

Planning around these weekends lets you maximize vacation time. A single PTO day on Friday May 22 turns Memorial Day weekend into a 4-day break. Check exact dates on our 2026 calendar.

Month-by-month planning highlights

January 2026 New Year's Day (Thursday). MLK Day creates a long weekend on the 19th. Tax season approaches — W-2 forms typically arrive by January 31.

February 2026 The shortest month at 28 days. Presidents' Day on the 16th creates a long weekend. Valentine's Day on Saturday the 14th. Daylight saving time is still weeks away — expect short days.

March 2026 Clocks spring forward on March 8 — you lose an hour of sleep but gain evening daylight. Spring equinox on March 20 means equal day and night. Tax deadline looms.

April 2026 Tax Day is April 15. Easter falls on April 5 in 2026. Sunrise times get noticeably earlier — morning light exposure improves as spring progresses.

May 2026 Mother's Day on May 10. Memorial Day weekend (May 23-25) kicks off summer. End of school year for many districts.

June 2026 Juneteenth on Friday, June 19 — a three-day weekend. Father's Day on June 21. Summer solstice around June 20-21 brings the longest days of the year.

July 2026 Independence Day on Saturday, July 4. With July 3 (Friday) observed as the holiday, expect a long weekend. Peak summer — sunset times are at their latest.

August 2026 No federal holidays. Back-to-school season begins. Days noticeably shorten — sunset moves earlier by 1-2 minutes per day.

September 2026 Labor Day on Monday, September 7 — the last official weekend of summer. Fall equinox around September 22.

October 2026 Columbus Day on Monday, October 12. Halloween on Saturday, October 31 — perfect for parties. Moon phases often drive Halloween atmosphere.

November 2026 Clocks fall back on November 1 — gain an hour but evenings get dark early. Veterans Day on Wednesday the 11th. Thanksgiving on Thursday the 26th, with Black Friday the 27th.

December 2026 Christmas on Friday the 25th — creating a natural long weekend. New Year's Eve on Thursday the 31st. Winter solstice around December 21 brings the shortest day of the year.

Planning tools for 2026

Our calendar integrates with several other Timerjoy tools for comprehensive planning:

Date calculators — Need to know the date 90 days from a specific date? Or how many business days between two dates? Our calculators handle all date math.

Days from today — Quick-access pages for common future dates: 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, 6 months, and 1 year.

Weeks from today — Plan in weekly increments: 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks.

Holiday countdowns — Live countdown to every major holiday, updated daily.

Moon phases — Plan outdoor events and photography around the lunar cycle. Full moons in 2026 include dates in every month — check the lunar calendar.

School year calendar 2026-2027

While exact dates vary by district, here's a typical US school calendar framework:

• First day of school: Late August / early September 2026
• Fall break: October 12-16 (Columbus Day week)
• Thanksgiving break: November 23-27
• Winter break: December 21 – January 4
• MLK Day: January 18, 2027
• Presidents' Day: February 15, 2027
• Spring break: March/April 2027
• Last day of school: Late May / early June 2027

Teachers can use our classroom timers throughout the school year for daily classroom management — from 5-minute warm-ups to 25-minute work blocks.

Quarterly planning

For business and personal goal-setting, divide 2026 into quarters:

Q1 (January-March): 90 days, ~63 business days. Includes New Year's resolutions, tax preparation, DST transition.

Q2 (April-June): 91 days, ~64 business days. Tax deadline, end of school year, summer planning. Longest days of the year arrive.

Q3 (July-September): 92 days, ~65 business days. Summer vacation season, back-to-school prep. Days begin shortening after the solstice.

Q4 (October-December): 92 days, ~63 business days (more holidays reduce business days). Holiday season, year-end reviews, DST ends.

Frequently asked questions

Is 2026 a leap year?
No. 2026 is a common year with 365 days. The next leap year is 2028. Use our 2026 calendar to see any month in detail.

When is Easter 2026?
Easter falls on Sunday, April 5, 2026. It's in April 2026.

How many weekdays are in 2026?
There are 261 weekdays (Monday-Friday) in 2026. Use our business days calculator for exact counts between any two dates.

When does daylight saving time start in 2026?
DST starts Sunday, March 8, 2026 — clocks spring forward at 2:00 AM. DST ends Sunday, November 1, 2026 — clocks fall back at 2:00 AM.

What's the shortest day of 2026?
The winter solstice, around December 21, 2026, is the shortest day. In New York, expect about 9 hours and 15 minutes of daylight. In Los Angeles, about 10 hours.