Is Presidents Day a Federal Holiday? 2026 Facts and Guide

Every February, millions of Americans enjoy a three-day weekend, but the holiday they celebrate has a name that doesn’t match what most people call it — officially known as Washington’s Birthday, Presidents’ Day became a federal holiday in 1879 (Wikipedia (holiday history)). The gap between its official status and who actually gets the day off is where the real story lies.

Official name: Washington’s Birthday ·
Date in 2026: Monday, February 16 ·
Federal holiday? Yes ·
Paid holiday for federal employees: Yes ·
Commonly called: Presidents’ Day

Six key facts, one pattern: the official name and legal status are clear, but the common usage and employer practices vary widely.

Is Presidents Day a federal holiday?

The short answer is yes. Presidents Day is one of the 12 federal holidays recognized by the United States (USAGov (official U.S. government portal)). Legally, its official name remains Washington’s Birthday, as codified in 5 U.S.C. 6103 (U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit – federal holiday statute).

What is the official name?

• The federal government designates the holiday as “Washington’s Birthday” (OPM (federal holiday schedule)).
• The nickname “Presidents’ Day” has no legal status but is widely used by states, retailers, and the public (Wikipedia (holiday history)).

The catch: despite the common name, federal law still calls it Washington’s Birthday, and agencies like the National Weather Service use the official name to avoid confusion.

Is it still a federal holiday in 2026?

Yes. OPM’s 2026 federal holiday schedule lists Washington’s Birthday on Monday, February 16 (OPM (federal holiday schedule)). The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis confirms the same date in its legal holiday schedule (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (central bank holiday schedule)). No change is expected.

The implication: the federal designation is clear, but the real-world impact depends on employer type.

Who gets Presidents Day off?

This is where the federal label meets real-world variation. The answer depends on who signs your paycheck.

Federal employees

• Most federal employees receive Washington’s Birthday as a paid holiday (OPM (federal holiday schedule)).
• The holiday is established under 5 U.S.C. 6103, which governs federal worker leave (U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit (federal holiday statute)).

What this means: if you work for the federal government, you get the day off with pay. If the holiday falls on a weekend, rules exist for Friday or Monday observance (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (weekend observation policy)).

State and local government workers

• State observance varies. Some states recognize Presidents Day as a state holiday; others do not (USAGov (official U.S. government portal)).
• Even when it’s a state holiday, not all state employees get the day off.

The pattern: state and local workers must check their own jurisdiction’s calendar.

Private sector workers

• Private employers are not required to give Presidents Day off (USAGov (official U.S. government portal)).
• Many companies, especially banks and financial institutions, close, but retailers often stay open.

The catch: for private-sector employees, the day off is entirely at employer discretion.

When is Presidents Day 2026?

The date moves each year because of a law passed in 1971, but the rule is simple.

Exact date

• Presidents Day 2026 falls on Monday, February 16 (OPM (federal holiday schedule)).
• The same date is listed by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (central bank holiday schedule)).

Why it changes each year

• The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1971 fixed Washington’s Birthday to the third Monday in February (Wikipedia (holiday history)).
• This ensures a consistent three-day weekend every year.

The implication: the date can range from February 15 to February 21, always on a Monday.

What is open and closed on Presidents Day?

Because it is a federal holiday, government-related services shut down, but private industry operates unevenly. For more information on Presidents’ Day, you can explore Donald Trump’s sons.

Government offices

• Federal offices, courts, and post offices are closed (USAGov (official U.S. government portal)).
• State and local government closures vary by location.

Banks and post offices

• Most banks, including Federal Reserve banks, are closed (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (central bank holiday schedule)).
• USPS does not deliver mail; post offices are closed.

Schools

• Many K-12 schools close, but it is not mandatory. Some districts use it as a teacher workday.
• Colleges and universities typically hold regular classes unless they follow a different calendar.

Retail and businesses

• Most retail stores, grocery stores, and restaurants remain open, many running Presidents Day sales.
• Private offices may close at employer discretion, but there is no legal requirement.

The pattern: federal closures are certain; private-sector operations are not.

Why is Presidents Day called Washington’s Birthday?

The name confusion has historical roots that go back more than a century.

History of the holiday

• Congress created Washington’s Birthday as a federal holiday in 1879, initially only for government offices in Washington, D.C. (Wikipedia (holiday history)).
• In 1885, the holiday was extended to all federal offices (Wikipedia (holiday history)).

Uniform Monday Holiday Act

• The 1971 act moved the celebration from February 22 (Washington’s actual birth date) to the third Monday in February (Wikipedia (holiday history)).
• This shift aimed to create more three-day weekends for workers.

Common name vs official name

• The name “Presidents’ Day” grew in popularity during the 1970s and 1980s, fueled by retailers and states that wanted to honor Lincoln and other presidents alongside Washington (Wikipedia (holiday history)).
• The federal government still uses “Washington’s Birthday” in all official documents (OPM (federal holiday schedule)).

The takeaway: the holiday has two names, but only one legal status.

The pattern: the federal status is unambiguous, but state and private practice remain variable.

Quotes from official sources

“Washington’s Birthday is one of the 12 federal holidays recognized by the United States government.”

USAGov (federal holiday list)

“OPM’s 2026 holiday schedule lists Washington’s Birthday (Presidents Day) on Monday, February 16.”

U.S. Office of Personnel Management (federal holiday schedule)

“The Uniform Monday Holiday Act shifted Washington’s Birthday from February 22 to the third Monday in February in 1971.”

Wikipedia (holiday history)

The takeaway: official sources consistently confirm the holiday’s status and date.

After more than a century of evolution, the holiday’s two names and one federal status leave most Americans with a clear answer about government services but a lingering question about what they personally get off. For the private-sector worker in any state, the choice is simple: check with your employer. For federal employees, it’s a guaranteed day off.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• What Holiday Is Tomorrow – 2024 US Federal Holidays Guide
• USPS Veterans Day Closure 2025: Post Offices Closed Nov 11