State Holidays

2026 Holiday Dates

• Thursday, January 1 New Year’s Day
• Monday, January 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• Monday, February 16 Presidents’ Day
• Tuesday, March 31 Cesar Chavez Day
• Monday, May 25 Memorial Day
• Saturday, July 4 Independence Day*
• Monday, September 7 Labor Day
• Wednesday, November 11 Veterans Day**
• Thursday, November 26 Thanksgiving Day
• Friday, November 27 Day after Thanksgiving
• Friday, December 25 Christmas Day

*When a holiday falls on a Saturday, employees shall receive holiday credit.

When a holiday falls on a Sunday, the holiday is observed on the following Monday.

**When November 11 falls upon a Saturday, the preceding Friday is observed.

In addition to the holidays listed, excluded employees receive one personal holiday per fiscal year.

To be eligible for a personal holiday (PH), an employee must be: (a) appointed to a class that requires a probationary period; (b) appointed to an exempt position where leave credits are earned; or (c) appointed to a Career Executive Assignment (CEA) position for more than six months. Once eligible employees complete six months of their initial probationary period, they are credited with a personal holiday for the current fiscal year. Thereafter, the personal holiday is credited on July 1 of each year.

In addition to the above state paid holidays, Government Code section 19853 allows most state employees the option to elect to receive eight hours of holiday credit in lieu of receiving eight hours of personal holiday (PH) credit in accordance with Government Code section 19854 for the following holidays:

• The date corresponding with the new moon following the winter solstice or the third new moon following the winter solstice should an intercalary month intervene, known as “Lunar New Year”.
• April 24th, known as “Genocide Remembrance Day”.
• June 19th, known as “Juneteenth”.
• The fourth Friday in September, known as “Native American Day”.

Government Code section 19853.2 allows excluded employees who earn a PH to convert it to holiday credit to observe any holiday or ceremony of the employee’s religion, culture, or heritage. PH usage is subject to departmental approval under Government Code section 19854. See CalHR’s Personal Holiday policy 2110 for additional information.

Employee Designation: Manager, Supervisor, Confidential, and Excluded

References: Government Code sections 19853, 19853.2, and 19854