US Long Weekends in 2026: 13 Getaways, 10 from Federal Holidays

If you work in the United States, 2026 is a generous year for long weekends. Between the ten federal holidays that land near a weekend and a handful of state-level extras, most Americans can count on 13 three-day (or longer) breaks — and two of them stretch to four days with a single vacation day. This guide lists every one of them with exact dates, so you can book travel before prices spike.

The 10 federal long weekends in 2026

These apply nationwide, wherever you work. Each entry shows the full break (Saturday through the holiday, unless noted) and the holiday that creates it.

Long weekend	Dates	Holiday
New Year's (4 days with bridge)	Jan 1-4, 2026	New Year's Day
MLK Jr. Day	Jan 17-19, 2026	Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Presidents Day	Feb 14-16, 2026	Presidents Day
Memorial Day	May 23-25, 2026	Memorial Day
Juneteenth	Jun 19-21, 2026	Juneteenth National Independence Day
Independence Day	Jul 3-5, 2026	Independence Day (observed Jul 3)
Labor Day	Sep 5-7, 2026	Labor Day
Columbus Day	Oct 10-12, 2026	Columbus Day
Thanksgiving (4 days with bridge)	Nov 26-29, 2026	Thanksgiving Day
Christmas	Dec 25-27, 2026	Christmas Day

The formula is simple: five federal holidays land on Mondays in 2026 (MLK, Presidents, Memorial, Labor, and Columbus), and two land on Fridays (Juneteenth and the Independence Day observance). Friday and Monday holidays are automatic three-day weekends with zero vacation time.

Why Independence Day gives you Jul 3-5

July 4, 2026 falls on a Saturday. Federal workers and most private employers observe the holiday on Friday July 3 instead, turning the weekend into a natural Jul 3-5 run. If your state observes it on Saturday instead, you still get the Saturday-Sunday weekend plus a floating holiday — check your employer's calendar.

The 3 regional extras (state-dependent)

Beyond the federal list, three holidays create long weekends in 2026 but only in certain states:

• Good Friday — Apr 3-5, 2026. A public holiday in about a dozen states including Texas, California (stock exchange observance), and parts of the Northeast; many more states give it to state employees.
• Lincoln's Birthday — Feb 12-15, 2026 with a Feb 13 bridge. Observed in California, Connecticut, Illinois, New York and others; combine with Presidents Day on Feb 16 for a very long run if you can take the week.
• Truman Day — May 8-10, 2026. Missouri only; a Friday holiday that creates a May 8-10 weekend.

That brings the state-dependent total to 13, though almost nobody gets all three — check the US 2026 calendar for your state's exact list.

The two 4-day getaways: use one vacation day

2026 hides two four-day breaks behind a single PTO day:

• New Year's (Jan 1-4): Jan 1 is a Thursday, so take Friday Jan 2 off and you own Thursday through Sunday.
• Thanksgiving (Nov 26-29): Thanksgiving is Thursday Nov 26; take Friday Nov 27 off and you get a four-day holiday weekend right before the December rush.

Best months to plan around

May is the richest month with three long weekends (May 8-10 regional, May 23-25 Memorial Day, plus the Apr 3-5 Good Friday run bleeding into early May for state workers). January gives you two breaks within three weeks. July, September, October and November each deliver one reliable getaway, and December closes the year with Christmas on a Friday — a natural Dec 25-27 weekend.

Book early for the Thanksgiving window; it is the single most expensive travel period in the US. For the rest, booking 6-8 weeks out typically beats last-minute fares by 20-40%.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which US federal holidays in 2026 are NOT long weekends? Veterans Day (Wed Nov 11) and — if you count it — the floating federal holidays that get substituted. Veterans Day is the only mid-week federal holiday in 2026.

Can I turn Presidents Day into a longer break? Yes. Presidents Day is Monday Feb 16, 2026. Take Feb 17-20 off and you connect the Feb 14-16 weekend to the following weekend for nine consecutive days.

Does the US get substitute days when a holiday falls on Saturday? Federal law observes Saturday holidays on the preceding Friday. That is why Independence Day lands on Jul 3 in 2026. Most states follow the same rule, but not all — verify your state's observance.