Christmas Day 2026 is Friday, December 25, 2026. Christmas Day 2027 is Saturday, December 25, 2027, and for federal employees it is observed on Friday, December 24, 2027.
Christmas 2026: what is closed
On Friday, December 25, 2026, federal offices, post offices, Federal Reserve Banks, commercial banks and the NYSE are closed, as are state offices and nearly all retailers. Christmas is the most complete shutdown of the American year.
Christmas Eve 2026 is a Thursday and a normal working day for the federal government and the postal service. The NYSE closes early, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. Presidents have occasionally excused federal employees from duty on December 24 by executive order; that is decided year by year and should not be assumed.
Christmas 2027: a Saturday holiday
| Friday, December 24, 2027 | Saturday, December 25, 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Federal offices | Closed (observed holiday) | Closed |
| USPS | Open, normal delivery | Postal holiday, no regular mail |
| Federal Reserve Banks | Open | Holiday |
| NYSE | Closed all day | Closed (weekend) |
In 2027 the stock market does not have its usual Christmas Eve half-day; it is shut for the whole of Friday, December 24. USPS, by contrast, has confirmed that post offices will be open that Friday.
How the date is set
December 25 is fixed in the statute and has been a federal holiday since 1870. It is the only federal holiday with a religious origin, and the courts have upheld its status on the ground that it also has a secular, cultural character.
Christmas Day dates, 2026–2031
| Year | Date | Day | Federal day off (observed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | December 25 | Friday | Same day |
| 2027 | December 25 | Saturday | Friday, December 24, 2027 |
| 2028 | December 25 | Monday | Same day |
| 2029 | December 25 | Tuesday | Same day |
| 2030 | December 25 | Wednesday | Same day |
| 2031* | December 25 | Thursday | Same day |
*2031: calculated from the statute; not yet published by OPM.
December 26 and the week after
December 26 is not a federal holiday. A few states add days around Christmas for their own staff: Texas and North Carolina, for example, list Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas as state holidays. Schools are closed nationwide through New Year’s Day. The first federal day off after Christmas 2026 is New Year’s Day, Friday, January 1, 2027.
Frequently asked questions
What day of the week is Christmas 2026?
Friday. December 25 – 27, 2026 is a three-day weekend.
Is Christmas Eve a federal holiday?
No. In 2027 federal offices are closed on December 24 only because it is the observed date for a Saturday Christmas.
Is mail delivered on Christmas Eve?
Yes, in both 2026 and 2027. There is no regular delivery on Christmas Day itself.
Is Monday, December 27, 2027 a holiday?
No. When Christmas falls on a Saturday the federal observance moves back to Friday, not forward to Monday.
Are stores open on Christmas Day?
Most are closed. Some pharmacies, convenience stores, gas stations and restaurants open with reduced hours.
Last checked: 12 November 2026 — dates verified against OPM