In the midst of a whirlwind San Francisco holiday season, 2026 looms ever closer. Now’s a great time to look ahead at the next batch of federal and state holidays observed in California and start planning your days off in San Francisco.
Whether you have some travel plans to reserve or an elaborate at-home celebration to plan, it’s worth requesting your days off around the existing public holiday calendar so as to maximize your time.
Paid time off and holiday observations vary between workplaces and states. The United States observes 11 federal holidays, which, thanks to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968, have granted us a decent amount of three-day weekends. We’ve outlined each one of them below (plus California’s César Chávez Day), along with some local events and ideas for how to take advantage of your off days or PTO.
Note: Be sure to check your workplace’s observed holidays before putting in requests.
Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026: New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day falls on a Thursday this year, which means you can take Friday off to maximize the weekend.
- Take Jan. 2 for 4 days off
Monday, Jan. 19, 2026: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
MLK Day happens on the third Monday in January, bringing us our first three day weekend to kick off the new year. It’s a good time to visit San Francisco’s Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial in Yerba Buena Gardens, or take advantage of a free admission day at the Museum of the African Diaspora.
- Take Jan. 15 and 16 for 5 days off
- Take Jan. 15-16 and Jan. 20-23 for 9 days off
Monday, Feb. 16, 2026: Presidents Day
Presidents Day (Washington’s birthday) takes place on the third Monday in February, meaning we have a three-day weekend. It lines up nicely with Chinatown’s Flower Market Fair on Feb. 14-15, 2026.
- Take Feb. 12 and 13 for 5 days off
- Take Feb. 17-20 for 9 days off
Tuesday, Mar. 31, 2026: César Chávez Day
Many workplaces in California observe César Chávez Day, although it is not a mandated day off. This year the holiday falls on Tuesday, Mar. 31. San Francisco’s César Chávez Day Parade usually takes place the following month — 2026 date TBA.
- Take Mar. 30 for 4 days off
Monday, May 25, 2026: Memorial Day
Memorial Day falls on the last Monday in May, creating a three-day weekend. Carnaval SF will take over San Francisco’s Mission District on May 23-24, so it’s a good weekend to max out your PTO.
- Take May 21 and 22 for 5 days off
- Take May 26-29 for 9 days off
Friday, June 19, 2026: Juneteenth
Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, became a federal holiday in 2021. It is not a paid holiday for California state workers, but some workplaces may observe it. This year it falls on a Friday. San Francisco usually honors Juneteenth with several parades, celebrations, and markets.
- Take June 18 for 4 days off
- Take June 18 and 22 for 5 days off
Friday, July 3, 2026: Independence Day (observed)
The Fourth of July falls on a Saturday this year, so its official observance will be Friday, July 3. Here are some ways to use your PTO and make the most of the Bay’s best Independence Day fireworks shows.
- Take July 2 for 4 days off
- Take July 2 and 6 for 5 days off
Monday, Sept. 7, 2026: Labor Day
Labor Day takes place on the first Monday in September, giving us another three day weekend.
- Take Aug. 28 and Sept. 8 for 5 days off
- Take Sept. 8-11 for 9 days off
Monday, Oct. 12, 2026: Columbus Day
Columbus Day, which many people and workplaces recognize as Indigenous Peoples Day, falls on the second Monday in October. Some workplaces observe it for a three-day weekend. SF’s historic Italian Heritage Festival takes over North Beach on Oct 11, and Fleet Week‘s Blue Angels Air Show usually happens the same weekend.
- Take Oct. 9 and 13 for 5 days off
- Take Oct. 13-16 for 9 days off
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026: Veterans Day
Veteran’s Day takes place on a Wednesday this year. Look for the SF Coffee Festival, which usually takes over Fort Mason Center on the first or second weekend of November.
- Take Nov. 9-10 for 5 days off
- Take Nov. 12-13 for 5 days off
- Take Nov. 9-10 and 12-13 for 9 days off
Thursday-Friday, Nov. 26-27, 2026: Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a federal public holiday on the fourth Thursday in November (Nov. 26, 2026). Many workplaces also grant the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 27, 2026) as a day off, and some states observe it as a civic holiday called Native American Heritage Day. Check out our guide to Thanksgiving weekend in SF to help you make the most of these days off.
- Take Nov. 23-25 for 9 days off
Friday, Dec. 25, 2026: Christmas Day
Christmas Day 2026 and New Year’s Day 2027 both land on Fridays, meaning we can enjoy two successive 3-day weekends. Here are a few possible combinations to maximize that PTO and make the most of the holidays in SF.
- Take Dec. 21-24 for 9 days off
- Take Dec. 28-31 for 10 days off
- Take Dec. 24 and 31 for 2 consecutive 4 day weekends over Christmas and New Year’s