You’re probably staring at a slightly lighter inbox or wondering why the post office looks like a ghost town and asking yourself: is there a federal holiday today? Well, it depends on how you define "today" in the context of the calendar shuffle. Honestly, looking at the date—Saturday, January 17, 2026—the answer is a bit more nuanced than a simple yes or no. While today itself isn't the holiday, we are currently smack in the middle of the first major three-day weekend of the year.
The United States federal government observes 11 standard holidays. Because January 20th falls on a Tuesday this year (Inauguration Day), and we just passed the mid-point of the month, everyone is looking toward the big one: Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
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Technically, is there a federal holiday today on Saturday the 17th? No. Federal holidays are specifically designated workdays where non-essential government offices close. Since it's Saturday, those offices are already closed. However, the federal holiday for MLK Day is legally mandated to take place on the third Monday of January. In 2026, that falls on Monday, January 19.
Most people feel the holiday "starts" now.
Retailers have already kicked off their "MLK Weekend" sales. Banks are prepping for a three-day shutdown. If you work a standard Monday-through-Friday gig, your holiday officially begins the moment you clock out on Friday afternoon. This creates a weird limbo. You’re in "holiday mode," but the calendar hasn't quite caught up to the legal designation.
Why the date shifts every year
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 is the reason you’re likely confused. Back in the day, holidays stayed on their actual calendar dates. It was messy. Congress decided that to prevent mid-week disruptions and give federal employees (and by extension, the rest of the country) more three-day weekends, several holidays would move to Mondays.
MLK Day wasn't part of that original 1968 act—it wasn't even a holiday yet—but when it was signed into law by Ronald Reagan in 1983, it followed the same Monday-centric logic.
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What is actually closed right now?
Since it's Saturday, the "closed" list looks pretty much like any other Saturday, but with a few tweaks.
- United States Postal Service: They are running normal Saturday routes today. However, don't expect any mail on Monday. If you have a package that needs to get out, do it before the windows close this afternoon.
- The Stock Market: The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are closed because it’s the weekend. They will stay closed through Monday, January 19.
- Courts and DMV: Closed. Most of these state and federal entities don't breathe on weekends anyway.
- Public Libraries: This is a toss-up. Many local systems stay open on the Saturday of a holiday weekend but shut down Sunday and Monday. You've gotta check your local branch's social media or website.
It’s easy to get turned around.
People often forget that "federal holiday" is a specific legal term. It primarily applies to federal employees and the District of Columbia. Private businesses? They don't have to follow these rules. Your local coffee shop or the massive tech firm down the street can stay open if they want. But most follow the federal lead to stay competitive and keep morale high.
The 2026 Inauguration Day Factor
This year is a bit of an anomaly. Every four years, January 20th is Inauguration Day. In the D.C. metro area (including parts of Maryland and Virginia), this is a legal federal holiday for government workers.
So, if you are asking is there a federal holiday today because you’re seeing heavy security or preparations in Washington, that’s why. We are only three days away from the transition of power. This creates a "double holiday" week for folks in the nation's capital. You get Monday off for MLK Day, work Tuesday (or have it off if you’re a fed in D.C.), and then try to get back into the swing of things by Wednesday. It’s a productivity nightmare for businesses in the Beltway.
Is it a "National" Holiday?
Kinda, but technically no. The U.S. doesn't actually have "national" holidays in the sense that the President can order everyone in the country to take a paid day off. We have federal holidays. States then decide which ones they want to recognize. Fortunately, all 50 states recognize MLK Day now, though it took a long time—Utah was one of the last holdouts, finally changing the name from "Human Rights Day" to the full name of the civil rights leader in 2000.
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Looking ahead at the 2026 Federal Calendar
If you're trying to plan your PTO for the rest of the year, knowing the federal schedule is the only way to do it without burning through your days too fast.
The next big break after this weekend isn't until February. George Washington’s Birthday (often called Presidents' Day) hits on Monday, February 16. After that, you're looking at a massive drought until Memorial Day in late May. That stretch between February and May is honestly the hardest part of the corporate year. No breaks. Just cold weather and endless Zoom calls.
The full list of federal closures for 2026:
- New Year’s Day: January 1 (Thursday)
- MLK Jr. Day: January 19 (Monday)
- Inauguration Day: January 20 (Tuesday - D.C. area only)
- Presidents' Day: February 16 (Monday)
- Memorial Day: May 25 (Monday)
- Juneteenth: June 19 (Friday)
- Independence Day: July 3 (Observed, since the 4th is a Saturday)
- Labor Day: September 7 (Monday)
- Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day: October 12 (Monday)
- Veterans Day: November 11 (Wednesday)
- Thanksgiving: November 26 (Thursday)
- Christmas: December 25 (Friday)
Misconceptions about "Bank Holidays"
You’ll hear people use the term "bank holiday" interchangeably with federal holiday. They aren't exactly the same thing, though they usually overlap. The Federal Reserve observes the same holiday schedule as the government. If the Fed is closed, banks can't process wire transfers or settle certain transactions.
So, while is there a federal holiday today might be a "no" for Saturday, your bank is likely operating on limited weekend hours anyway. If you try to deposit a check at an ATM this afternoon, it almost certainly won't clear or show up in your "available balance" until Tuesday morning. That’s a three-day lag because of the Monday holiday.
Practical steps for your Saturday
Since the "real" holiday is Monday, use today to get ahead of the closures.
First, check your banking. If you need to move a significant amount of money or talk to a loan officer, you basically have a few hours left today before the entire financial system goes dark for 48 hours.
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Second, handle any government-related paperwork. If you need to visit a state office that happens to be open on Saturdays, go now. Monday will be a total wash.
Third, if you’re in the D.C. area, start looking at road closures. Between the MLK parades on Monday and the Inauguration on Tuesday, the city is going to be an absolute maze of jersey barriers and Secret Service checkpoints.
Ultimately, Saturday, January 17, serves as the "on-ramp" to the holiday. It’s the day we buy the groceries for the cookout or the day of service projects. While the "federal" status doesn't kick in until Monday, the country is already shifting gears.
Enjoy the extra time if you have it. If you're working, at least the commute should be a little lighter as the government crowd stays home.
Actionable Insights for the MLK Holiday Weekend:
- Audit your subscriptions: Many automated billing cycles that land on the 18th or 19th might trigger early or late depending on your bank's holiday policy. Check your balance to avoid overdrafts.
- Mail early: USPS will not deliver on Monday, January 19. If you miss the pickup window this afternoon (usually 2:00 PM or 4:00 PM at blue boxes), your mail won't move until Tuesday.
- Verify local transit: Cities like New York, Chicago, and LA often run "Sunday Schedules" on holiday Mondays. Check your transit app today to see if your Monday morning commute is actually possible.
- Service Opportunities: Since MLK Day is designated as a National Day of Service, use today to find a local food bank or community center that needs volunteers for Monday’s events. Sites like AmeriCorps.gov usually have a zip-code search for these projects.