You’re staring at the clock. It’s 9:15 AM on a Monday, or maybe a random Thursday, and the emails just aren't coming in like they usually do. The traffic was weirdly light. You start to get that creeping, slightly panicked sensation in your chest: is today a holiday and did I totally miss the memo? We've all been there, frantically Googling while sitting at a desk in an empty office or wondering why the bank doors are locked.
Honestly, the answer is rarely a simple "yes" or "no." It depends on where you’re standing, who you work for, and even what religion you practice.
Today is Friday, January 16, 2026. If you are in the United States, today is not a federal holiday. However, we are sitting right on the edge of a major one. Most people are gearing up for the long weekend because Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on Monday, January 19, this year. But that doesn't mean your specific world isn't on pause today.
The "Floating" Holiday Trap
Ever notice how some people get the day off while you’re stuck in a Zoom meeting? It’s because the U.S. doesn't actually have "national" holidays in the way people think. The President can’t just tell a private business in Topeka to close its doors. Federal holidays technically only apply to federal employees and the District of Columbia.
State governments do their own thing. For example, some states observe specific days that others completely ignore. If you live in Texas, you might have certain state-specific days off that someone in Maine has never heard of. Then you’ve got the banking world. The Federal Reserve System observes eleven standard holidays, but even they have "observed" rules. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is usually the day the banks shut down. If it's a Saturday, the preceding Friday (like today, potentially, in different years) might be the day off.
But since today is January 16, 2026, the real reason things might feel "holiday-ish" is the proximity to MLK Day. Many schools use the Friday before a Monday holiday for teacher workdays or "professional development." So, while it isn't a holiday for you, your kids might be home eating cereal and playing Fortnite, making the whole day feel off-kilter.
Why Your Calendar App Is Gaslighting You
Digital calendars are great until they aren't. Most of us subscribe to multiple calendars—work, personal, "US Holidays," and maybe a shared family one. The problem is that these apps often pull from generic databases that include every single observance under the sun.
You might see "National Popcorn Day" or "Religious Observance" and freak out. Just because it’s a "day" doesn't mean it’s a day off.
Actually, there are hundreds of "national days" created by marketing firms. They aren't legal holidays. If your calendar says it's National Clean Your Desk Day, your boss still expects that report by 5 PM.
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Let's look at the heavy hitters—the days where the mail actually stops. In the U.S., these are the big 11:
- New Year’s Day
- Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Washington’s Birthday (Presidents' Day)
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth National Independence Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day (also observed as Indigenous Peoples' Day in many areas)
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
If it's not one of those, and it's not a specific state holiday like Patriots' Day in Massachusetts or Cesar Chavez Day in California, you're likely expected to be at your post.
The Global Perspective: It’s Always a Holiday Somewhere
If you work for a global company, is today a holiday is a question you should probably ask every single morning. Today, January 16, is a significant day in several parts of the world even if the U.S. is "business as usual."
In Thailand, it's Teacher's Day (Wai Kru). While not a public "everything is closed" holiday for every sector, schools are definitely doing something different. If your developer is in Bangkok, they might be offline.
In some religious calendars, today carries weight too. For those following various liturgical or lunar calendars, specific feast days or fasts can dictate behavior. If you’re trying to reach a client in a country with a different primary religion, you might hit a wall of "Out of Office" replies that your local Google search didn't warn you about.
This is where things get messy for remote workers. The "standard" work week is a myth.
Retail vs. Corporate: The Great Divide
The most annoying part of figuring out if today is a holiday is the retail split. On days like Labor Day or Veterans Day, white-collar office workers are usually at the lake or on the couch. Meanwhile, retail workers are bracing for the "Holiday Sale" rush.
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If you're asking because you want to go to the DMV or the post office, the answer is almost always tied to the federal schedule. If you're asking because you want to go to Target, they basically only close on Christmas and Thanksgiving (and even that's changing).
Check the "Blue Laws" too. Some counties in the U.S. still have vestigial laws that prevent certain types of sales on Sundays or specific holidays. Bergen County in New Jersey is famous for this—almost all retail is closed on Sundays. It feels like a holiday every week there, even when it’s just a normal Tuesday for the rest of the country.
What to Check When You’re Unsure
Don't just trust the first snippet on Google. Snippets can be outdated or pull from the wrong year. 2026 is a specific beast.
- Check the USPS Service Alerts page. If the mail isn't running, it’s a "real" holiday. The Postal Service is the ultimate bellwether for American holidays.
- Look at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) schedule. The markets have their own vibe. They observe most federal holidays but have specific rules about early closures.
- Peek at your local school district’s calendar. This is the biggest factor in traffic and "feeling" like a holiday. If the yellow buses aren't on the road, the world slows down.
- Verify the "Observed" status. If a holiday falls on a weekend, the Friday before or Monday after is the legal holiday. Since MLK day is Monday the 19th, today (Friday the 16th) is a normal workday for most, but a "travel day" for many.
Actionable Steps for Navigating Holiday Confusion
Stop guessing and start auditing your schedule so you aren't the only one who shows up to a locked building. Or worse, the only one who sleeps in when there's a 9 AM meeting.
1. Sync your HR portal, not just Google. Your company handbook is the only document that actually matters for your employment. Many tech companies now offer "Floating Holidays" or "Unlimited PTO" instead of traditional bank holidays. Just because it's Veterans Day doesn't mean your startup gives you the day off. Check your specific company "Holiday List" in the payroll or HR software (like Workday or BambooHR) at the start of every quarter.
2. Use a "Public Holiday" API or dedicated site. Sites like TimeAndDate.com are significantly more reliable than a generic search because they break down holidays by state, type (bank, federal, local), and religious significance. They also list "Observances" which are days that are recognized but don't involve a day off.
3. Set up "Day Before" alerts. In your digital calendar, set a notification for 24 hours before any listed holiday. This gives you time to realize, "Oh, the bank will be closed tomorrow, I should go now," or "Wait, my kids are off school tomorrow, I need a babysitter."
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4. Confirm with your team. A quick "Hey, are we all online tomorrow?" in Slack on a Friday afternoon saves so much headache. It’s not unprofessional; it’s actually smart, especially in a hybrid or remote environment where people might be working from different states with different holiday laws.
Today might not be a holiday for the whole country, but if you’re feeling that "slow" Friday energy, it’s likely because the MLK long weekend is looming. Take the hint from the lack of emails. Use today to clear your plate so that when Monday actually arrives—and it is a holiday—you can actually enjoy the break without checking your phone.
Focus on your local jurisdiction and your specific employer's guidelines. The "National" status of a day is mostly a suggestion for the private sector, so unless you work for the government, your mileage will always vary.