Christmas Day 2026
Christmas Day 2026 is on Friday, December 25, 2026 (in 74 days). It falls on a weekday, so federal employees have the day itself off. It is a U.S. federal holiday.
- Date
- Friday, December 25, 2026
- Countdown
- In 74 days
- Federal holiday
- Yes
- Federal day off
- Friday, December 25, 2026
- Date rule
- December 25 (fixed date)
- Possible dates
- Always December 25; only the weekday changes
- Next occurrence
- Saturday, December 25, 2027
Christmas Day dates by year
| Year | Date | Weekday | Federal day off | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | December 25, 2025 | Thursday | Same day | 291 days ago |
| 2026 | December 25, 2026 | Friday | Same day | in 74 days |
| 2027 | December 25, 2027 | Saturday | Fri, Dec 24 | in 14 months |
| 2028 | December 25, 2028 | Monday | Same day | in 2 years |
| 2029 | December 25, 2029 | Tuesday | Same day | in 3 years |
| 2030 | December 25, 2030 | Wednesday | Same day | in 4 years |
| 2031 | December 25, 2031 | Thursday | Same day | in 5 years |
| 2032 | December 25, 2032 | Saturday | Fri, Dec 24 | in 6 years |
| 2033 | December 25, 2033 | Sunday | Mon, Dec 26 | in 7 years |
| 2034 | December 25, 2034 | Monday | Same day | in 8 years |
Dates are calculated from the rule shown above, not copied from a list, so they stay correct for any year. See everything else happening that month in the calendar for December 2026.
Date and observed day
Christmas Day is fixed on December 25, so only the weekday changes from year to year. When December 25 falls on a weekend, 5 U.S.C. § 6103(b) moves the day off for most federal employees: a Saturday holiday is observed on the Friday before, and a Sunday holiday on the Monday after. The date of Christmas does not move, only the day off does.
The table above shows the observed federal day for each year. In 2027, for example, December 25 is a Saturday and the federal holiday is observed on Friday, December 24. December 24 and December 26 are not federal holidays by themselves, although presidents have from time to time given federal employees an extra day off by executive order.
Christmas in U.S. history
Christmas was not always welcome in what became the United States. The Massachusetts Bay Colony banned its celebration in 1659 and fined anyone caught observing it five shillings; the law was repealed in 1681. Two centuries later, on June 28, 1870, President Ulysses S. Grant signed the act that made Christmas Day a holiday for federal employees in Washington, D.C. The holiday was extended to federal employees across the country in 1885.
Why December 25
The earliest surviving record of December 25 as the birth of Christ is the Roman calendar known as the Chronograph of 354. Western churches settled on that date; Eastern Orthodox churches that follow the Julian calendar celebrate on January 7 of the Gregorian calendar, which is why Orthodox Christmas is listed on that date in this calendar.
What is open and closed on Christmas Day
Federal government offices, federal courts, the Federal Reserve Banks and the U.S. Postal Service (no regular mail delivery) are closed. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are closed too, and when December 25 falls on a Saturday the exchanges close on the Friday before, as they will on Friday, December 24, 2027. They usually close early on Christmas Eve when it is a trading day (at 1:00 p.m. ET in 2026).
Many stores and restaurants close for the day, while others keep reduced hours. Hours vary by company and state.
Frequently asked questions about Christmas Day
When is Christmas Day 2026?
Christmas Day 2026 is on Friday, December 25, 2026.
When is Christmas Day 2027?
Christmas Day 2027 is on Saturday, December 25, 2027.
What day of the week is Christmas 2026?
Christmas Day 2026 falls on a Friday (December 25, 2026).
How many days until Christmas 2026?
Christmas Day 2026 is in 74 days, on Friday, December 25, 2026.
Is Christmas a federal holiday?
Yes. 5 U.S.C. § 6103 lists "Christmas Day, December 25" as a legal public holiday, so federal offices are closed.
Is the federal Christmas holiday ever observed on a different day?
Yes. If December 25 is a Saturday, most federal employees observe it on the Friday before; if it is a Sunday, on the Monday after. The next such year is 2027: Christmas Day is on a Saturday and the federal holiday is observed on Friday, December 24, 2027.
Is Christmas Eve a federal holiday?
No. December 24 is not a federal holiday under 5 U.S.C. § 6103. It becomes a day off for federal employees only when the holiday is observed on that Friday or when the President grants an extra day by executive order.
Are banks and the stock market open on Christmas Day?
No. The Federal Reserve Banks, the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are closed on Christmas Day, or on the nearest weekday when it falls on a weekend.