Quick answer
No, Christmas Eve is not a regularly scheduled US federal holiday. In 2026, Christmas Eve falls on Thursday, 24 December 2026. The federal holiday is Christmas Day on Friday, 25 December 2026.
A President can grant federal employees leave or order a special closure for Christmas Eve, but that would be a separate one-off decision rather than part of the standard federal holiday calendar.
What this means
Federal law designates Christmas Day, 25 December, as a legal public holiday. Christmas Eve, 24 December, is not included in the standard federal holiday list.
In 2026, Christmas Eve falls on Thursday, 24 December, followed by the Christmas Day federal holiday on Friday, 25 December.
The distinction matters because:
- Christmas Eve is not automatically a day off for federal employees.
- A President may grant federal employees leave or announce a special closure for the day.
- Private employers can choose to close, shorten the working day or operate normally.
- Schools and universities follow their own winter-break calendars.
- Banks, delivery companies, shops and other businesses set their own Christmas Eve opening hours.
A special federal decision for Christmas Eve would apply according to the terms of that announcement. It would not automatically make Christmas Eve a permanent federal holiday or require private employers and state governments to close.
Common scenarios
Your workplace closes on Christmas Eve. That is an employer policy rather than evidence that Christmas Eve is a federal holiday. Check whether the day is paid, requires annual leave or is treated as a shortened working day.
You are a federal employee. Christmas Eve is not automatically a federal holiday. Check OPM and your agency for any special leave or operating-status announcement closer to Christmas.
You need a government service. Check the relevant agency’s operating status before visiting. Christmas Eve may be a normal working day unless a special closure or leave decision is announced.
You are expecting a payment or delivery. Banks, couriers and other providers can operate different Christmas Eve schedules even though the date is not a federal holiday. Check the provider’s cut-off times if timing matters.
You are planning leave around Christmas. Do not assume Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are both federal holidays. Christmas Day is the statutory holiday; Christmas Eve depends on your employer, agency or any special federal announcement.
How to plan this in Offdays
Record 24 December 2026 separately from the Christmas Day federal holiday. Add your employer’s Christmas Eve policy when it is confirmed so your team can see whether the day requires annual leave, is treated as a half-day or is provided as additional time off.
For customer-facing teams, record reduced staffing and earlier approval deadlines where appropriate. A shared calendar can help avoid scheduling important handovers when colleagues are already on approved Christmas leave.
See the US holiday guides for related dates or visit the Offdays blog for leave-planning advice.
Final thoughts
Christmas Eve, Thursday, 24 December 2026, is not a regularly scheduled federal holiday. Christmas Day on Friday, 25 December 2026 is the statutory federal holiday. A special presidential or agency decision may still affect federal employees on Christmas Eve, so check official operating announcements if your plans depend on a federal office being open.