Quick answer
Veterans Day 2026 is Wednesday, 11 November 2026. It is a U.S. federal holiday observed annually on November 11. Federal offices generally observe the holiday, while private employers, schools and local services may follow their own schedules.
What this means
Veterans Day is a U.S. federal holiday. In 2026, it falls on Wednesday, 11 November.
Federal offices generally observe the holiday, but federal-holiday status does not require every private employer, school or local service to close or provide paid leave.
Before making plans, check:
- whether Veterans Day is a paid holiday under your employer’s policy;
- school and childcare opening arrangements;
- state and local government office schedules;
- bank, delivery and transport schedules; and
- whether your team needs cover during the holiday week.
Veterans Day is observed on 11 November each year, so the weekday changes. In 2026, it falls in the middle of the working week.
Common scenarios
You have the day off. If your employer observes Veterans Day, check whether the workplace is fully closed or whether some employees are scheduled for essential duties.
You are working that day. Private employers may remain open on Veterans Day. Check your workplace policy for working hours, pay arrangements and any alternative time-off provisions.
You want a longer break. If Wednesday, 11 November is already a non-working holiday for you, taking Thursday, 12 November and Friday, 13 November as leave can create five consecutive days away from work when combined with the weekend.
You need a federal service. Federal offices generally observe Veterans Day. Check the relevant agency before planning an in-person visit or relying on a service that day.
You are planning across locations. Colleagues outside the United States may not observe Veterans Day, and private U.S. employers can follow different holiday policies. Plan according to employee location and workplace policy.
For additional planning resources, visit the Offdays blog.
How to plan this in Offdays
Add Wednesday, 11 November 2026 as a holiday for the U.S. teams or employee groups that observe it. Use location-specific calendars where employees follow different holiday schedules.
Record whether the day is a company closure, an optional holiday or a normal working day. This helps employees plan annual leave correctly and lets managers distinguish company holidays from personal time off.
Review staffing across the whole week. If several people request Thursday or Friday off, arrange coverage and handovers before approving leave, particularly for support, operations and shift-based teams.
Final thoughts
Veterans Day 2026 falls on Wednesday, 11 November 2026 and is a U.S. federal holiday. Federal offices generally observe it, while private employers, schools and local services may follow their own schedules.