Is Juneteenth a federal holiday? See 2026 holiday calendar

Juneteenth, the nation's youngest federal holiday, which is also known as America's Second Independence Day, is coming up this weekend.

Juneteenth commemorates the events of June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, when the last Black enslaved people of the Confederacy were ordered to be freed after the arrival of Union troops.

The day, which rose to national prominence in 2020 amid nationwide protests for ongoing racial inequities in the justice system between Black people – specifically Breonna Taylor and George Floyd – and police, was officially recognized a federal holiday by President Joe Biden in 2021, offering millions of Americans a paid day off.

Here's what to know about the holiday and why it is commemorated.

What is Juneteenth?

The holiday commemorates the Emancipation Proclamation in the US. President Abraham Lincoln issued the proclamation to free enslaved African Americans in secessionist states on Jan. 1, 1863, but enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, would not learn of their freedom until two years later.

On June 19, 1865, Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger informed the community of Galveston of Lincoln's proclamation. Although enslaved people had been officially emancipated years before, enslavers responsible for telling them ignored the order until Union troops arrived to enforce it, founder of Juneteenth.com Cliff Robinson earlier told USA TODAY. Texas was the last Confederate state to have the proclamation announced.

Though the story of Texas' emancipation is the most widely known, President of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation Steve Williams previously told USA TODAY, other significant events in the history of emancipation took place on and around that date. He said the first known Juneteenth celebrations began in 1866 and spread across the country as African Americans migrated to new cities.

When is Juneteenth 2026?

Juneteenth is always celebrated on June 19. This year, the date falls on a Friday.

Will government offices, banks be closed on Juneteenth?

According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Friday, June 19, is designated as a federal holiday, and non-essential government offices will be closed that day. It is also considered a bank holiday, according to the Federal Reserve.

Many public institutions at the local and state levels will follow suit, but it's best to check with your local government on closures in your area.

The United States Postal Service, schools and most banks, like Wells Fargo, Citibank, Bank of America, Truist, and others, will also be closed on June 19.

2026 federal holiday calendar

Here's the federal holiday calendar for the remainder of 2026, according to the OPM:

• Juneteenth National Independence Day: Thursday, June 19
• Independence Day: Friday, July 3
• Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 7
• Columbus Day: Monday, Oct. 12
• Veterans Day: Wednesday, Nov. 11
• Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov. 26
• Christmas: Friday, Dec. 25

Contributing: Gabe Hauari / USA TODAY

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.