4 days off for 1 PTO day
District of Columbia PTO planner 2026
The District of Columbia has 12 holidays in 2026, every one of them on a weekday. Your best deal is January 1 to 4: 1 PTO day turns into 4 days off in a row. The longest stretch with up to 10 PTO days: 9 days, January 17 to 25, for 4 PTO days.
- Holidays 2026
- 12
- on weekdays
- 12
- bridge days
- 3
- off for 4 PTO days
- 9 days
The 2026 calendar in the District of Columbia
These are the paid holidays the District of Columbia gives its state employees in 2026, taken from the state's official schedule. Private employers set their own lists; most of them follow the federal core of New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas, so this page plans both ways.
The District of Columbia counts 12 holidays this year, which puts it at number 16 of the 40 states in our verified data (the average is 11.8). None of them falls on a weekend, so every one is a real day away from work.
Holidays 2026 in the District of Columbia and what each one gives you
Here is each day off in date order, what it marks, and the quickest way to turn it into a longer stretch.
United StatesiPhoto: Gordon Leggett · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
TexasiPhoto: Leaflet · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons- Thursday, January 1: New Year's Day. New Year's Day opens the year with parades, college football bowl games and a quiet day at home. When it falls near a weekend, it extends the holiday season into a longer break. Take Friday, January 2 off and you have 4 days in a row, January 1 to 4.
- Monday, January 19: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday. Honors the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the third Monday of January. Many people volunteer in a day of service, and the Monday creates the first long weekend of the year, popular for ski trips. You get 3 free days in a row, January 17 to 19, with no leave needed.
- Monday, February 16: Washington's Birthday. Officially Washington's Birthday at the federal level and widely called Presidents' Day. Some states place the day elsewhere, even next to Christmas; wherever it sits, it is a classic hook for a long weekend and big retail sales. You get 3 free days in a row, February 14 to 16, with no leave needed.
- Thursday, April 16: D.C. Emancipation Day. Emancipation Day marks the end of slavery, in Washington, D.C. the Compensated Emancipation Act signed in April. Government offices close, and the city holds a parade, concerts and fireworks. Take Friday, April 17 off and you have 4 days in a row, April 16 to 19.
- Monday, May 25: Memorial Day. Memorial Day honors the men and women who died serving in the armed forces. It falls on the last Monday of May and unofficially opens summer: beaches, lake houses and road trips fill up. You get 3 free days in a row, May 23 to 25, with no leave needed.
- Friday, June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day. Juneteenth marks June 19, the day news of emancipation reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas. A federal holiday since 2021, it brings festivals, cookouts and family reunions and an early summer day off. You get 3 free days in a row, June 19 to 21, with no leave needed.
- Friday, July 3: Independence Day. The Fourth of July celebrates the Declaration of Independence: parades, barbecues and fireworks. When it lands near a weekend, it creates one of the busiest summer travel stretches of the year. The date itself, Saturday, July 4, falls on a weekend, so the day off is Friday, July 3. You get 3 free days in a row, July 3 to 5, with no leave needed.
- Monday, September 7: Labor Day. Labor Day honors American workers on the first Monday of September and marks the unofficial end of summer. It is the last big long weekend for beaches, lakes and road trips before school is back in full swing. You get 3 free days in a row, September 5 to 7, with no leave needed.
- Monday, October 12: Indigenous Peoples' Day. Celebrates the history and cultures of Native American peoples on the second Monday of October. Expect powwows and cultural events, and an autumn long weekend that suits a trip to see the fall colors. You get 3 free days in a row, October 10 to 12, with no leave needed.
- Wednesday, November 11: Veterans Day. Veterans Day honors everyone who served in the U.S. armed forces, on November 11, the anniversary of the First World War armistice. Federal offices and many schools close; many businesses stay open. Take Monday, November 9 and Tuesday, November 10 off and you have 5 days in a row, November 7 to 11.
- Thursday, November 26: Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November: turkey, family and football. It is the busiest travel weekend of the year in the United States, so book flights and drives early. Take Friday, November 27 off and you have 4 days in a row, November 26 to 29.
- Friday, December 25: Christmas Day. Christmas Day is a federal holiday: most shops close and families gather. The weeks around it are a peak time for flights and drives, so book early if you plan to travel. You get 3 free days in a row, December 25 to 27, with no leave needed.
United StatesiPhoto: Gordon Leggett · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTexasiPhoto: Leaflet · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Where your PTO days go furthest in 2026
Each stretch below starts and ends on a free day, contains at least one holiday, and needs no more than 10 PTO days. They are ranked by how many days off each day of leave brings.
January 1 to 4: 1 PTO day (January 2) around New Year's Day gives 4 days off, 4.0 days for every day used.
Around Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday, 4 PTO days on Tue January 20, Wed January 21, Thu January 22 and Fri January 23 unlock 9 days away, January 17 to 25.
Around Washington's Birthday, 4 PTO days on Tue February 17, Wed February 18, Thu February 19 and Fri February 20 unlock 9 days away, February 14 to 22.
April 16 to 19: 1 PTO day (April 17) around D.C. Emancipation Day gives 4 days off, 4.0 days for every day used.
Around Veterans Day, 2 PTO days on Mon November 9 and Tue November 10 unlock 5 days away, November 7 to 11.
November 26 to 29: 1 PTO day (November 27) around Thanksgiving Day gives 4 days off, 4.0 days for every day used.
How far each PTO day goes in 2026
With 1 PTO day the longest run you can build is 4 days, January 1 to 4. Three days stretch to 6 days off (April 11 to 16). Five days, a typical week, become 10 days off around Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday, January 10 to 19.
Ten days, the most this planner books in one go, give 17 days in a row, June 19 to July 5. For nine days or more away you need 4 PTO days.
Many US employers offer around 10 to 15 PTO days a year. Spend four of them well and you can have two four-day weekends and one long week, without touching the rest.
The best stretches 2026 in the District of Columbia
Every row is a run of weekends, holidays and PTO days. The highlighted row brings the most days off per day of leave.
| Dates | Result | Take off | Holidays | School holidays | Plan a trip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Jan 1 to Sun, Jan 4 | 4 days offfor 1 PTO day, 4 days off per day of leave | Fri, Jan 2 | New Year's Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Jan 17 to Sun, Jan 25 | 9 days offfor 4 PTO days, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue, Jan 20 · Wed, Jan 21 · Thu, Jan 22 · Fri, Jan 23 | Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Feb 14 to Sun, Feb 22 | 9 days offfor 4 PTO days, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue, Feb 17 · Wed, Feb 18 · Thu, Feb 19 · Fri, Feb 20 | Washington's Birthday | none | Plan a trip |
| Thu, Apr 16 to Sun, Apr 19 | 4 days offfor 1 PTO day, 4 days off per day of leave | Fri, Apr 17 | D.C. Emancipation Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, May 23 to Sun, May 31 | 9 days offfor 4 PTO days, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue, May 26 · Wed, May 27 · Thu, May 28 · Fri, May 29 | Memorial Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Jun 13 to Sun, Jun 21 | 9 days offfor 4 PTO days, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Mon, Jun 15 · Tue, Jun 16 · Wed, Jun 17 · Thu, Jun 18 | Juneteenth National Independence Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Jun 27 to Sun, Jul 5 | 9 days offfor 4 PTO days, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Mon, Jun 29 · Tue, Jun 30 · Wed, Jul 1 · Thu, Jul 2 | Independence Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Sep 5 to Sun, Sep 13 | 9 days offfor 4 PTO days, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue, Sep 8 · Wed, Sep 9 · Thu, Sep 10 · Fri, Sep 11 | Labor Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Oct 10 to Sun, Oct 18 | 9 days offfor 4 PTO days, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Tue, Oct 13 · Wed, Oct 14 · Thu, Oct 15 · Fri, Oct 16 | Indigenous Peoples' Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Nov 7 to Wed, Nov 11 | 5 days offfor 2 PTO days, 2.5 days off per day of leave | Mon, Nov 9 · Tue, Nov 10 | Veterans Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Thu, Nov 26 to Sun, Nov 29 | 4 days offfor 1 PTO day, 4 days off per day of leave | Fri, Nov 27 | Thanksgiving Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Dec 19 to Sun, Dec 27 | 9 days offfor 4 PTO days, 2.25 days off per day of leave | Mon, Dec 21 · Tue, Dec 22 · Wed, Dec 23 · Thu, Dec 24 | Christmas Day | none | Plan a trip |
What 1 to 10 PTO days bring
For each budget, the longest run of days off in 2026.
1 PTO day
4 days
January 1 to January 4
New Year's Day
2 PTO days
5 days
November 7 to November 11
Veterans Day
3 PTO days
6 days
April 11 to April 16
D.C. Emancipation Day
4 PTO days
9 days
January 17 to January 25
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday
5 PTO days
10 days
January 10 to January 19
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday
8 PTO days
13 days
April 4 to April 16
D.C. Emancipation Day
9 PTO days
17 days
June 19 to July 5
Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day
2026 calendar for the District of Columbia
- Holiday
- PTO day in a stretch
- Weekend
- School holidays
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
If your employer gives the six core holidays
Working for a private company? Most give the six core holidays: New Year's Day (January 1), Memorial Day (May 25), Independence Day (July 3), Labor Day (September 7), Thanksgiving Day (November 26) and Christmas Day (December 25). the District of Columbia's other state holidays then are regular workdays for you.
With those six, your best stretch is January 1 to 4: 1 PTO day for 4 days off. The table above uses the full state list; the difference shows how much an employer's holiday policy is worth.
Season by season in the District of Columbia
Winter: New Year's Day on January 1, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday on January 19, Washington's Birthday on February 16 and Christmas Day on December 25. The pick of the season is January 1 to 4 with 1 PTO day for 4 days off.
Spring: D.C. Emancipation Day on April 16 and Memorial Day on May 25. The pick of the season is April 16 to 19 with 1 PTO day for 4 days off.
Summer: Juneteenth National Independence Day on June 19 and Independence Day on July 3. The pick of the season is June 13 to 21 with 4 PTO days for 9 days off.
Fall: Labor Day on September 7, Indigenous Peoples' Day on October 12, Veterans Day on November 11 and Thanksgiving Day on November 26. The pick of the season is November 26 to 29 with 1 PTO day for 4 days off.
How the District of Columbia stacks up
Texas has the most with 17 holidays in 2026, Wyoming the fewest with 9. The District of Columbia sits in between with 12.
Its best stretch, January 1 to 4, returns 4.0 days off per day of leave. 3 states get a better ratio this year, mostly thanks to an extra holiday next to a weekend.
Long weekend ideas from the District of Columbia
From Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park and Skyline Drive call in fall, Annapolis and the Chesapeake Bay in summer, and the beaches of Delaware and Maryland on warm weekends. Charlottesville and Virginia wine country suit spring.
VirginiaiPhoto: Pi.1415926535 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
MarylandiPhoto: Flickr user: Laura Swiecicki https://www.flickr.com/people/lswiecicki/ · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsYour strongest stretches this year fall in January, February and April, so pick the trip that suits that season, and book early: everyone else in the District of Columbia has the same days off.
VirginiaiPhoto: Pi.1415926535 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMarylandiPhoto: Flickr user: Laura Swiecicki https://www.flickr.com/people/lswiecicki/ · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
PTO Planner 2026 for District of Columbia as a PDF
Every stretch, holiday and school break in DC on one printable page. Plus The Sunday Getaway every week and a note whenever a long weekend is worth it.
Where to on the long weekends?
For the six strongest stretches: places with the right climate that month, flights from ATL.
January 1 to January 4: 1 PTO day, 4 days off
Short flight in January, flights from ATL
iPhoto: Fraganda · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsHavana81 °F by day · Sea 79 °F · Flight about 2 h, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Havana
iPhoto: Everglades NPS from Homestead, Florida, United States · Public domain · Wikimedia CommonsEverglades National Park73 °F by day · Flight about 1 h 43, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Everglades National Park
iPhoto: Der-wuppertaler · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsNassau75 °F by day · Sea 75 °F · Flight about 1 h 58, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Nassau
April 16 to April 19: 1 PTO day, 4 days off
Short flight in April, flights from ATL
- Plan a trip for these daysSee Austin
- iPhoto: Fraganda · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsHavana90 °F by day · Sea 80 °F · Flight about 2 h, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Havana
iPhoto: Salvatore Freni Jr · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsCayman Islands81 °F by day · Sea 81 °F · Flight about 2 h 28Plan a trip for these daysSee Cayman Islands
November 26 to November 29: 1 PTO day, 4 days off
Short flight in November, flights from ATL
- Plan a trip for these daysSee Austin
- iPhoto: Fraganda · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsHavana84 °F by day · Sea 82 °F · Flight about 2 h, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Havana
- iPhoto: Der-wuppertaler · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsNassau79 °F by day · Sea 79 °F · Flight about 1 h 58, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Nassau
November 7 to November 11: 2 PTO days, 5 days off
Short flight in November, flights from ATL
- Plan a trip for these daysSee Austin
- iPhoto: Fraganda · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsHavana84 °F by day · Sea 82 °F · Flight about 2 h, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Havana
- iPhoto: Der-wuppertaler · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsNassau79 °F by day · Sea 79 °F · Flight about 1 h 58, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Nassau
January 17 to January 25: 4 PTO days, 9 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in January, flights from ATL
iPhoto: Fred Hsu ( Wikipedia:User:Fred Hsu on en.wikipedia ) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsUnited States Virgin Islands80 °F by day · Sea 80 °F · Flight about 3 h 33, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee United States Virgin Islands
iPhoto: Jason Boldero · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTurks and Caicos Islands78 °F by day · Sea 78 °F · Flight about 2 h 39, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Turks and Caicos Islands
iPhoto: A.Miskovsky · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsPunta Cana80 °F by day · Sea 80 °F · Flight about 3 h 15, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Punta Cana
February 14 to February 22: 4 PTO days, 9 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in February, flights from ATL
- iPhoto: Fred Hsu ( Wikipedia:User:Fred Hsu on en.wikipedia ) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsUnited States Virgin Islands79 °F by day · Sea 79 °F · Flight about 3 h 33, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee United States Virgin Islands
- iPhoto: Jason Boldero · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTurks and Caicos Islands78 °F by day · Sea 78 °F · Flight about 2 h 39, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Turks and Caicos Islands
- iPhoto: A.Miskovsky · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsPunta Cana79 °F by day · Sea 79 °F · Flight about 3 h 15, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Punta Cana
Holidays 2026 in the District of Columbia
| Date | Weekday | Holiday | Applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Thursday | New Year's Day | nationwide |
| January 19 | Monday | Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday | nationwide |
| February 16 | Monday | Washington's Birthday | nationwide |
| April 16 | Thursday | D.C. Emancipation Day | statewide |
| May 25 | Monday | Memorial Day | nationwide |
| June 19 | Friday | Juneteenth National Independence Day | nationwide |
| July 3 | Friday | Independence Day | nationwide |
| September 7 | Monday | Labor Day | nationwide |
| October 12 | Monday | Indigenous Peoples' Day | nationwide |
| November 11 | Wednesday | Veterans Day | nationwide |
| November 26 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day | nationwide |
| December 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | nationwide |
The District of Columbia in other years
2027 and 2028 follow as soon as the official list is out; we add it on the day it is published.
Holiday dates move every year: fixed-date days change their weekday, and Easter moves between late March and late April, which is why the best stretches are never the same twice.
Where these dates come from
Every date on this page comes from the official source for the District of Columbia: DC Department of Human Resources: Holiday Schedules and OPM federal holidays, read directly and compared day by day with an independent second source. A year appears once its official list is published, and we never fill a gap with another state's dates.
The planner treats weekends and full holidays as free days and works out where your PTO days turn into the longest time off. Days kept in part of the District of Columbia or as observances are shown but never counted. Last checked on October 1, 2026.
PTO Planner 2026 in DC: frequently asked questions
How many holidays does the District of Columbia have in 2026?
12 holidays: New Year's Day on January 1, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday on January 19, Washington's Birthday on February 16, D.C. Emancipation Day on April 16, Memorial Day on May 25, Juneteenth National Independence Day on June 19, Independence Day on July 3, Labor Day on September 7, Indigenous Peoples' Day on October 12, Veterans Day on November 11, Thanksgiving Day on November 26 and Christmas Day on December 25.
What is the best long weekend in the District of Columbia in 2026?
January 1 to 4: 1 PTO day gives 4 days off around New Year's Day.
How many PTO days do I need for nine days off in 2026?
4 PTO days: take January 20 to 23 off and you are off January 17 to 25.
Is the day after Thanksgiving a holiday in the District of Columbia in 2026?
No. the day after Thanksgiving is not on the District of Columbia's official list for 2026, so it is a regular workday unless your employer gives it.
Is Juneteenth a holiday in the District of Columbia in 2026?
Yes. Juneteenth National Independence Day is a full day off on Friday, June 19.
Do private employers in the District of Columbia have to give state holidays?
No. State holidays apply to state offices and many public employers. Private employers decide their own paid holidays, and most give the six core days listed above.
2026 in the other states
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
How the PTO Planner works
Holidays: the public holidays from the official list in DC, checked date by date. The planner counts only days off for the whole region.
Stretches: start and end on a day off, include at least one holiday and at most 10 PTO days. Ranked by days off per day of leave; Saturday and Sunday count as free.
School breaks: officially published dates only, checked every month. Trip ideas: the month's climate and flights from the region's main airport.
