4 days off for 1 PTO day
Kansas PTO planner 2026
Kansas has 11 holidays in 2026, every one of them on a weekday. Book 1 PTO day for January 1 to 4 and you are off for 4 days straight. The longest stretch with up to 10 PTO days: 9 days, November 21 to 29, for 3 PTO days.
- Holidays 2026
- 11
- on weekdays
- 11
- bridge days
- 1
- off for 3 PTO days
- 9 days
The 2026 calendar in Kansas
These are the paid holidays Kansas 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.
Kansas counts 11 holidays this year, which puts it at number 24 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.
Every holiday in Kansas in 2026
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: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. 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. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, January 17 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. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, May 23 to 25.
- Friday, June 19: Juneteenth Nat'l. 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. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, June 19 to 21.
- 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. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, July 3 to 5.
- 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. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, September 5 to 7.
- 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. You get 4 free days in a row, November 26 to 29, with no leave needed.
- Friday, November 27: Day after Thanksgiving. The Friday after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday. A day off for many state workers, it turns Thanksgiving into a four day weekend for family visits, holiday shopping and travel. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, November 26 to 29.
- Thursday, December 24: Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is a day off for state workers here, giving a longer Christmas break. Expect the busiest travel days of December around it, with family dinners and church services in the evening. You get 4 free days in a row, December 24 to 27, with no leave needed.
- 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. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, December 24 to 27.
United StatesiPhoto: Gordon Leggett · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTexasiPhoto: Leaflet · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
The best stretches in 2026, explained
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.
Around New Year's Day, 1 PTO day on Fri January 2 unlocks 4 days away, January 1 to 4.
January 17 to 25: 4 PTO days (January 20 to 23) around Martin Luther King, Jr. Day give 9 days off, 2.3 days for every day used.
May 23 to 31: 4 PTO days (May 26 to 29) around Memorial Day give 9 days off, 2.3 days for every day used.
November 7 to 11: 2 PTO days (November 9 and November 10) around Veterans Day give 5 days off, 2.5 days for every day used.
November 21 to 29: 3 PTO days (November 23 to 25) around Thanksgiving Day and Day after Thanksgiving give 9 days off, 3.0 days for every day used.
December 19 to 27: 3 PTO days (December 21 to 23) around Christmas Eve and Christmas Day give 9 days off, 3.0 days for every day used.
What 1 to 10 PTO days get you
With 1 PTO day the longest run you can build is 4 days, January 1 to 4. Three days stretch to 9 days off (November 21 to 29). Five days, a typical week, become 11 days off around Thanksgiving Day and Day after Thanksgiving, November 26 to December 6.
Ten days, the most this planner books in one go, give 19 days in a row, November 11 to 29. For nine days or more away you need 3 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 Kansas
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 | Martin Luther King, Jr. 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 Nat'l. 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, 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 |
| Sat, Nov 21 to Sun, Nov 29 | 9 days offfor 3 PTO days, 3 days off per day of leave | Mon, Nov 23 · Tue, Nov 24 · Wed, Nov 25 | Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving | none | Plan a trip |
| Sat, Dec 19 to Sun, Dec 27 | 9 days offfor 3 PTO days, 3 days off per day of leave | Mon, Dec 21 · Tue, Dec 22 · Wed, Dec 23 | Christmas Eve, 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
9 days
November 21 to November 29
Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving
5 PTO days
11 days
November 26 to December 6
Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving
8 PTO days
16 days
November 14 to November 29
Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving
10 PTO days
19 days
November 11 to November 29
Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day after Thanksgiving
2026 calendar for Kansas
- 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). Kansas'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 Kansas
Winter: New Year's Day on January 1, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on January 19, Christmas Eve on December 24 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: Memorial Day on May 25. The pick of the season is May 23 to 31 with 4 PTO days for 9 days off.
Summer: Juneteenth Nat'l. 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, Veterans Day on November 11, Thanksgiving Day on November 26 and Day after Thanksgiving on November 27. The pick of the season is November 21 to 29 with 3 PTO days for 9 days off.
Kansas compared with other states
Texas has the most with 17 holidays in 2026, Wyoming the fewest with 9. Kansas sits in between with 11.
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 Kansas
From Kansas, the Flint Hills and the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve are beautiful in spring, Kansas City offers barbecue and jazz year round, and Colorado's mountains are a classic road trip for summer and ski weekends in winter.
Your strongest stretches this year fall in January, May and November, so pick the trip that suits that season, and book early: everyone else in Kansas has the same days off.
PTO Planner 2026 for Kansas as a PDF
Every stretch, holiday and school break in KS 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
November 21 to November 29: 3 PTO days, 9 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in November, flights from ATL
iPhoto: Jason Boldero · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTurks and Caicos Islands82 °F by day · Sea 82 °F · Flight about 2 h 39, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Turks and Caicos Islands
iPhoto: Fred Hsu ( Wikipedia:User:Fred Hsu on en.wikipedia ) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsUnited States Virgin Islands83 °F by day · Sea 83 °F · Flight about 3 h 33, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee United States Virgin Islands
iPhoto: A.Miskovsky · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsPunta Cana83 °F by day · Sea 83 °F · Flight about 3 h 15, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Punta Cana
December 19 to December 27: 3 PTO days, 9 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in December, flights from ATL
- iPhoto: Jason Boldero · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTurks and Caicos Islands80 °F by day · Sea 80 °F · Flight about 2 h 39, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Turks and Caicos Islands
- iPhoto: Fred Hsu ( Wikipedia:User:Fred Hsu on en.wikipedia ) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsUnited States Virgin Islands81 °F by day · Sea 81 °F · Flight about 3 h 33, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee United States Virgin Islands
- iPhoto: A.Miskovsky · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsPunta Cana81 °F by day · Sea 81 °F · Flight about 3 h 15, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Punta Cana
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
May 23 to May 31: 4 PTO days, 9 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in May, flights from ATL
iPhoto: Ken Lund from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLas Vegas89 °F by day · Flight about 3 h 49, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Las Vegas- iPhoto: Jason Boldero · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTurks and Caicos Islands81 °F by day · Sea 80 °F · Flight about 2 h 39, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Turks and Caicos Islands
iPhoto: Martin Falbisoner · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsWillemstad82 °F by day · Sea 81 °F · Flight about 3 h 55, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Willemstad
Holidays 2026 in Kansas
| Date | Weekday | Holiday | Applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Thursday | New Year's Day | nationwide |
| January 19 | Monday | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | nationwide |
| May 25 | Monday | Memorial Day | nationwide |
| June 19 | Friday | Juneteenth Nat'l. Independence Day | nationwide |
| July 3 | Friday | Independence Day | nationwide |
| September 7 | Monday | Labor Day | nationwide |
| November 11 | Wednesday | Veterans Day | nationwide |
| November 26 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day | nationwide |
| November 27 | Friday | Day after Thanksgiving | statewide |
| December 24 | Thursday | Christmas Eve | statewide |
| December 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | nationwide |
Kansas 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 Kansas: Kansas Dept. of Administration: Holidays for 2026 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 Kansas or as observances are shown but never counted. Last checked on October 1, 2026.
PTO Planner 2026 in KS: frequently asked questions
How many holidays does Kansas have in 2026?
11 holidays: New Year's Day on January 1, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on January 19, Memorial Day on May 25, Juneteenth Nat'l. Independence Day on June 19, Independence Day on July 3, Labor Day on September 7, Veterans Day on November 11, Thanksgiving Day on November 26, Day after Thanksgiving on November 27, Christmas Eve on December 24 and Christmas Day on December 25.
What is the best long weekend in Kansas 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?
3 PTO days: take November 23 to 25 off and you are off November 21 to 29.
Is the day after Thanksgiving a holiday in Kansas in 2026?
Yes. Day after Thanksgiving is a full day off on Friday, November 27.
Is Juneteenth a holiday in Kansas in 2026?
Yes. Juneteenth Nat'l. Independence Day is a full day off on Friday, June 19.
Do private employers in Kansas 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 KS, 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.
