4 days off for 1 PTO day
Washington PTO planner 2026
Washington has 11 holidays in 2026, every one of them on a weekday. The smartest move: take 1 PTO day and get 4 days off, January 1 to 4. The longest stretch with up to 10 PTO days: 10 days, December 25, 2026 to January 3, 2027, for 4 PTO days.
- Holidays 2026
- 11
- on weekdays
- 11
- bridge days
- 1
- off for 4 PTO days
- 10 days
Washington in 2026 at a glance
These are the paid holidays Washington 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.
Washington counts 11 holidays this year, which puts it at number 32 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.
All holidays 2026 in Washington, one by one
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, February 16: Presidents' Day. 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. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, February 14 to 16.
- 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. 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: Native American Heritage Day. Honors Native American heritage on the Friday after Thanksgiving. State offices close, turning Thanksgiving into a four day weekend for family visits or a short trip. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, 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. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, December 25 to 27.
United StatesiPhoto: Gordon Leggett · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTexasiPhoto: Leaflet · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
2026's top stretches for Washington
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.
February 14 to 22: 4 PTO days (February 17 to 20) around Presidents' 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 Native American Heritage Day give 9 days off, 3.0 days for every day used.
Around Christmas Day and New Year's Day, 4 PTO days on Mon December 28, Tue December 29, Wed December 30 and Thu December 31 unlock 10 days away, December 25, 2026 to January 3, 2027.
The math: PTO days in, days off out
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 Native American Heritage Day, 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 Washington
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, 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 | Presidents' 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 | 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, Native American Heritage Day | none | Plan a trip |
| Fri, Dec 25 to Sun, Jan 3 | 10 days offfor 4 PTO days, 2.5 days off per day of leave | Mon, Dec 28 · Tue, Dec 29 · Wed, Dec 30 · Thu, Dec 31 | Christmas Day, New Year's 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, Native American Heritage Day
4 PTO days
10 days
December 25 to January 3
Christmas Day, New Year's Day
5 PTO days
11 days
November 26 to December 6
Thanksgiving Day, Native American Heritage Day
8 PTO days
16 days
November 14 to November 29
Thanksgiving Day, Native American Heritage Day
10 PTO days
19 days
November 11 to November 29
Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Native American Heritage Day
2026 calendar for Washington
- 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). Washington'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.
2026 through the seasons
Winter: New Year's Day on January 1, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on January 19, Presidents' Day 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: 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 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 Native American Heritage Day on November 27. The pick of the season is November 21 to 29 with 3 PTO days for 9 days off.
Washington next to the other states
Texas has the most with 17 holidays in 2026, Wyoming the fewest with 9. Washington 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 Washington
Washingtonians head to the San Juan Islands in summer, Mount Rainier and the North Cascades for wildflowers and hiking, and the Olympic Peninsula with its rainforest and beaches. Leavenworth suits a winter weekend.
Your strongest stretches this year fall in January, February and November, so pick the trip that suits that season, and book early: everyone else in Washington has the same days off.
PTO Planner 2026 for Washington as a PDF
Every stretch, holiday and school break in WA 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 SEA.
January 1 to January 4: 1 PTO day, 4 days off
Short flight in January, flights from SEA
iPhoto: Ken Lund from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLas Vegas58 °F by day · Flight about 2 h 13, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Las Vegas- Plan a trip for these daysSee Calgary
November 21 to November 29: 3 PTO days, 9 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in November, flights from SEA
iPhoto: Bigmikebmw · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsPhoenix77 °F by day · Flight about 2 h 39, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Phoenix
November 7 to November 11: 2 PTO days, 5 days off
Short flight in November, flights from SEA
- iPhoto: Ken Lund from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsLas Vegas69 °F by day · Flight about 2 h 13, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Las Vegas
- Plan a trip for these daysSee Calgary
February 14 to February 22: 4 PTO days, 9 days off
Warm, up to 4 hours away in February, flights from SEA
- iPhoto: Bigmikebmw · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsPhoenix70 °F by day · Flight about 2 h 39, nonstopPlan a trip for these daysSee Phoenix
Holidays 2026 in Washington
| Date | Weekday | Holiday | Applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Thursday | New Year's Day | nationwide |
| January 19 | Monday | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | nationwide |
| February 16 | Monday | Presidents' Day | nationwide |
| May 25 | Monday | Memorial Day | nationwide |
| June 19 | Friday | Juneteenth | 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 | Native American Heritage Day | statewide |
| December 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | nationwide |
Washington in other years
2027 and 2028 are planned as well, each with its own dates and stretches.
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 Washington: RCW 1.16.050 Legal holidays 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 Washington or as observances are shown but never counted. Last checked on October 1, 2026.
PTO Planner 2026 in WA: frequently asked questions
How many holidays does Washington have in 2026?
11 holidays: New Year's Day on January 1, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on January 19, Presidents' Day on February 16, Memorial Day on May 25, Juneteenth on June 19, Independence Day on July 3, Labor Day on September 7, Veterans Day on November 11, Thanksgiving Day on November 26, Native American Heritage Day on November 27 and Christmas Day on December 25.
What is the best long weekend in Washington 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 Washington in 2026?
No. the day after Thanksgiving is not on Washington's official list for 2026, so it is a regular workday unless your employer gives it.
Is Juneteenth a holiday in Washington in 2026?
Yes. Juneteenth is a full day off on Friday, June 19.
Do private employers in Washington 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 WA, 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.
