Christmas Day 2026 falls on Friday, December 25, 2026. The counter below shows how many days until Christmas in your own time zone. Because December 25 is a weekday in 2026, the federal holiday is observed on the day itself, with no substitute weekday needed.
Christmas Day 2026
That was December 25, 2026.
| Date | Friday, December 25, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Christmas Eve | Thursday, December 24, 2026 |
| Federal holiday? | Yes, one of the eleven United States federal holidays |
| Observed on | Friday, December 25 (the actual date, as it falls on a weekday) |
| Banks | Closed (Federal Reserve holiday) |
| No USPS delivery | |
| Stock market | NYSE and Nasdaq closed; early close 1:00 p.m. ET on December 24 |
| Next occurrence | Saturday, December 25, 2027 |
When is Christmas Day 2026 observed?
Christmas Day is a fixed-date federal holiday, always December 25. When December 25 falls on a Saturday, the federal holiday is observed on the preceding Friday; when it falls on a Sunday, it moves to the following Monday. Neither applies in 2026, because December 25 is a Friday. Federal employees get Friday, December 25 itself.
This matters for 2027, when December 25 lands on a Saturday and the observed federal holiday shifts to Friday, December 24. If you are planning ahead more than a year, check the observed date rather than the calendar date.
What is closed on Christmas Day 2026?
Federal and state offices are closed, as are courts and public schools. The Federal Reserve is closed, so banks do not process transactions and most branches do not open. The Postal Service suspends regular delivery, though Priority Mail Express continues in selected locations.
The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are closed all day. On Christmas Eve, Thursday December 24, both exchanges hold a shortened session ending at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. Most large retail chains close entirely on December 25, with pharmacies and convenience stores the usual exceptions.
What are the key dates in the countdown to Christmas 2026?
The December 2026 calendar is unusually convenient. Christmas Eve is Thursday December 24 and Christmas Day is Friday December 25, producing a natural three-day weekend without anyone needing to take leave. New Year’s Day 2027 then falls on Friday, January 1, giving a second three-day weekend the following week.
Boxing Day, observed in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and much of the Commonwealth, falls on Saturday, December 26, 2026. It is not a public holiday in the United States.
Is Christmas 2027 a federal holiday, and when is it observed?
Christmas Day is always December 25, but the federal holiday attached to it is not always observed on that date. Federal rules move the observed holiday to the preceding Friday when December 25 is a Saturday, and to the following Monday when it is a Sunday. Employees still get one day; it simply lands elsewhere on the calendar.
2026 is the straightforward case, with December 25 on a Friday. The complication arrives in 2027, when December 25 is a Saturday and the observed federal holiday moves back to Friday, December 24. In 2028 December 25 falls on a Monday, so no adjustment is needed again.
How many weeks until Christmas 2026?
The most common way to phrase the question is in days, but the same countdown is often wanted in weeks or in working days. The number of full weeks is the day count divided by seven; the number of working days excludes Saturdays and Sundays along with any federal holidays that fall in between.
For the stretch running up to Christmas 2026, the federal holidays in the way are Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11 and Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26. Both are days when banks and federal offices are closed and no mail moves, so they drop out of any working-day count.
Related dates
Frequently asked questions
How many days until Christmas?
Christmas Day 2026 is Friday, December 25, 2026. The live counter at the top of this page shows the exact number of days left, calculated in your own time zone.
How long until Christmas 2026?
The countdown on this page runs to midnight at the start of December 25, 2026, and updates automatically wherever you are.
Is Christmas Day a federal holiday?
Yes. Christmas Day is one of the eleven United States federal holidays. Federal offices, banks and the Postal Service are closed, and the stock exchanges do not trade.
What day of the week is Christmas 2026?
December 25, 2026 falls on a Friday, which creates a three-day weekend without any leave needing to be taken.
When is Christmas 2027?
Christmas Day 2027 falls on Saturday, December 25. Because it lands on a weekend, the observed federal holiday moves to Friday, December 24, 2027.