Iowa’s holiday schedule looks simple, and for the most part it is. It is built on the federal calendar, but it is not a copy of it. Iowa leaves a few federal holidays off its paid list and adds one that many states skip: the day after Thanksgiving.
The Iowa calendar has a federal core: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. These dates are set by state law and apply across all state agencies.
The differences are worth knowing. Presidents’ Day is a legal holiday in Iowa, but it is not a paid day off for state employees, so state offices stay open. Columbus Day is not a paid state holiday either. Instead, Iowa gives state employees the Friday after Thanksgiving off, along with two paid days of leave each year that they can use at their discretion.
Iowa does not close state offices on Election Day, and it does not add religious or commemorative days to its closure schedule.
Juneteenth is recognized in Iowa as a day of observance, not a paid holiday, so state offices remain open on June 19.
The tables below list the official holidays observed by Iowa state government offices in 2027 and 2026.
List of National and State Holidays in Iowa for 2027
| S.No. | Date | Day | Holiday | Holiday Type |
|---|
| 1 | Jan 01 | Friday | New Year’s Day | Federal |
| 2 | Jan 18 | Monday | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Federal |
| 3 | May 31 | Monday | Memorial Day | Federal |
| 4 | Jul 05 | Monday | Independence Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 5 | Sep 06 | Monday | Labor Day | Federal |
| 6 | Nov 11 | Thursday | Veterans Day | Federal |
| 7 | Nov 25 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day | Federal |
| 8 | Nov 26 | Friday | Day after Thanksgiving | State |
| 9 | Dec 24 | Friday | Christmas Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 10 | Dec 31 | Friday | New Year’s Day 2028 (Observed) | Federal |
Iowa law observes a holiday that falls on a Saturday on the Friday before, and one that falls on a Sunday on the following Monday. Presidents’ Day, Juneteenth, and Columbus Day are not paid state holidays in Iowa, so state offices stay open on those days. State employees also receive two additional paid days off each year to use at their discretion.
Official State Holidays in Iowa for 2026
| S.No. | Date | Day | Holiday | Holiday Type |
|---|
| 1 | Jan 01 | Thursday | New Year’s Day | Federal |
| 2 | Jan 19 | Monday | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Federal |
| 3 | May 25 | Monday | Memorial Day | Federal |
| 4 | Jul 03 | Friday | Independence Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 5 | Sep 07 | Monday | Labor Day | Federal |
| 6 | Nov 11 | Wednesday | Veterans Day | Federal |
| 7 | Nov 26 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day | Federal |
| 8 | Nov 27 | Friday | Day after Thanksgiving | State |
| 9 | Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | Federal |
How Holidays Work in Iowa
State offices close on every date listed above. The day after Thanksgiving is the one closure that goes beyond the federal calendar, and it gives state employees a four-day weekend each November.
Banks follow the federal banking calendar, so they close on Presidents’ Day, Juneteenth, and Columbus Day even though Iowa state offices stay open. Private employers are not required to follow the state list.
Iowa does not treat Good Friday, Columbus Day, or Election Day as days when state government closes.
FAQs
1. Is Election Day a public holiday in Iowa?
No. Iowa state offices stay open on Election Day, though employees may be entitled to time off to vote.
2. Is the day after Thanksgiving a holiday in Iowa?
Yes. The Friday after Thanksgiving is a paid holiday for state employees, so state offices close.
3. Is Juneteenth a state holiday in Iowa?
No. Iowa recognizes Juneteenth as a day of observance, not a paid holiday, so state offices stay open.
4. Are Iowa courts closed on state holidays?
Yes. Iowa courts follow the state holiday calendar.
5. Do local governments follow this list exactly?
Not always. This list applies to state government offices.
