Kansas was shaped early by political conviction as much as by geography. It entered the Union in 1861, on the eve of the Civil War, and the state’s identity was forged around questions of governance, representation, civic authority and order. History still influences how Kansas approaches public administration today, with an added emphasis on statewide uniformity.
As a Plains state with deep agricultural roots, Kansas has long prioritized coordination across counties rather than regional distinction. Its public calendar reflects that outlook. Instead of layering symbolic or cultural observances onto the year, the state has largely anchored its official schedule to nationally recognized moments, with the day after Thanksgiving as its one regular addition.
In practical terms, this means the holiday structure feels deliberate rather than sparse. State offices, courts, and schools move in step, counties tend to follow suit, and private employers make their own adjustments around the same fixed points. The result isn’t minimalism for its own sake but a calendar designed to support predictability across a state where uniformity has always mattered.
List of National and State Holidays in Kansas 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 | Jun 18 | Friday | Juneteenth National Independence Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 5 | Jul 05 | Monday | Independence Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 6 | Sep 06 | Monday | Labor Day | Federal |
| 7 | Nov 11 | Thursday | Veterans Day | Federal |
| 8 | Nov 25 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day | Federal |
| 9 | Nov 26 | Friday | Day After Thanksgiving | State |
| 10 | Dec 24 | Friday | Christmas Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 11 | Dec 31 | Friday | New Year’s Day 2028 (Observed) | Federal |
Kansas regulations move weekend holidays to the nearest weekday: a Saturday holiday is observed on the Friday before, and a Sunday holiday on the Monday after. The Day After Thanksgiving and any extra closure days, such as Christmas Eve in 2026, are designated by the Governor each year.
Official State Holidays in Kansas 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 | Jun 19 | Friday | Juneteenth National Independence Day | Federal |
| 5 | Jul 03 | Friday | Independence Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 6 | Sep 07 | Monday | Labor Day | Federal |
| 7 | Nov 11 | Wednesday | Veterans Day | Federal |
| 8 | Nov 26 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day | Federal |
| 9 | Nov 27 | Friday | Day After Thanksgiving | State |
| 10 | Dec 24 | Thursday | Christmas Eve | State |
| 11 | Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | Federal |
FAQs
1. What is Kansas Day, and why is it important?
Even though there are many holiday events around the United States that are associated with each of the states, Kansas Day is significant in that it represents the admission of Kansas into the Union, which took place on January 29, 1861.
2. Is Election Day a public holiday in Kansas?
No. Kansas doesn’t close state offices for General Election Day, so it isn’t on the official state holiday list. Instead, Kansas law generally lets employees take up to two consecutive hours of paid time off to vote while the polls are open.
3. In Kansas, is Juneteenth a public holiday?
To commemorate the abolition of slavery, Juneteenth is recognized as both a federal and a state holiday in Kansas, and state offices are closed on that day.
4. Do all counties in Kansas follow this holiday list exactly?
State agencies and courts do, while counties and municipalities usually align with the state calendar; school districts and local offices may adjust schedules slightly based on operational needs.
5. Are private employers required to observe Kansas public holidays?
Not at all. Private companies are not mandated to keep to the state holiday schedule. Federal holidays are, however, widely followed, and ways of observing state holidays vary depending on an employer’s policy.
