List of Holidays in Louisiana 2026

Louisiana’s holiday calendar looks very familiar at first glance, but it isn't very similar to most other states, especially those that have a prosaic list of holidays that reflect federal recommendations. Alongside the usual federal holidays, the state formally recognises a small number of days that are actually relevant to this region. Mardi Gras, for example, isn’t treated as a cultural footnote, and Good Friday isn’t handled as an optional religious observance. Both of these appear on the official state calendar and are observed by state government offices and institutions uniformly.

Government offices, courts, and public agencies follow the holiday schedule issued by the Louisiana Division of Administration and are practically the only institutions affected by the schedule. Banks and financial related institutions follow the list of federal holidays, and the decision to make state holidays such as Mardi Gras or Good Friday into holidays or not lies with the individual employers.

Each year, there is a list of holidays on which Louisiana state employees are required to be off. These holidays include the ones listed below, as observed during 2026.

List of National and State Holidays in Louisiana for 2026

State holiday calendars sometimes include other proclaimed holidays (such as Acadian Day or the day after Thanksgiving), but the list above is based on the official schedule published for Louisiana state employees and institutions.

For Those Living or Working in Louisiana

State government offices, the state judiciary, and all public institutions observe the official Louisiana state holiday calendar. Mardi Gras and Good Friday, which are typically religious observances of the Christian faith, yet culturally recognised across the state, are gazetted state holidays for these purposes. This means that state employees typically have the day off, and offices close. Financial institutions that are national, including banks, follow the federal holiday schedule, so their closures align with federal holidays unmindful of state practices. Private employers set their own policies about time off and pay on state holidays.

FAQs

Is Mardi Gras a state holiday in Louisiana?

Mardi Gras has been declared a legal holiday in Louisiana. The day is celebrated on Shrove Tuesday, the eve of Ash Wednesday, before the fasting season. It is also called Fat Tuesday due to the consumption of red meat and other fatty foods before the lean fasting period. It is also included in the list of state holidays.

Does Louisiana observe Good Friday?

Good Friday is listed as an official state holiday in Louisiana despite the fact that it is not a federal holiday.

Are all the state holidays listed observed statewide?

Statewide observances pertain to state administration and employees in the state of Louisiana. Banks and other organizations observe federal observances.

What about other dates like Acadian Day or Election Day?

The government can declare more holidays through executive orders, while others like Election Day may be observed based on the year and need for proclamation. The main formally announced dates in 2026 center on those cited above.