Michigan’s holiday calendar reflects the way the state works: industrial, unionized and closely tied to national labor rules. Very little of it is cosmetic. Most holidays are observed because of their links to national systems or to agreements about when work stops.
The state largely follows the federal calendar and adds a handful of days of its own, mostly around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. Michigan has always relied on predictable manufacturing, transportation and government services, and a clear holiday schedule helps keep them that way.
There is little room for cultural experimentation. A day makes the list because it matters to how government offices run, and everything else is left to local policy or annual leave.
The tables below list the holidays observed by State of Michigan offices in 2027 and 2026.
List of National and State Holidays in Michigan 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 | Feb 15 | Monday | Presidents’ Day | Federal |
| 4 | May 31 | Monday | Memorial Day | Federal |
| 5 | Jun 18 | Friday | Juneteenth National Independence Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 6 | Jul 05 | Monday | Independence Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 7 | Sep 06 | Monday | Labor Day | Federal |
| 8 | Nov 11 | Thursday | Veterans Day | Federal |
| 9 | Nov 25 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day | Federal |
| 10 | Nov 26 | Friday | Day After Thanksgiving | State |
| 11 | Dec 23 | Thursday | Christmas Eve (Observed) | State |
| 12 | Dec 24 | Friday | Christmas Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 13 | Dec 30 | Thursday | New Year’s Eve (Observed) | State |
| 14 | Dec 31 | Friday | New Year’s Day 2028 (Observed) | Federal |
Under Civil Service Commission Regulation 5.08, a holiday that falls on a Saturday is observed on the Friday before, and one that falls on a Sunday is observed on the following Monday. When Christmas Day and New Year’s Day fall on a Saturday, as in 2027, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve move to the Thursday before. General Election Day is a state holiday only in even-numbered years. Michigan has not yet published its official 2027 schedule, so these dates follow Regulation 5.08.
Official State Holidays in Michigan 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 | Feb 16 | Monday | Presidents’ Day | Federal |
| 4 | May 25 | Monday | Memorial Day | Federal |
| 5 | Jun 19 | Friday | Juneteenth National Independence Day | Federal |
| 6 | Jul 03 | Friday | Independence Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 7 | Sep 07 | Monday | Labor Day | Federal |
| 8 | Nov 03 | Tuesday | General Election Day | State |
| 9 | Nov 11 | Wednesday | Veterans Day | Federal |
| 10 | Nov 26 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day | Federal |
| 11 | Nov 27 | Friday | Day After Thanksgiving | State |
| 12 | Dec 24 | Thursday | Christmas Eve | State |
| 13 | Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | Federal |
| 14 | Dec 31 | Thursday | New Year’s Eve | State |
How Holidays Work in Michigan
State government offices follow these dates closely. Public schools set their own calendars, which usually include most of these days plus additional breaks. Banks follow the federal banking calendar.
Private employers are not required to follow the state holiday calendar, although many do, especially in unionized sectors where holidays are set out in collective agreements.
FAQs
1. Does Michigan have any state-specific holidays?
Yes. State offices also close on the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, and on General Election Day in even-numbered years.
2. Are state offices closed on all federal holidays?
State offices close on every federal holiday except Columbus Day (Indigenous Peoples’ Day), which is not a state holiday in Michigan.
3. Do private employers have to follow this calendar?
No. Holiday policies are set by employers or collective agreements.
4. How does Michigan’s list compare with the federal holiday calendar?
It skips Columbus Day but adds the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, plus General Election Day in even-numbered years.
5. What if a holiday falls on a weekend?
A holiday that falls on a Saturday is observed on the Friday before, and one that falls on a Sunday is observed on the following Monday.
