The state holidays of New Jersey occupy that difficult space between being tied into federal systems and featuring an array of state holidays that are still relevant due to the density of operations. Whenever the offices close in New Jersey, it is never a mere abstraction – court calendars get jammed up; school calendars get affected, too. Commuter patterns shift almost immediately between dense metropolitan areas on cue.
While other states may be more radical in their cutting process, New Jersey continues to hold on to a more comprehensive list of holidays. However, this does not imply that all holidays are equally significant to the state, seeing as how the political and functional reasons for their creation vary from holiday to holiday. There are holidays that still affect attendance and those which, if removed, would create more problems than solutions.
What New Jersey does, year in and year out, is draw a bright-line distinction between official closure and private observance. If it’s on the calendar, state offices shut. Everything else is left to leave policies, not symbolic gestures.
The tables below list the official holidays observed by New Jersey state government offices in 2027 and 2026.
List of National and State Holidays in New Jersey 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 | Mar 26 | Friday | Good Friday | State |
| 5 | May 31 | Monday | Memorial Day | Federal |
| 6 | Jun 18 | Friday | Juneteenth | Federal |
| 7 | Jul 05 | Monday | Independence Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 8 | Sep 06 | Monday | Labor Day | Federal |
| 9 | Oct 11 | Monday | Columbus Day | Federal |
| 10 | Nov 02 | Tuesday | Election Day | State |
| 11 | Nov 11 | Thursday | Veterans Day | Federal |
| 12 | Nov 25 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day | Federal |
| 13 | Dec 24 | Friday | Christmas Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 14 | Dec 31 | Friday | New Year’s Day 2028 (Observed) | Federal |
New Jersey observes a holiday that falls on a Saturday on the Friday before, and one that falls on a Sunday on the following Monday. Juneteenth is observed on the third Friday in June, and Election Day falls on the November general election day. New Jersey has not yet published its official 2027 schedule, so these dates follow state law.
Official State Holidays in New Jersey 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 | Apr 03 | Friday | Good Friday | State |
| 5 | May 25 | Monday | Memorial Day | Federal |
| 6 | Jun 19 | Friday | Juneteenth | Federal |
| 7 | Jul 03 | Friday | Independence Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 8 | Sep 07 | Monday | Labor Day | Federal |
| 9 | Oct 12 | Monday | Columbus Day | Federal |
| 10 | Nov 03 | Tuesday | Election Day | State |
| 11 | Nov 11 | Wednesday | Veterans Day | Federal |
| 12 | Nov 26 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day | Federal |
| 13 | Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | Federal |
How Holidays Work in New Jersey
The offices of state government, courts, and all state departments abide by this list. Election Day is a state holiday, which is getting to be rare, and has effects on court and government operations.
Good Friday also remains a state holiday. This is, however, a matter of administrative tradition rather than any notable religious significance. Lincoln’s Birthday is still a legal holiday under state law, but it is not one of the days that the state offices close.
When Independence Day falls on a weekend, the day will be celebrated on the nearest day during the week. In 2026, the holiday fell on Saturday, so state offices were closed on Friday, July 3. The banking holidays are guided by the federal bank calendar that includes fewer holidays than the state ones mentioned above.
The New Jersey state government calendar is not obligatory for private employers. Some observe the federal holidays, and others also observe Election Day and Good Friday.
FAQs
1. Why does New Jersey still observe Election Day as a holiday?
It remains an official state holiday to ensure administrative closure and voter access.
2. Is Good Friday a public holiday in New Jersey?
Yes. State offices close in observance of Good Friday.
3. Does New Jersey observe Lincoln’s Birthday?
Not as a day off. Lincoln’s Birthday is still a legal holiday under state law, but state offices stay open.
4. Are all these holidays followed by private companies?
No. Private employers set their own holiday policies.
5. Are courts closed on these days?
Yes. New Jersey courts follow the official state holiday calendar.
