North Dakota is actually one of the states that does not politicize their holiday observances. This kind of holiday is actually necessary in a way, as this area needs a clean close-down in a location where the government places its offices in a way that has to cover a large region and a smaller number of inhabitants. When the office closes down in my area, it’s all about logistics, not about making a statement.
This pragmatism is at work in the holiday calendar. It can be seen that it has closely aligned itself with the federal holiday system and has created only one exception for it, and does not add days to the holiday list each year. Not a decorative gesture. Not a reaction to anything. Just days when things go dark.
Rather, what follows is not a list of festivals and events. Rather, it is a list of holidays during which the offices of the state governments in North Dakota are to be closed. Now compare it with the holiday calendar offered by other sources online.
Official State Holidays in North Dakota for 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 01 | Thursday | New Year’s Day | Federal |
| Jan 19 | Monday | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Federal |
| Feb 16 | Monday | Washington’s Birthday | Federal |
| Apr 03 | Friday | Good Friday | State |
| May 25 | Monday | Memorial Day | Federal |
| Jun 19 | Friday | Juneteenth National Independence Day | Federal |
| Jul 03 | Friday | Independence Day | Federal |
| Sep 07 | Monday | Labor Day | Federal |
| Nov 11 | Wednesday | Veterans Day | Federal |
| Nov 26 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day | Federal |
| Dec 24 | Thursday | Christmas Eve | State |
| Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | Federal |
How Holidays Actually Work in North Dakota
The majority of holiday observance norms in North Dakota are borrowed from federal law. Such a strategy is a deliberate move by a state that wants to remain within a broad national framework that already makes banks, mail, courts, and interstate infrastructure uniform.
Except for Good Friday, of course. Since it is a state holiday in explicit state law, state offices are closed on this day, even though it is not a federal holiday. There is nothing symbolic about this. It is purely administrative.
The inclusion of Juneteenth comes as it is currently considered a federal holiday. North Dakota did not establish the day as a state holiday. The closing occurs due to the requirements of federal alignment.
Because Independence Day in the year 2026 is on a Saturday, the date of observation is the preceding Friday, July 3. The date that is operative is the date of observation.
Christmas Eve is handled separately. When Christmas Eve falls on a weekday, the state offices are closed at noon. It is not a holiday but a mandatory early close, a practice of the state. Christmas Day is a full federal holiday.
Banks observe the federal banking calendar; this calendar overlaps considerably with this. Private employers don’t have to follow any such norms.
FAQs
1. Why does North Dakota observe Good Friday when many states don’t?
It is due to the fact that state law explicitly lists it as a holiday for government offices. It’s a statutory carry-forward, not a recent addition.
2. Is Juneteenth a state holiday in North Dakota?
No. It is a federal holiday. North Dakota observes it by closing state offices in line with federal law.
3. Why is Independence Day listed on July 3 instead of July 4?
July 4 falls on a Saturday in 2026. The state observes the holiday on the preceding Friday.
4. What does “Christmas Eve (Afternoon Closure)” mean in practice?
State offices close at noon when Christmas Eve falls on a weekday. It is not a full holiday, but it is an official closure period.
5. Do local governments and schools follow this exact list?
Not always. This table applies to North Dakota state government offices. Local bodies may set their own calendars.