South Carolina’s holiday pattern reflects the state’s balance of traditional observance dates with federal requirements. The state’s calendar is put out via the South Carolina Department of Administration, so when state government offices are closed, it’s not based on traditional cultural lists gathered from aggregators.
Some of these days do have origins in the unique history of the state. Other days are federal holidays that the state chooses to include in its payroll and closing of offices in full or in part. Of note is Juneteenth, a federal holiday that is not yet considered a state holiday in its own right in South Carolina but is instead covered by holiday benefits in state employment.
Following is the list of official holidays on which the offices of the government in the State of South Carolina will be closed:
Official List of Holidays in South Carolina 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 | George Washington’s Birthday / Presidents’ Day | Federal |
| May 11 | Monday | Confederate Memorial Day | State |
| May 25 | Monday | Memorial Day | Federal |
| Jul 03 | Friday | Independence Day (Observed) | Federal |
| Sep 07 | Monday | Labor Day | Federal |
| Nov 11 | Wednesday | Veterans Day | Federal |
| Nov 26 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day | Federal |
| Nov 27 | Friday | Day after Thanksgiving | State |
| Dec 24 | Thursday | Christmas Eve | State |
| Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | Federal |
| Dec 28 | Monday | Day after Christmas | State |
State HR calendars list Confederate Memorial Day, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Day after Christmas as part of the 2026 state holiday schedule for South Carolina government employees.
How Holidays Work in South Carolina
State holidays in South Carolina are stipulated by personnel regulations of the Department of Administration, which determine days of closure of state offices and agencies for holidays.
Confederate Memorial Day is a legal holiday, which occurs only in this region on the second Monday of May, May 11 in 2026. It is not a federal holiday; however, the state act describes it as a closure day for state employees.
Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Day after Christmas are closings that are part of the legislative calendar of the State of South Carolina. These offer organized closings around federal holiday events.
South Carolina currently does not list Juneteenth as an officially recognized state holiday, though it is an officially recognized federal holiday. But technically, it does give holiday credit to state employees, which can be applied to any holiday the employee wishes to honor, though it is not specifically an officially recognized holiday.
In case Independence Day is on a Saturday, its preceding Friday, which is July 3, is a state holiday for closing.
FAQs
1. Why does South Carolina observe Confederate Memorial Day?
It is a statutory holiday recognised by the state government, observed on the second Monday in May.
2. Why is Juneteenth not in the state calendar?
Although federally recognised, South Carolina has not added it as a named state closure; employees typically use holiday credits for it.
3. What does “Day after Christmas” mean here?
It’s a state-designated closure for government offices on the Monday after Christmas.
4. Are banks closed on all these days?
Banks follow the federal banking calendar; state-only holidays like Confederate Memorial Day and Day after Thanksgiving may not be bank holidays.
5. Does this list apply to local governments and schools?
This is the South Carolina state government official holiday schedule; local entities and school districts may have variations.