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.
The tables below show the days South Carolina state government offices close in 2027 and 2026, as published by the South Carolina Department of Administration.
List of National and State Holidays in South Carolina 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 | George Washington’s Birthday / Presidents’ Day | Federal |
| 4 | May 10 | Monday | Confederate Memorial Day | State |
| 5 | May 31 | Monday | National Memorial Day | 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 24 | Friday | Christmas Eve | State |
| 12 | Dec 27 | Monday | Christmas Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 13 | Dec 28 | Tuesday | Day After Christmas | State |
South Carolina observes a holiday that falls on a Saturday on the Friday before, and one that falls on a Sunday on the following Monday. In 2027, Independence Day falls on a Sunday, so state offices close on Monday, July 5. Christmas Day falls on a Saturday, and since Christmas Eve already takes Friday, December 24, Christmas Day is observed on Monday, December 27 and the Day After Christmas on Tuesday, December 28. These dates follow the official 2027 holiday schedule published by the South Carolina Department of Administration.
Official State Holidays in South Carolina 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 | George Washington’s Birthday / Presidents’ Day | Federal |
| 4 | May 11 | Monday | Confederate Memorial Day | State |
| 5 | May 25 | Monday | National Memorial Day | Federal |
| 6 | Jul 03 | Friday | Independence Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 7 | Sep 07 | Monday | Labor Day | Federal |
| 8 | Nov 11 | Wednesday | Veterans Day | Federal |
| 9 | Nov 26 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day | Federal |
| 10 | Nov 27 | Friday | Day After Thanksgiving | State |
| 11 | Dec 24 | Thursday | Christmas Eve | State |
| 12 | Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | Federal |
| 13 | Dec 28 | Monday | Day After Christmas | State |
The state calendar lists Confederate Memorial Day, the Day After Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and the Day After Christmas as part of the 2026 holiday schedule for South Carolina government employees.
How Holidays Work in South Carolina
South Carolina’s state holidays are set by law and published each year by the Department of Administration, which decides the days state offices and agencies close.
Confederate Memorial Day is a state legal holiday in South Carolina, observed in May (Monday, May 11 in 2026 and Monday, May 10 in 2027). It is not a federal holiday, but state offices close that day.
The Day After Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and the Day After Christmas are also set by state law. Together, they give state offices longer closures around the federal holidays.
Juneteenth is a federal holiday, but South Carolina does not list it as a state holiday, so state offices stay open that day. State employees can use their holiday leave if they want to take the day off.
When a holiday falls on a Saturday, state offices close on the Friday before, and when it falls on a Sunday, they close on the following Monday. In 2026, Independence Day fell on a Saturday, so offices closed on Friday, July 3.
FAQs
1. Why does South Carolina observe Confederate Memorial Day?
It is a statutory holiday recognized by the state government, observed on the second Monday in May.
2. Why is Juneteenth not in the state calendar?
Although it is a federal holiday, South Carolina has not added Juneteenth to its list of state closures. State employees can use holiday leave for it instead.
3. What does “Day after Christmas” mean here?
It is a state closure for government offices on December 26. When that date falls on a weekend, it moves to the next weekday after Christmas Day, so it falls on Monday, December 28 in 2026 and Tuesday, December 28 in 2027.
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.
