The holiday schedule of Wisconsin reveals a great deal about how the state is organized. It’s sensible, union-friendly, and a result of a long experience of public administration. The aim isn’t to memorialize everything worth remembering. The aim is to establish, in a clear and predictable way, when the government offices are closed and when they are open.
Most holidays in Wisconsin mirror the federal holidays. That is anything but coincidental. They interact with federal systems, as well as systems in adjacent states, extensively. It is practical for their purposes, particularly for a state where commutes from Illinois, Minnesota, and Michigan cross state borders regularly.
What’s distinctive about Wisconsin is the type of days it declares as operational closures, rather than the number it has. The most common example that comes first is the Friday after the Thanksgiving holiday, when the state government declares a full holiday for its employees. This announcement isn’t just a gesture; it’s a collective bargaining tradition that has been followed in the Wisconsin workforce over the years.
Unlike some states, Wisconsin does not observe Election Day as a holiday. Offices are open on Election Day. Similarly, observance of days like Wisconsin Day or Casimir Pulaski Day may be observed ceremonially but are not observed statewide or noticeably enough to warrant a state-sanctioned holiday.
Below you can find a list of the actual list of holidays followed by Wisconsin:
| Date | Day | Holiday | Holiday Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 01 | Thursday | New Year’s Day | Federal |
| Jan 19 | Monday | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Federal |
| Feb 16 | Monday | Presidents’ Day | Federal |
| May 25 | Monday | Memorial Day | Federal |
| June 19 | Friday | Juneteenth | 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 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | Federal |
How Holidays Work in Wisconsin
Licensing offices, courts, administrative bodies, and most state departments are closed during the above holidays. Naturally if a deadline is on a holiday, it is extended to the next working day.
Regarding the Day after Thanksgiving, this event requires special consideration. This day, while not being a federally recognized holiday, is considered by Wisconsin as a full-fledged holiday in terms of state government operations.
Juneteenth’s status as a federal holiday since the early 2020s has long been made a staple in all state calendars. Wisconsin has not established its own state-level Juneteenth holiday before but now observes a state holiday on the same date as the federal holiday, with state government offices closed on that day based on state statute reflecting the sanctioning.
As seen in multiple states - any federal holiday that lands on a weekend - the observance will take place on the closest weekday, evidenced by the observance date for Independence Day on July 3, 2026, which falls on a Friday.
Banks are also governed by the federal banking calendar, which is almost identical to this list but excludes the day following Thanksgiving. They do not have to observe any of the above holidays, as their list of holidays can be legally much shorter.
FAQs
1. Is the day after Thanksgiving a public holiday in Wisconsin?
Yes. Wisconsin state government offices are closed on that Friday.
2. Does Wisconsin observe Election Day as a holiday?
No. State offices remain open.
3. Is Juneteenth a state or federal holiday in Wisconsin?
It is federal in origin and observed by the state through federal alignment.
4. Are courts closed on these holidays?
Yes. Wisconsin courts follow the state government holiday calendar.
5. Do local governments follow this list exactly?
Not always. This list applies to Wisconsin state government offices; counties and municipalities may vary.