Colorado state holidays 2026: the complete list
Colorado observes 11 paid state holidays in 2026, set out in C.R.S. 24-11-101. The list matches the federal calendar except in one place: Colorado replaces Columbus Day with Frances Xavier Cabrini Day on Monday, October 5, 2026. One other wrinkle — Independence Day is observed on Friday, July 3, because July 4 falls on a Saturday.
The 2026 schedule
Dates as published by Colorado's Department of Personnel and Administration for calendar year 2026:
| Date | Holiday | Day | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | New Year's Day | Thursday | Same as federal |
| Jan 19 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday | Third Monday in January |
| Feb 16 | Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day) | Monday | Third Monday in February |
| May 25 | Memorial Day | Monday | Last Monday in May |
| Jun 19 | Juneteenth | Friday | Federal holiday since 2021 |
| Jul 3 | Independence Day (observed) | Friday | July 4 falls on a Saturday |
| Sep 7 | Labor Day | Monday | First Monday in September |
| Oct 5 | Frances Xavier Cabrini Day | Monday | First Monday in October — Colorado's substitute for Columbus Day |
| Nov 11 | Veterans Day | Wednesday | Same as federal |
| Nov 26 | Thanksgiving Day | Thursday | Fourth Thursday in November |
| Dec 25 | Christmas Day | Friday | Same as federal |
Cabrini Day: why Colorado's list differs
In 2020 the Colorado legislature replaced Columbus Day with Frances Xavier Cabrini Day, making it the first US state to honour a woman with a paid state holiday. Mother Cabrini was an Italian-American nun who founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, and who ran schools, hospitals and orphanages for Italian immigrants in Denver and the state's mining communities.
Two practical details follow from it. First, the date: Colorado observes Cabrini Day on the first Monday of October, which is a week earlier than the federal Columbus Day on the second Monday. Second, it is a substitute, not an extra day — Colorado still has the same number of paid holidays, just a different one in that slot.
The César Chávez Day wrinkle
Colorado's official 2026 holiday schedule includes a note that trips people up: César Chávez Day (March 31) is not a scheduled state holiday. Instead, agency directors have discretion to grant it in place of another holiday within the same fiscal year — and the agency has to stay open and minimally operational on both days. If you are a Colorado state employee, this is a request you make, not a day the state closes.
In neighbouring states the arrangements differ again: California observes it as a full state holiday and Texas as an optional one.
What does not appear on the list
- Columbus Day — no longer a Colorado paid holiday, replaced in 2020
- Colorado Day (August 1) — commemorative, marking statehood, but not a paid holiday
- César Chávez Day (March 31) — only by agency substitution, as above
- Election Day — not a state holiday in Colorado
What this means if you are not a state employee
Colorado's list governs state government offices. Private employers are not bound by it — the Fair Labor Standards Act does not require any paid holidays at all, so whether you get Cabrini Day off depends entirely on your employer's policy. Banks generally follow the federal calendar rather than the state one, so expect most branches to be open on Cabrini Day and closed on Columbus Day, which is the reverse of what state offices do.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Colorado state holidays in 2026?
Eleven paid holidays: New Year's Day (Jan 1), MLK Day (Jan 19), Presidents' Day (Feb 16), Memorial Day (May 25), Juneteenth (Jun 19), Independence Day observed (Jul 3), Labor Day (Sep 7), Cabrini Day (Oct 5), Veterans Day (Nov 11), Thanksgiving (Nov 26) and Christmas (Dec 25).
What is Cabrini Day and when is it in 2026?
Monday, October 5, 2026. It honours Frances Xavier Cabrini and replaced Columbus Day as a Colorado paid state holiday under legislation passed in 2020.
Does Colorado observe Columbus Day?
No. Cabrini Day took its place in 2020, and it falls a week earlier than the federal Columbus Day.
Why is Independence Day observed on July 3 in 2026?
Because July 4, 2026 falls on a Saturday, so Colorado schedules the paid holiday on the preceding Friday.
Is César Chávez Day a Colorado state holiday?
Not as a scheduled paid holiday. Agency directors may grant March 31 in place of another holiday within the same fiscal year, and offices must remain minimally staffed.
Are banks closed on Cabrini Day?
Usually not. Most banks follow the federal calendar, so they are typically open on Columbus Day and closed on the federal holidays instead.
How many paid holidays do Colorado state employees get?
Eleven per calendar year, matching the federal count, with Cabrini Day substituted for Columbus Day.
Is Colorado Day (August 1) a state holiday?
No. It commemorates Colorado's admission to the Union but is not a paid holiday.
Official sources
- State of Colorado — Calendar Year 2026 Holiday Schedule (DHR) — official schedule and the César Chávez Day note
- Colorado Department of Revenue — State Holidays — 2026 closure dates
- C.R.S. 24-11-101 — Legal holidays — the statute setting the list
Last verified against official sources on September 26, 2026.