When a legal holiday falls on a Sunday, the legal holiday is observed and UW System is closed on the Monday following the legal holiday.
Eligible employees are granted eight hours of floating legal holiday when: (a) a legal holiday falls on a Saturday or (b) a legal holiday falls on a Sunday and the following Monday is also a legal holiday.
Current · Historical
The State of Wisconsin grants nine days of paid legal holidays per calendar year to eligible employees.
2025 Legal Holidays | When Observed |
---|---|
New Year's Day, January 1 | Wednesday, January 1 |
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Third Monday in January | Monday, January 20 |
Memorial Day, Last Monday in May | Monday, May 26 |
Independence Day, July 4 | Friday, July 4 |
Labor Day, First Monday in September | Monday, September 1 |
Thanksgiving, Fourth Thursday in November | Thursday, November 27 |
Christmas Eve, December 24 | Wednesday, December 24 |
Christmas, December 25 | Thursday, December 25 |
New Year's Eve, December 31 | Wednesday, December 31 |
2026 Legal Holidays | When Observed |
---|---|
New Year's Day, January 1 | Thursday, January 1 |
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Third Monday in January | Monday, January 19 |
Memorial Day, Last Monday in May | Monday, May 25 |
Independence Day, July 4 | Saturday, July 4 (Floating Holiday) |
Labor Day, First Monday in September | Monday, September 7 |
Thanksgiving, Fourth Thursday in November | Thursday, November 26 |
Christmas Eve, December 24 | Thursday, December 24 |
Christmas, December 25 | Friday, December 25 |
New Year's Eve, December 31 | Thursday, December 31 |
Floating holiday time can be used any time during the fiscal year in which it is earned. This means that a 'January 1' floating holiday can be used anytime in the fiscal year it is earned. Unused floating holiday time is lost after June 30. Thus, individuals should use their floating holiday time before using vacation time.