Is Columbus Day a Federal Holiday 2025? Here’s what you need to know (and what’s next)

Ever wondered Is Columbus Day a Federal Holiday and when the next U.S. holiday is coming up? Well, I dove into that, and I’ve got the scoop. Spoiler: Columbus Day is indeed the next federal holiday, landing on October 13, 2025.

Let’s walk through the rest of the year’s holiday schedule in the U.S., what “federal holiday” officially means, and why it matters (especially if you’re planning trips, workdays, or just tracking time).

Table of Contents

What does “federal holiday” mean — and why Columbus Day counts?

A federal holiday is a designation created by the U.S. Congress for government operations — think: federal offices, postal services, and many government workers get the day off. Many private businesses follow suit, but they’re not always required to.

So when people ask, “Is Columbus Day a Federal Holiday?” — the answer is yes, for federal institutions. This year, Columbus Day falls on the second Monday of October, which is October 13, 2025.

Calendar of U.S. federal holidays left in 2025

Now that we’ve established Columbus Day as the next major stop, here’s the rest of the ride:

October 13, 2025 — Columbus Day
November 11, 2025 — Veterans Day
November 27, 2025 — Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday of November)
December 25, 2025 — Christmas Day

So, besides Columbus Day, these are the only federal holidays remaining this year.

Why Columbus Day matters — more than just a day off

Columbus Day has deep associations — historically tied to Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas, and culturally significant in Italian-American communities. But over recent decades, it’s also become controversial. Many states and localities have started shifting the framing to Indigenous Peoples’ Day or renaming the holiday entirely.

Some states choose not to recognize Columbus Day at all, replacing it with an alternative observance. Others keep the name but pair it with greater acknowledgment of Indigenous histories. So while on paper Columbus Day is a federal holiday, in practice how it’s observed can vary a lot depending on where you are.

Because you love calendars: when the holiday “off-days” really land

The “floating” holidays like Columbus Day and Labor Day always land on a Monday. The “fixed” date ones (like Christmas, Veterans Day) may shift observance if they fall on a weekend. For instance:

If a fixed-date holiday falls on Saturday, federal employees generally observe the holiday on the preceding Friday.
If it falls on Sunday, the holiday is observed on the following Monday.

So when you see Christmas or Veterans Day fall on a weekend in the future, that’s why your local office might shut down on a different day.

What this means for you (and your schedule)

If you work for the federal government or deal with federal services (social security, IRS, USPS, etc.), know that October 13 and the other dates above are “no-go” work/transaction days.
Many private businesses follow suit, so delays or closures in banks, schools, or small businesses around these dates are common.
Planning travel, errands, or events? Try to avoid those dates if you want fewer surprises.
And if you live or travel in a state that doesn’t honor Columbus Day officially, verify local observances — things can get messy on the ground.

Is Columbus Day a federal holiday — yes, and here’s what’s next

Yes, Columbus Day is a federal holiday, officially observed on the second Monday in October, which in 2025 lands on October 13.
After that, the remaining federal holidays for 2025 are Veterans Day (Nov 11), Thanksgiving (Nov 27), and Christmas Day (Dec 25).
The way it’s honored can differ widely by state or city — you might see Indigenous Peoples’ Day in place of “Columbus Day,” or no observance at all in some areas.
And remember: with fixed-date holidays, if they land on a weekend, the federal observance may slide to Friday or Monday.