The federal courts in the District of Columbia — the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia, the U.S. District Court for D.D.C., and the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals — observe the same eleven federal holidays in 2026 as every other federal court in the country. Their clerks' offices are closed on those dates, U.S. Marshals service is suspended, and the over-the-counter filing windows are dark.
For DC residents with pending bankruptcy filings, FCRA or FDCPA claims, or other federal-court matters, the calendar matters because deadlines fall on it.
For the broader thought-leadership analysis across the federal practice, see stevenfraser.com. For Florida-specific bankruptcy applications, see iBankruptcy.net.
The 2026 federal holiday calendar
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Thursday | New Year's Day |
| January 19 | Monday | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| February 16 | Monday | Presidents Day |
| May 25 | Monday | Memorial Day |
| June 19 | Friday | Juneteenth |
| July 3 | Friday | Independence Day (observed — July 4 is Saturday) |
| September 7 | Monday | Labor Day |
| October 12 | Monday | Columbus Day |
| November 11 | Wednesday | Veterans Day |
| November 26 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day |
| December 25 | Friday | Christmas Day |
Source: 5 U.S.C. § 6103. Observance of a holiday that falls on a Saturday or Sunday is governed by 5 U.S.C. § 6103(b) and Executive Order 11582 (Feb. 11, 1971).
What this means for your DC bankruptcy or federal-court deadlines
The deadline-protection rule lives in Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 9006(a) (for bankruptcy matters) and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 6(a) (for civil litigation in district court). The two rules have identical substance:
A deadline that lands on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday rolls to the next non-holiday weekday.
Six concrete examples for DC borrowers and DC clients:
- Proof of claim bar date in a DC bankruptcy that falls on Memorial Day (May 25) → actual deadline is Tuesday, May 26.
- 30-day removal deadline under 28 U.S.C. § 1446 that lands on Christmas Day (December 25) → actual deadline is Monday, December 28.
- 14-day response window for a motion in a DC adversary proceeding that ends on Juneteenth (June 19) → actual deadline is Monday, June 22.
- 60-day reaffirmation agreement window post-§ 341 meeting that closes on Thanksgiving (November 26) → actual deadline is Friday, November 27.
- Notice of appeal under FRAP 4 / FRBP 8002 with a deadline of Veterans Day (November 11) → actual deadline is Thursday, November 12.
- § 523(c) nondischargeability complaint deadline that falls on Labor Day (September 7) → actual deadline is Tuesday, September 8.
The rule is automatic. It does not require a motion. It does not require a stipulation with opposing counsel. It is the safety net that catches the deadline that would otherwise expire over a long weekend.
That said: no experienced lawyer relies on the rule for breathing room. File early enough that the computation never becomes the issue.
Three things specific to DC federal practice
1. CM/ECF stays online; the clerk's window does not
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia and the U.S. District Court for D.D.C. both maintain their CM/ECF electronic filing systems through federal holidays. A pleading e-filed at 11:30 p.m. on Christmas Day is filed on Christmas Day for purposes of the time stamp.
The deadline-extension rule of FRBP 9006(a) / FRCP 6(a) applies to deadlines, not to electronic filing capability. A document e-filed on a holiday is filed on that day; a deadline computed under the rule rolls to the next business day.
2. The DC Superior Court is a separate calendar
This post addresses federal holidays. The District of Columbia Superior Court — the local court of general jurisdiction — observes the same federal holidays plus Emancipation Day (April 16), which is a DC government holiday and a Superior Court closure. Federal courts in DC do not close for Emancipation Day. Counsel handling matters in both forums need to track both calendars.
3. Inauguration Day is a holiday only in DC, only every four years
Under 5 U.S.C. § 6103(c), Inauguration Day — every fourth January 20 — is a federal holiday only in the metropolitan area surrounding the District of Columbia. 2026 is not an inauguration year. The next Inauguration Day is January 20, 2029.
Emergency relief during closures
A federal holiday is not a defense for a creditor violating the automatic stay, foreclosing during the stay period, or taking similar action that requires immediate judicial intervention. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia maintains a duty-judge procedure for true emergencies on holidays, weekends, and after hours.
True emergencies, for this purpose, mean:
- An ongoing automatic stay violation producing irreparable harm right now.
- An imminent foreclosure sale that the stay should have stopped.
- A creditor pursuing wage garnishment or bank levy notwithstanding the bankruptcy filing.
- Other genuinely urgent circumstances where waiting for the next business day causes irreparable harm.
If you are a DC bankruptcy debtor and a creditor is taking action in violation of the stay over a holiday weekend, call counsel immediately — emergency relief is available, and the holiday is not a shield for the creditor.
What to do with this calendar
Two practical steps:
- Put the eleven dates above on your calendar today. They will recur, and they will quietly affect every deadline you encounter this year.
- If you have a deadline approaching that lands on or near one of these dates, do the deadline computation now. If the math turns on FRBP 9006(a) or FRCP 6(a), call counsel and confirm the rule applies before you rely on it.
For DC borrowers with active matters in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia, U.S. District Court for D.D.C., or D.C. Circuit appellate matters, schedule a confidential consultation or call 202-417-8128 (DC Direct) or 877-862-7188 (Toll-Free).
Steven C. Fraser, Esq. — DC Bar No. 460026 · Admitted U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia.
This post summarizes publicly available federal court scheduling information as of January 2026. It does not constitute legal advice as to your specific situation. Local rules and district-specific closures may vary; verify with the applicable court before relying on any deadline computation.