Juneteenth is a federal holiday, but it is not one of North Carolina’s legal public holidays. So the answer to whether Juneteenth is a holiday in North Carolina depends on your employer: federal workers get the day off, state employees generally do not, and private employees get it only if their employer chooses to give it.
Why North Carolina Doesn’t List Juneteenth
North Carolina’s legal public holidays are set by General Statute 103-4. The list covers New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday, Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Good Friday, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and a few state-specific dates like the anniversary of the Halifax Resolves and the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence.1North Carolina General Assembly. North Carolina General Statutes 103-4 – Dates of Public Holidays Juneteenth isn’t on it.
The General Assembly did pass Session Law 2007-450, recognizing that it would honor June 19 as “Juneteenth National Freedom Day” once the date became a nationally recognized holiday.2North Carolina General Assembly. Session Law 2007-450 – An Act Recognizing Juneteenth National Freedom Day in North Carolina That condition was met when Congress and President Biden made Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021.3U.S. Government Publishing Office. Public Law 117-17 – Juneteenth National Independence Day Act The legislature has not amended § 103-4 to add it, though.
What State Employees Get
The State Human Resources Commission sets a schedule of up to 12 paid holidays a year for state employees.4NC State Human Resources. Holidays Policy The 2026 schedule does not include Juneteenth.5NC State Human Resources. Holidays State offices stay open on June 19, and state workers do not automatically get the day off with pay.
In June 2022, Governor Roy Cooper signed Executive Order 262, creating a category called Personal Observance Leave. Eligible state employees in Cabinet agencies received up to eight hours of paid leave to use on any single day of personal, cultural, or religious significance, including Juneteenth. Other state agencies could voluntarily adopt the same policy, and the leave didn’t have to be used on June 19 itself.6State of North Carolina. Executive Order No. 262
Cooper left office in January 2025, and Governor Josh Stein succeeded him. Executive orders in North Carolina do not automatically carry over between administrations, and publicly available records do not clearly confirm whether Executive Order 262 remains in effect. If you relied on this leave before, check with your agency’s HR office to see whether Personal Observance Leave is still available.
Federal Workers, Courts, and Deadlines
Because Juneteenth is a federal legal public holiday under 5 U.S.C. § 6103, federal offices in North Carolina close on June 19. When the date falls on a Saturday, federal workers on a Monday-to-Friday schedule observe it on the preceding Friday; when it falls on a Sunday, they observe it on the following Monday.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 5 U.S. Code 6103 – Holidays In 2026, June 19 is a Friday, so no shift applies.
The Postal Service suspends regular mail delivery.8About.usps.com. Holidays and Events Federal courts also close. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 6, any filing deadline that lands on Juneteenth automatically extends to the next business day.9Cornell University Law School. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 6 – Computing and Extending Time The same rule applies to IRS deadlines: if a tax due date falls on a legal holiday, it moves to the next business day.10Internal Revenue Service. When to File
Banks and Financial Markets
The Federal Reserve closes on Juneteenth.11Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Holiday Schedule Wire transfers, ACH payments, and other Fed-processed transactions will not settle that day. If you expect a bank transfer or direct deposit around June 19, plan on a one-day delay.
The Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange close as well.12Nasdaq. Nasdaq Trading Schedule – Stock Market Holidays and Trading Hours The bond market follows SIFMA’s recommendation for a full close.13SIFMA. Holiday Schedule With Juneteenth on a Friday in 2026, markets will be closed from Thursday’s close through Monday morning.
Local Governments and Schools
County and municipal governments in North Carolina set their own holiday calendars, and practices vary. Some close for Juneteenth, some do not. If you need a county office for permits, court filings, or vital records around June 19, call ahead or check the county website.
The University of North Carolina system observes Juneteenth and cancels classes on June 19 during summer sessions.14UNC Catalog. Academic Calendar 2025-2026 Community colleges and K-12 districts may differ, so check the academic calendar for your school.
Private Employers
North Carolina law does not require private employers to provide paid or unpaid time off for any holiday, and it does not require premium pay for holiday work. The only overtime obligation is the federal one: time-and-a-half for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek, regardless of what day they fall on.15North Carolina Department of Labor. Promised Wages Including Wage Benefits
Whether you get Juneteenth off from a private employer comes down to company policy, your employment contract, or a collective bargaining agreement. If your employer has promised holiday pay or time off for Juneteenth in a written policy, that promise is enforceable under North Carolina’s wage payment laws. The state treats promised wage benefits the same as earned wages: once the employer commits, it owes.15North Carolina Department of Labor. Promised Wages Including Wage Benefits