{"id":7996,"date":"2026-06-17T16:23:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T20:23:58","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-06-22T10:49:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T14:49:46","slug":"more-than-half-of-states-now-recognize-juneteenth-as-an-official-holiday","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2026\/06\/17\/more-than-half-of-states-now-recognize-juneteenth-as-an-official-holiday\/","title":{"rendered":"More than half of states will recognize Juneteenth as a legal holiday in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Spectators
Spectators watch a Juneteenth parade on June 19, 2021, in Galveston, Texas. (Go Nakamura\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The newest federal holiday, Juneteenth National Independence Day on June 19, celebrates the end of slavery<\/a> in the United States. But states vary considerably in whether they commemorate it as a legal holiday, a day of observance or something in between.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, administrative calendars show that at least 33 states and the District of Columbia<\/strong> will mark Juneteenth with a paid day off for most state government workers.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Where do state workers have a paid day off for Juneteenth?<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
States where Juneteenth is a holiday for most state government workers, as of June 2026<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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Note: Designations shown may not align with Juneteenth’s status as a permanent legal holiday in each state (for instance, it is not a permanent legal holiday in New Mexico but will still be a day of for most state employees). In Kansas, Kentucky and Pennsylvania, the holiday affects state executive branch employees only. Personal leave policies in California and North Carolina allow eligible workers to take Juneteenth off as a floating holiday.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Source: State administrative and personnel websites.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
PEW RESEARCH CENTER<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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