On Friday, the nation will commemorate a significant historical milestone—161 years since the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom, a full two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
Juneteenth, the day that marks this momentous occasion, was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021 under the administration of President Joe Biden. Despite remarks last year from former President Donald Trump, who noted the U.S. may be financially burdened by “too many non-working holidays,” Juneteenth remains a federal holiday. This means a range of services will be unavailable this Friday.
For instance, postal services will halt for the day, with no mail delivery and post offices closed. Juneteenth is one of the 11 holidays observed by the U.S. Postal Service in 2026. However, businesses like Amazon, FedEx, and UPS will continue to operate as usual, maintaining their regular business hours.
For example, you won’t be receiving any mail, and your local post office won’t be open. Juneteenth is one of 11 holidays the U.S. Postal Service observes in 2026. Unlike other holidays, Amazon, FedEx, and UPS will observe normal business hours on Juneteenth.
Federal reserve banks and branches will also be closed on Friday, as will any of your local banks and credit unions. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will take the day off as well.
A previous report by the Congressional Research Service reported that in at least 30 states and the District of Columbia, Juneteenth is a permanent paid and/or legal holiday, according to Nexstar’s NewsNation. That means some state and local offices and services may not be available on Juneteenth, like your local library, the DMV, and even state-run liquor stores.
Unlike previous years, you will no longer receive free admission into fee-charging national parks. The Trump administration changed the list of fee-free days for 2026, with the next coming over Independence Day weekend.
Retailers, including grocery stores, and major restaurant chains are expected to remain open. You may want to call ahead to confirm a local business is operating normal hours.
Since Juneteenth falls on a Saturday in 2027, you’ll likely see fewer services impacted.