Juneteenth, a federal holiday, falls on Friday, June 19, this year, celebrating the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S.
Juneteenth has been celebrated by Black Americans across the country since the 1800s. The date commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom at the conclusion of the Civil War.
The name “Juneteenth” is a combination of “June” and “nineteenth,” in honor of the day.
The holiday offers Americans the second of four three-day weekends this summer. Memorial Day took place May 23-25, the Fourth of July will be observed on July 3, offering July 3-5 as a three-day weekend, and Labor Day ends the summer season with three days on Sept. 5-7.
Here’s what to know about Juneteenth this year:
When is Juneteenth in 2026?
Juneteenth is on Friday, June 19, 2026.
What does Juneteenth celebrate?
The holiday celebrates Black freedom, marking June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed Black people that the Civil War was over and slavery had been ended in the U.S. It’s become known as America’s second independence day, the National Museum of African American History & Culture says.
The day came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, but the proclamation could only be enforced in areas under Union control. Confederate Texas was not under Union control until 1865.
Will I get Juneteenth off this year? Is it a federal holiday?
Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the U.S., prompting the closure of federal offices, including courts, post offices, social security offices and others across the country.
When did Juneteenth become a federal holiday?
Former President Joe Biden signed a law making Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021.
Is Juneteenth a state holiday in Michigan?
Yes, Juneteenth is a state holiday in Michigan. State offices will be closed and state employees get the day off.
When did Juneteenth become a state holiday in Michigan?
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a law making Juneteenth a state holiday in Michigan in 2023.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Is Juneteenth a federal holiday? When to celebrate end of slavery
Reporting by Jalen Williams and Jenna Prestininzi, USA TODAY NETWORK / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
