Holiday Leave
ASU System employees are eligible for eleven paid holidays per year. Generally, these days are observed on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving (2 days), and Christmas (5 days). In order to observe a two-week break at the close of the calendar year, a campus may charge employees with annual days. Employees should utilize annual leave for the purpose of observing holidays not established by the State of Arkansas, including religious observances.
20252026 Holiday Calendar
Wednesday, January 1, 2025 New Year'Year’s Day
Monday, May 26 Memorial Day
Friday, July 4 Day Independence Day
Monday, September 1 Labor Day
Thursday, November 27 Thanksgiving Day
Friday, November 28 Potential State Holiday*
Monday, December 22 MLK Jr. Day (Observed)
Tuesday, December 23 Veteran's Day (Observed)
Wednesday, December 24 Christmas Eve
Thursday, December 25 Christmas Day
Friday, December 26 Annual Leave Assessed #1
Monday, December 29 Employee's Birthday (Observed)
Tuesday, December 30 Washington's Birthday & Daisy Gatson Bates Day (Observed)
Wednesday, December 31 Annual Leave Assessed #2
Thursday, January 1, 2026 New Year's Day 2026
Friday, January 2, 2026 January 1, 2026
Memorial Day May 25, 2026
Independence Day Observed July 3, 2026
Labor Day September 7, 2026
Thanksgiving Day November 26, 2026
12th Holiday if Proclaimed by the Governor November 27, 2026
Martin Luther King Jr Birthday Observed December 21, 2026
Veteran’s Day Observed December 22, 2026
Annual Leave Assessed#1 #3 December 23, 2026
Christmas Eve December 24, 2026
Christmas Day December 25, 2026
Employee’s Birthday December 28, 2026
George Washington’s Birthday and Daisy Gatson Bates Day Observed December 29, 2026
Annual Leave #2 December 30, 2026
Annual Leave #3 December 31, 2026
New Year’s Day January 1, 2027
Return to work on January 4th, 2027
Employees return on January 5th, 2026.
*If the Governor proclaims Friday, November 28th, as a 12th holiday for all state employees, A-State will observe that holiday on Friday, November 28th, 2025.
Note: Employees will be assessed 2 days of vacation in December 2025 and 1 day in 2026.