New Year's Day 2026 in the United States

New Year’s Day, celebrated on January 1, marks the beginning of the year in the Gregorian calendar. It follows the festivities of New Year’s Eve and offers a moment for reflection and new beginnings.

Is New Year’s Day A Public Holiday?

New Year’s Day (January 1) is both a federal and a state public holiday in the United States. Federal government offices, post offices, banks, and most state and local government offices are closed. Many schools and businesses also close or operate with reduced hours to mark the occasion.

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When Is New Year’s Day in the US?

New Year’s Day is observed every year on January 1, the first day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. If January 1 falls on a weekend, the federal government may observe the holiday on the closest weekday.

How Is New Year’s Day Celebrated in the US?

While the most iconic New Year celebration happens on New Year’s Eve (the last day of the year), January 1 is often a time for relaxation and recovery. Traditional celebrations include:

• Watching parades and sports: The Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, and major college football bowl games are staples of New Year’s Day television.
• Family gatherings and meals: Many people enjoy a hearty breakfast or brunch at home.
• Regional food traditions: In the American South, eating black-eyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread is believed to bring good luck and prosperity in the coming year.
• Setting New Year’s resolutions: Americans often use the day to reflect on the previous year and make goals for the coming one.
• Singing “Auld Lang Syne”: Popularized by Robert Burns, this Scottish song is often sung at midnight to bid farewell to the old year.

What’s Happening Locally?

Some US cities host unique New Year’s Day events. For example:

• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is home to the annual Mummers Parade, a vibrant folk tradition that features music, costumes, and satire.
• In New York City, while the famous Times Square Ball Drop and countdown happen on New Year’s Eve, celebrations and fireworks displays often continue into January 1.
• In coastal areas like New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans, some communities even take part in cold-weather swims or cold water plunges to mark the start of a new year.

How January 1 Became New Year’s Day

The celebration of New Year’s dates back to ancient civilizations, such as the Babylonians, who marked the beginning of the year with spring festivals. In 46 BCE, Julius Caesar introduced the Julian calendar, establishing January 1 as the start of the year in honor of Janus, the Roman god of beginnings.

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII reformed the calendar to correct inaccuracies, creating today’s Gregorian calendar. The British Empire, along with its North American colonies, which are now known as Canada and the United States, adopted it in 1752, aligning its New Year’s traditions with those of many Western nations.

Did You Know?

• The US has observed New Year’s Day as a federal holiday since 1870.
• The Times Square Ball Drop tradition started in 1907.

About New Year's Day in Other Countries

While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.