WASHINGTON, February 16, 2026 – It’s a bit of a national myth: President’s Day isn’t actually a nationally recognized holiday, despite what many assume. While almost two dozen states acknowledge teh day, more than a dozen others do not, leading to a patchwork of observances across the country.
A Day With Many Names and Varying recognition
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the holiday, officially observed on Monday, February 16, 2026, is frequently enough called President’s Day but is historically known as Washington’s Birthday.
The roots of the day stretch back to 1885, when Congress first established Washington’s Birthday as a federal holiday. The idea to consolidate several federal holidays into Mondays was approved by Congress in 1968 with the passage of the Uniform Monday Holiday Law, going into effect in 1971. However, the law retained the name “Washington’s Birthday” and didn’t officially extend the recognition to Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.
Lincoln’s birthday, February 12, is frequently enough celebrated alongside Washington’s due to its proximity. This dual recognition is particularly common in states like Illinois, where Lincoln’s political career blossomed, and where both presidents’ birthdays are observed separately.
A Calendar Correction and Past Context
The observance of the holiday varies significantly by state. Virginia,the birthplace of George Washington,recognizes the day as George Washington Day. Here’s a breakdown of how different states acknowledge the holiday:
Under the name “Presidents’ Day”:
Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland, michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Florida, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Under the name “Washington’s Birthday”:
Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, south Carolina and Virginia.
Alabama (Washington y Jefferson), Illinois y Arkansas (Washington y Daisy Gatson Bates).
Some states choose not to celebrate the day at all, maintaining a more limited list of official state holidays.
