The University of South Carolina observes the same number of holidays as other state agencies, even though the days on which the holidays are observed may differ because of the academic schedule. When a university holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the holiday will be observed on the preceding Friday or the following Monday.
Holiday Schedule
The following dates were approved as the official university holidays.
2026 Holiday Schedule
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday, January 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, January 19 |
| National Memorial Day | Monday, May 25 |
| Independence Day | Friday, July 3 |
| Labor Day | Monday, September 7 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, November 26 |
| Day After Thanksgiving | Friday, November 27 |
| Christmas Eve | Thursday, December 24 |
| Christmas Day | Friday, December 25 |
| Day After Christmas | Monday, December 28 |
| December Holiday | Tuesday, December 29 |
| December Holiday | Wednesday, December 30 |
| December Holiday | Thursday, December 31 |
2027 Holiday Schedule
| Holiday | Date |
|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Friday, January 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, January 18 |
| National Memorial Day | Monday, May 31 |
| Independence Day | Monday, July 5 |
| Labor Day | Monday, September 6 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, November 25 |
| Day After Thanksgiving | Friday, November 26 |
| Christmas Eve | Friday, December 24 |
| Christmas Day | Monday, December 27 |
| Day After Christmas | Tuesday, December 28 |
| December Holiday | Wednesday, December 29 |
| December Holiday | Thursday, December 30 |
| December Holiday | Friday, December 31 |
| New Year's Day (2028 holiday) | Monday, January 3, 2028 |
Holiday Leave
Holidays are to be taken on the day designated in the university holiday schedule unless it is necessary for the employee to be at work. To the extent possible, prior notice will be given to employees who must work on holidays. All holiday leave must be reported through the university’s Time and Absence System or other applicable time recording system. For more information about entering time, or for additional details about holiday leave, please visit the Policies and Procedures section of this site.