Employers should stay informed about federal and state holidays in Arizona. Planning for these holidays helps establish time-off policies, manage staffing, and prepare payroll for holiday pay if applicable. Check the calendar below for all Arizona state holidays in 2025.
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Arizona Federal Holidays 2025
Arizona observes a number of holidays which gives residents time to enjoy cultural activities, relax, and recharge during these festivities. So, what holidays exactly do they celebrate in AZ?
Let’s check out this list of Arizona state holidays.
Federal and State Holidays in Arizona 2025:
- New Year’s Day (Wednesday, January 1, 2025)
- Martin Luther King’s Birthday/Civil Rights Day (Monday, January 20, 2025)
- Presidents’ Day (Monday, February 17, 2025)
- Memorial Day (Monday, May 26, 2025)
- Independence Day (Friday, July 4, 2025)
- Labor Day (Monday, September 1, 2025)
- Columbus Day, also known as, Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Monday, October 13, 2025)
- Veterans’ Day (Tuesday, November 11, 2025)
- Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, November 27, 2025)
- Christmas Day (Thursday, December 25, 2025)
Other State Holidays in Arizona:
Arizona does not officially recognize these additional holidays as paid holidays, but people still celebrate them. Some private employers may offer unpaid time off for these days, but they are not required to do so.
- Native American Day (June 2, 2025) – Only observed on June 2nd if it is a Sunday, if not it is observed on the following Sunday.
- National Arizona Day (June 21) – A day to celebrate Arizona but not an official holiday with mandated PTO.
- American Family Day (August 3, 2025) – Arizona does officially recognize American Family Day (First Sunday in August), but it is a state-observed holiday rather than one requiring businesses to close or provide PTO.
- Constitution Commemoration Day (September 17, 2025) – Recognized for educational purposes but not a paid state holiday.
These holidays reflect Arizona’s diverse background and it’s unique history. Ultimately, these days give Arizonians time to come together and reflect on their special culture.
Native American Day
Native American Day honors the rich cultural heritage, contributions, and history of Native American tribes and communities in the state.
Typically, on this day Arizona hosts events celebrating the diverse cultures and traditions of Native Americans. The Navajo Nation, the largest Native American tribe in the U.S., has a significant presence in Arizona. Spanning a vast area of the state, the Navajo people contribute greatly to Arizona’s cultural heritage, and many events on Native American Day highlight their rich history, language, and traditions.
National Arizona Day
In 1912, Arizona officially became the 48th state of the United States. This holiday serves as a time to reflect on the state’s rich history and its evolution over the decades.
Before achieving statehood, Arizona was home to numerous Native American tribes with different cultures and traditions. Later, it came under Mexican rule after Mexico gained independence from Spain in the 19th century. Following the Mexican-American War, the United States took control of the region, eventually leading to Arizona’s statehood. This Arizona state holiday honors it’s journey to becoming a state and its complex history.
American Family Day
This Arizona state holiday takes place on the first Sunday in August. It’s a non-paid holiday used to focus on spending quality time with your family. An important distinguish about this holiday is that it actively discourages people from buying gifts or other material items. This day truly strengthens family bonds and creates new memories together.
Constitution Commemoration Day
Constitution Commemoration Day, also known as, Citizenship Day is celebrated in schools and serves an educational purpose. The main purpose of this Arizona state holiday is to educate future generations about the U.S. constitution and understand its purpose in today’s politics.
Do employers have to provide time off for Arizona state holidays?
State employers provide time off for AZ state holidays to employees who are covered by a collective bargaining agreement that specifies the requirement. This includes employees who are classified as exempt under the FSLA. Exempt employees are typically salaried employees who are not eligible for overtime pay.
State holidays 2025 in Arizona that these public employers observe include:
- New Year’s Day: January 1
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day: January 20
- Presidents’ Day: February 17
- Memorial Day: May 26
- Independence Day: July 4
- Labor Day: September 1
- Veterans Day: November 11
- Thanksgiving Day: November 27
- Christmas Day: December 25
In most cases, these holidays coincide with federal holidays that are also observed in New York, Massachusetts, Texas, New Jersey, and Florida. It is also important to note, that public employees and professions that adhere to the state calendar will have these holidays off. These professions include educators and bankers. However, most private employers will require their employees to work and continue operations regardless if it is a holiday or not.
What about private employers?
As mentioned above, private employers are not required to provide time off for their employees. However, it is common practice that private employers will provide time off for the “standard six”. These holidays include New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Additionally, some private employers will observe Presidents Day.
However, the specific rules for time off for private employees depend on each employer’s leave policy. For example, some employers offer a set number of days of paid leave, while other employers offer unlimited PTO, personal time off, VTO, floating holidays, or flexible time off.
Arizona does not have state laws regulating how private-sector employees accrue or use vacation leave. Employers have the freedom to set their own policies on vacation payout and PTO carryover. However, Arizona does have laws regarding earned paid sick time under the Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act, but this does not apply to general vacation or PTO policies.
Related: Arizona PTO Laws
What paid holidays are mandatory in Arizona?
State employees in Arizona are entitled to paid time off for 10 holidays (listed below). However, it can depend on the employee’s classification (exempt or non-exempt), contract, or collective bargaining agreement. There are always exceptions and will be depended on a case by case basis.
Nonetheless, most non-exempt state employees in Arizona are eligible to receive paid time off for designated holidays.
These holidays are:
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday
- Washington Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
In contrast, private employees are not legally provided with paid holidays. Holiday pay and PTO policies will be determined by the employer meaning each company will offer different rates and time off.
Simplify time off, timesheets, payroll, and more
Factorial is an all-in-one business software that streamlines employee time off, payroll prep, and ensures accurate timesheets. Its cloud-based platform is easy to navigate while providing robust features.
Some of Factorial’s key features that can help you manage time off for all Arizona state holidays include:
- Time Off Management – Employees can easily submit time-off requests through Factorial’s platform, while managers can approve or deny them with a few clicks using an intuitive leave management system.
- Timesheet Management – Employees can clock in and out via the Factorial app, with timesheets automatically synced to the dashboard for quick review and approval.
- Payroll Management – Factorial automates payroll calculations and tax deductions using real-time time-tracking data, freeing HR teams to focus on strategic initiatives instead of manual payroll tasks.
Ultimately, Factorial is a comprehensive solution to manage your business to handle all AZ state holidays with ease. Ensure compliance, increase employee productivity, and stay organized all with Factorial. Book a free demo to transform your business management.
