Forget squinting at a blurry photocopy taped inside a locker that’s seen better decades. And please, don’t waste another hour diving into forum threads from 2019.
I’ve built the only tool you need to see your rotating days off, paydays, and federal holidays — instantly.
If you’re a city letter carrier, a rural carrier, or a shop steward trying to make sense of the NALC 6‑week rotation, you’ve just found your new best friend. Below you get a fully interactive USPS Color Coded Calendar 2026, plus a high‑resolution printable you can grab in seconds.
Your Interactive Dashboard (Yes, the Whole 2026 Schedule Lives Here)
Just beneath these words you’ll see the dashboard. Tap your assigned color — Red, Black, Yellow, Blue, Green, or Orange — and every day off pops out like magic.
No math. No tears. No “wait, did my drop‑day shift last week?”
🗓️ USPS Rotating Color Schedule 2026
January 2026 Highlights
- Federal Holidays: New Year’s Day (Jan 1), MLK Jr. Day (Jan 19)
- USPS Paydays: Jan 2, Jan 16, Jan 30
- Bonus: 3 Paydays in one month!
Ensure you check your NALC rotating schedule color for specific days off following the holiday week.
February 2026 Highlights
- Federal Holidays: President’s Day (Feb 16)
- USPS Paydays: Feb 13, Feb 27
February is a shorter month, plan your annual leave accordingly around the President’s Day long weekend.
March 2026 Highlights
- Federal Holidays: None
- USPS Paydays: Mar 13, Mar 27
A standard 6-color rotation month with no federal interruptions. Great time to catch up on hours.
April 2026 Highlights
- Federal Holidays: None
- USPS Paydays: Apr 10, Apr 24
Stay on track with your rotating off days. Download the clean PDF above to keep in your LLV.
May 2026 Highlights
- Federal Holidays: Memorial Day (May 25)
- USPS Paydays: May 8, May 22
The summer season begins! Make sure to align your rotating colors with Memorial Day weekend plans.
June 2026 Highlights
- Federal Holidays: Juneteenth (Jun 19)
- USPS Paydays: Jun 5, Jun 19
- Special Event: Payday coincides with Juneteenth holiday.
A rare double event on the 19th. Verify with your local branch on holiday pay protocols.
July 2026 Highlights
- Federal Holidays: Independence Day (Jul 4)
- USPS Paydays: Jul 3, Jul 17, Jul 31
- Bonus: Another 3 Payday month!
Independence Day falls on a Saturday, meaning Friday July 3rd is the observed holiday and payday for many carriers.
August 2026 Highlights
- Federal Holidays: None
- USPS Paydays: Aug 14, Aug 28
Solid rotation month. Keep hydrated on the route during peak summer heat!
September 2026 Highlights
- Federal Holidays: Labor Day (Sep 7)
- USPS Paydays: Sep 11, Sep 25
Labor day weekend offers a great break depending on your assigned color code.
October 2026 Highlights
- Federal Holidays: Columbus Day (Oct 12)
- USPS Paydays: Oct 9, Oct 23
Prepare for political mail season volume increases while tracking your days off.
November 2026 Highlights
- Federal Holidays: Veterans Day (Nov 11), Thanksgiving (Nov 26)
- USPS Paydays: Nov 6, Nov 20
Peak season begins. Two major federal holidays to account for in your rotation schedule.
December 2026 Highlights
- Federal Holidays: Christmas Day (Dec 25)
- USPS Paydays: Dec 4, Dec 18
The busiest month of the year for carriers. Stay safe out there and enjoy the holidays!
Pick any month, check your long weekends, and when you’re ready, hit the download button. The printable version is sharp enough to slap on an LLV clipboard and forget about rain smudges.
[H2] 2026 USPS Holidays: The Days You Actually Care About
Because knowing when you’re off is only half the battle. Maximizing your annual leave around federal holidays is the real game.
Here’s the full 2026 USPS holiday lineup — mark your NALC postal calendar now.
| Holiday | Date | Day of the Week |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | January 1 | Thursday |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | January 19 | Monday |
| President’s Day | February 16 | Monday |
| Memorial Day | May 25 | Monday |
| Juneteenth | June 19 | Friday (payday!) |
| Independence Day | July 4 | Saturday |
| Labor Day | September 7 | Monday |
| Columbus Day | October 12 | Monday |
| Veterans Day | November 11 | Wednesday |
| Thanksgiving Day | November 26 | Thursday |
| Christmas Day | December 25 | Friday |
Pro tip — Juneteenth on a payday Friday feels like a small postal miracle. Bank it.
How the NALC Color Rotation Actually Works (Without the Headache)
I remember my first week as a CCA, staring at a wall chart that looked like a pride flag had a fight with a spreadsheet. The veteran carrier next to me just smirked and said, “Kid, it drops back one day every week — you’ll learn.”
He wasn’t wrong.
The National Association of Letter Carriers uses a 6‑color rotating schedule (Red, Black, Yellow, Blue, Green, Orange) to spread weekends and weekdays off fairly. Your color assignment never changes, but your day off slides backward by one each week.
Example: If you’re “Red” and your day off is Friday this week, next week it’s Thursday, then Wednesday… and after six weeks, the cycle resets.
The dashboard above does all that mental gymnastics for you. Just match your color and breathe.
Need the official contract language? Peek at the NALC rotating schedule explanation (your union, your rules).
FAQs: Because You’re Not the Only One Asking
Typically late fall, but honestly — the pattern is set in stone. The dashboard you see here is already aligned with the standard NALC rotation, so you can plan your whole year right now. No waiting.
For city carriers under the NALC contract, yes. The 6‑color rotation is nationwide. Local MOUs might tweak annual leave bidding, but your color and the drop‑day pattern don’t change.
Absolutely. Right above, in the dashboard area, pick a month and hit download. You’ll get a clean, high‑res printable — perfect for your locker, fridge, or that clipboard that’s seen things.
A Personal Note (From Someone Who Gets It)
I once misread a black‑and‑white printout in the dark and showed up on my scheduled Saturday off. Don’t be me.
This tool exists because postal workers deserve one less annoyance in their day — and frankly, because the internet already has enough “calendars” that are just blurry screenshots of 2021.
Bookmark this page. Share it with your steward. For the first time, checking your 2026 USPS color coded calendar actually feels like a win.
