Celebrating Juneteenth 2026

June 19, 2026, marks the 161 anniversary of Juneteenth. On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Act, making it the 11 federal holiday in the United States. About half of the states in the nation also mark the day as an official state holiday.

What is Juneteenth?

Chances are, if you went to school in California before the twenty-first century, you were taught that Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery when he issued the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863 at the height of the Civil War. From most students’ perspectives, this was the end of slavery in the United States. Unfortunately, the order was not enforced until Union soldiers advanced into the Confederate States after the end of the war in 1865.

On June 19, 1865, US Major. General Gordon Granger delivered General Order No. 3 to the people of Galveston, Texas, which read in part:

The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor.

That historic day became known as Juneteenth, a combination of “June” and “nineteenth.” Texas would become the first state to recognize its importance by making it a state celebration called “Emancipation Day” in 1980.

Celebrating Juneteenth

The earliest Juneteenth celebrations took place in Galveston and throughout Texas. Since African Americans were not allowed to use public facilities, many pooled their resources to purchase land to hold celebrations. Since then, the celebrations have ebbed and flowed, reflecting what was happening in America. The early 1900s saw a decline due to the Great Depression and World Wars. Meanwhile, the Civil Rights Movement of the 50s and 60s and, more recently, the nationwide protests that took place in 2020 over the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, along with the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, all led to a resurgence of the holiday into the public consciousness.

Many cities throughout the country hold celebrations commemorating this historic day, and employers frequently include Juneteenth as one of their recognized holidays. While California’s private employers are not required to close or pay employees who are not working on any federal or state-recognized holiday (except in the case of certain government contracts or collective bargaining agreements), you may still consider providing opportunities for employees to celebrate and recognize Juneteenth. This could be as simple as a voluntary potluck or lunch & learn session. Cultural events like this can provide an opportunity for employees to learn about the importance of the holiday and its significance to the shared American experience. In doing so, it could also promote understanding, respect, and unity among your workforce.

More questions on accommodating cultural celebrations? CEA members can call us at 800.399.5331 or email us at CEAinfo@employers.org.