2026 federal pay period calendar
All 26 biweekly OPM periods from January 11, 2026 through January 9, 2027. Find a work date’s period, print the table, and verify paydays with your provider.
Enter a date to see its period.
What this calendar covers
- Rule snapshot
- Reviewed
- Primary sources
- OPM leave-year dates
- Published schedule
- 26 biweekly periods for most employees
Coverage: OPM period dates
OPM says these dates apply to most employees and warns that some agency payroll systems differ. Use the provider links below or your agency calendar for EFT and official pay dates.
The OPM 2026 leave year begins Jan 11, 2026 and ends Jan 9, 2027.
OPM lists Nov 28, 2026 as the deadline to schedule use-or-lose annual leave for most employees.
OPM 2026 leave-year periods
Numbers below are a simple 1–26 sequence within this leave year. Your payroll provider may use different period labels.
| Period | Starts | Ends | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 11, 2026 | Jan 24, 2026 | — |
| 2 | Jan 25, 2026 | Feb 7, 2026 | — |
| 3 | Feb 8, 2026 | Feb 21, 2026 | — |
| 4 | Feb 22, 2026 | Mar 7, 2026 | — |
| 5 | Mar 8, 2026 | Mar 21, 2026 | — |
| 6 | Mar 22, 2026 | Apr 4, 2026 | — |
| 7 | Apr 5, 2026 | Apr 18, 2026 | — |
| 8 | Apr 19, 2026 | May 2, 2026 | — |
| 9 | May 3, 2026 | May 16, 2026 | — |
| 10 | May 17, 2026 | May 30, 2026 | — |
| 11 | May 31, 2026 | Jun 13, 2026 | — |
| 12 | Jun 14, 2026 | Jun 27, 2026 | — |
| 13 | Jun 28, 2026 | Jul 11, 2026 | — |
| 14 | Jul 12, 2026 | Jul 25, 2026 | — |
| 15 | Jul 26, 2026 | Aug 8, 2026 | — |
| 16 | Aug 9, 2026 | Aug 22, 2026 | — |
| 17 | Aug 23, 2026 | Sep 5, 2026 | — |
| 18 | Sep 6, 2026 | Sep 19, 2026 | — |
| 19 | Sep 20, 2026 | Oct 3, 2026 | — |
| 20 | Oct 4, 2026 | Oct 17, 2026 | — |
| 21 | Oct 18, 2026 | Oct 31, 2026 | — |
| 22 | Nov 1, 2026 | Nov 14, 2026 | — |
| 23 | Nov 15, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | Scheduling deadline |
| 24 | Nov 29, 2026 | Dec 12, 2026 | — |
| 25 | Dec 13, 2026 | Dec 26, 2026 | — |
| 26 | Dec 27, 2026 | Jan 9, 2027 | — |
Check your payroll provider
Use a provider calendar only when your agency or payroll records identify that provider.
- GSA Payroll ServicesPay-period ends, time-card certification dates, EFT dates, and official pay dates for the GSA payroll calendar.
- USDA National Finance CenterNFC's official 2026 pay-period calendar for employees served by NFC.
- Interior Business CenterIBC explains that EFT timing depends on an agency's FPPS pay-processing group.
2026 pay period calendar FAQ
Does every federal employee use this calendar?
No. OPM says its published leave-year dates apply to most employees, but some agency payroll systems use a different pay-period schedule. Verify your schedule with your agency or payroll provider.
Does this calendar show my payday?
No. It shows OPM leave-year pay-period start and end dates. Electronic deposit and official pay dates depend on the payroll provider, processing group, agency, and sometimes the financial institution.
Why does the 2026 leave year end in 2027?
OPM defines a leave year as beginning with the first day of the first full biweekly pay period in a calendar year and ending immediately before the next such period. The 2026 leave year therefore runs through January 9, 2027.
How many periods are in the OPM 2026 leave year?
There are 26 biweekly periods from January 11, 2026 through January 9, 2027. A calendar-year paycheck count can differ because payroll providers may number periods or count payment dates differently.
Can I print this calendar or save it as a PDF?
Yes. Use the Print calendar button above the table, or your browser's print command, and choose Save as PDF as the destination. The printout keeps the full 26-period table and drops the interactive lookup.
Primary source
OPM leave year beginning and ending datesLooking ahead? See the 2027 federal pay period calendar.
Planning annual leave? Project your 2026 leave balance.
Need date-specific retirement planning? Compare federal retirement dates.