It's the start of a new month and a new year! January 2026 marks new beginnings.
But what does the first month of the year have in store for us? There will not only be two federal holidays but also religious holidays and some celestial stargazing events.
While it won't be as busy as December, there is still plenty to look forward to in January.
So break out the 2026 calendars, because here's what you should make note of for the month of January.
Ready for 2026?Big holidays, celebrations fall on Fridays, Saturdays.
Are there any federal holidays in January?
Yes, there are two federal holidays, and they will occur on the following day, according to theU.S. Office of Personnel Management:
New Year's Day- Thursday, Jan. 1
Birthday of Martin Luther King Jr.- Monday, Jan. 19
After January, the next federal holiday, President's Day/Washington's Birthday, will take place on Monday, Feb. 16
Religious holidays taking place in January
The following religious holidays and holy days will take place throughout the month, according toDiversity Resources:
Mahayana New Year- Saturday, Jan. 3
Guru Gobind Singh Gurpurab- Monday, Jan. 5
Epiphany (also called Three Kings Day or Día de los Reyes)- Tuesday, Jan. 6
Christmas (celebrated by Coptic Orthodox Christians)- Wednesday, Jan. 7
Pongal- Wednesday, Jan. 14
Celestial events occurring throughout January
Multiple celestial events will also happen throughout January, including a super moon, according toNASA.
Here's what to look up for:
Full moon/super moon: Saturday, Jan. 3
Quadrantid meteor shower peaks: Saturday, Jan. 3
Moon Occults Mars: On Tuesday, Jan. 13, the moon will look like it passes in front og Mars
Venus and Saturn will be in conjunction: From Saturday, Jan 17 to Sunday, Jan. 18, the two planets will look like they are right next to each other, though they will be visible throughout the month.
Throughout January, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars will be visible with the naked eye within the first few hours after it gets dark, according to NASA.
Venus and Saturn can be spotted in the southwest part of the sky, while Jupiter will be overhead, and Mars will be in the east. Apps like SkyView or SkySafari Pro can help backyard astronomers spot the planets.
Uranus and Neptune will also be visible in the night sky, but folks will need a telescope to see the planets.
January 2026 National Days
There are also several notable National Days in January. They include:
National Hangover Day: Thursday, Jan. 1
National Trivia Day: Sunday, Jan. 4
National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day: Friday, Jan. 9
National Popcorn Day: Monday, Jan. 19
National Pie Day: Friday, Jan. 23
Julia is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers scientific studies and trending news. Connect with her onLinkedIn,X,Instagram, andTikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:January 2026 calendar includes federal holidays and more. See list.
