Native American Day in the United States

While the second Monday of October marks Columbus Day in many parts of the United States, some states instead observe Native American Day, a celebration of North America’s Indigenous peoples and their cultures.

Is Native American Day a Public Holiday?

Native American Day 2023 is a state observance in 5 states and a state holiday in Arizona and South Dakota.

©iStockphoto.com/Juan Monino

Where and When Is Native American Day Celebrated?

Native American Day 2023 is a state observance inand a state holiday in Arizona and South Dakota.

Native American Day is a public holiday or official state observance only in some states. However, it has been steadily growing in both scope and popularity. Some states celebrate it on the second Monday of October, while others have moved the celebration to different dates. The table below shows where and when it is observed.

In Arizona, the holiday is a legal state holiday and is observed on June 2, if it is a Sunday. When June 2 falls on any other weekday, it is observed on the following Sunday.

Some states observe a similar celebration called Indigenous People’s Day.

Celebrating Native American Day

Native American Day is an opportunity to celebrate and learn about the traditions, culture, and background of Native Americans. Events vary from one place to another, but they may include pow wows, markets, or exhibitions.

Background

Native Americans are the indigenous peoples of North America. The term encompasses hundreds of different tribes, from the Inuit of Alaska to the Cherokees of the southeastern woodlands, each of whom has its own unique culture and language.

Native American Day Observances

Showing: YearWeekdayDateNameHoliday TypeArea2018FriMay 11Native American DayState ObservanceWyoming2018SatSep 8Native American DayState ObservanceDelaware2018FriSep 28Native American DayState ObservanceCalifornia, Nevada2018MonOct 8Native American DayState HolidaySouth Dakota2019FriMay 10Native American DayState ObservanceWyoming2019SunJun 2Native American DayState HolidayArizona2019SatSep 7Native American DayState ObservanceDelaware2019FriSep 27Native American DayState ObservanceCalifornia, Nevada2019MonOct 14Native American DayState HolidaySouth Dakota2019MonOct 14Native American DayState ObservanceOklahoma2020FriMay 8Native American DayState ObservanceWyoming2020SunJun 7Native American DayState HolidayArizona2020SatSep 12Native American DayState ObservanceDelaware2020FriSep 25Native American DayState ObservanceCalifornia, Nevada2020MonOct 12Native American DayState ObservanceOklahoma2020MonOct 12Native American DayState HolidaySouth Dakota2021FriMay 14Native American DayState ObservanceWyoming2021SunJun 6Native American DayState HolidayArizona2021SatSep 11Native American DayState ObservanceDelaware2021FriSep 24Native American DayState ObservanceCalifornia, Nevada2021MonOct 11Native American DayState HolidaySouth Dakota2021MonOct 11Native American DayState ObservanceOklahoma2022FriMay 13Native American DayState ObservanceWyoming2022SunJun 5Native American DayState HolidayArizona2022SatSep 10Native American DayState ObservanceDelaware2022FriSep 23Native American DayState ObservanceCalifornia, Nevada2022MonOct 10Native American DayState ObservanceOklahoma2022MonOct 10Native American DayState HolidaySouth Dakota2023FriMay 12Native American DayState ObservanceWyoming2023SunJun 4Native American DayState HolidayArizona2023SatSep 9Native American DayState ObservanceDelaware2023FriSep 22Native American DayState ObservanceCalifornia, Nevada2023MonOct 9Native American DayState ObservanceOklahoma2023MonOct 9Native American DayState HolidaySouth Dakota2024FriMay 10Native American DayState ObservanceWyoming2024SunJun 2Native American DayState HolidayArizona2024SatSep 7Native American DayState ObservanceDelaware2024FriSep 27Native American DayState ObservanceCalifornia, Nevada2024MonOct 14Native American DayState HolidaySouth Dakota2024MonOct 14Native American DayState ObservanceOklahoma2025FriMay 9Native American DayState ObservanceWyoming2025SunJun 8Native American DayState HolidayArizona2025SatSep 6Native American DayState ObservanceDelaware2025FriSep 26Native American DayState ObservanceCalifornia, Nevada2025MonOct 13Native American DayState ObservanceOklahoma2025MonOct 13Native American DayState HolidaySouth Dakota2026FriMay 8Native American DayState ObservanceWyoming2026SunJun 7Native American DayState HolidayArizona2026SatSep 12Native American DayState ObservanceDelaware2026FriSep 25Native American DayState ObservanceCalifornia, Nevada2026MonOct 12Native American DayState ObservanceOklahoma2026MonOct 12Native American DayState HolidaySouth Dakota2027FriMay 14Native American DayState ObservanceWyoming2027SunJun 6Native American DayState HolidayArizona2027SatSep 11Native American DayState ObservanceDelaware2027FriSep 24Native American DayState ObservanceCalifornia, Nevada2027MonOct 11Native American DayState ObservanceOklahoma2027MonOct 11Native American DayState HolidaySouth Dakota2028FriMay 12Native American DayState ObservanceWyoming2028SunJun 4Native American DayState HolidayArizona2028SatSep 9Native American DayState ObservanceDelaware2028FriSep 22Native American DayState ObservanceCalifornia, Nevada2028MonOct 9Native American DayState ObservanceOklahoma2028MonOct 9Native American DayState HolidaySouth Dakota

While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.