A biweekly payroll that pays on Friday, January 2, 2026 has 26 pay dates in 2026.
Last updated FreeNo signupPrints on one page
A biweekly year has 27 pay dates only when one of them falls on January 1, and none does for this cycle in 2026. Semimonthly payroll has 24 pay dates and monthly payroll has 12.
Two pay dates land on a federal holiday, so they are paid the business day before.
Any pay date of your cycle works. The list shows the pay dates that fall in 2026.
Biweekly from Friday, January 2, 2026
26pay dates in 2026
2 pay dates move to the business day before. 24 semimonthly and 12 monthly.
Biweekly
26 pay dates, every 14 days
| Number | Pay date |
|---|---|
| 1 | Fri, Jan 2 |
| 2 | Fri, Jan 16 |
| 3 | Fri, Jan 30 |
| 4 | Fri, Feb 13 |
| 5 | Fri, Feb 27 |
| 6 | Fri, Mar 13 |
| 7 | Fri, Mar 27 |
| 8 | Fri, Apr 10 |
| 9 | Fri, Apr 24 |
| 10 | Fri, May 8 |
| 11 | Fri, May 22 |
| 12 | Fri, Jun 5 |
| 13 | Thu, Jun 18Scheduled Fri, Jun 19, Juneteenth National Independence Day |
| 14 | Thu, Jul 2Scheduled Fri, Jul 3, Independence Day |
| 15 | Fri, Jul 17 |
| 16 | Fri, Jul 31 |
| 17 | Fri, Aug 14 |
| 18 | Fri, Aug 28 |
| 19 | Fri, Sep 11 |
| 20 | Fri, Sep 25 |
| 21 | Fri, Oct 9 |
| 22 | Fri, Oct 23 |
| 23 | Fri, Nov 6 |
| 24 | Fri, Nov 20 |
| 25 | Fri, Dec 4 |
| 26 | Fri, Dec 18 |
Semimonthly
24 pay dates, the 15th and the last day
| Number | Pay date |
|---|---|
| 1 | Thu, Jan 15 |
| 2 | Fri, Jan 30Scheduled Sat, Jan 31, a weekend |
| 3 | Fri, Feb 13Scheduled Sun, Feb 15, a weekend |
| 4 | Fri, Feb 27Scheduled Sat, Feb 28, a weekend |
| 5 | Fri, Mar 13Scheduled Sun, Mar 15, a weekend |
| 6 | Tue, Mar 31 |
| 7 | Wed, Apr 15 |
| 8 | Thu, Apr 30 |
| 9 | Fri, May 15 |
| 10 | Fri, May 29Scheduled Sun, May 31, a weekend |
| 11 | Mon, Jun 15 |
| 12 | Tue, Jun 30 |
| 13 | Wed, Jul 15 |
| 14 | Fri, Jul 31 |
| 15 | Fri, Aug 14Scheduled Sat, Aug 15, a weekend |
| 16 | Mon, Aug 31 |
| 17 | Tue, Sep 15 |
| 18 | Wed, Sep 30 |
| 19 | Thu, Oct 15 |
| 20 | Fri, Oct 30Scheduled Sat, Oct 31, a weekend |
| 21 | Fri, Nov 13Scheduled Sun, Nov 15, a weekend |
| 22 | Mon, Nov 30 |
| 23 | Tue, Dec 15 |
| 24 | Thu, Dec 31 |
Monthly
12 pay dates, on the last day of the month
| Number | Pay date |
|---|---|
| 1 | Fri, Jan 30Scheduled Sat, Jan 31, a weekend |
| 2 | Fri, Feb 27Scheduled Sat, Feb 28, a weekend |
| 3 | Tue, Mar 31 |
| 4 | Thu, Apr 30 |
| 5 | Fri, May 29Scheduled Sun, May 31, a weekend |
| 6 | Tue, Jun 30 |
| 7 | Fri, Jul 31 |
| 8 | Mon, Aug 31 |
| 9 | Wed, Sep 30 |
| 10 | Fri, Oct 30Scheduled Sat, Oct 31, a weekend |
| 11 | Mon, Nov 30 |
| 12 | Thu, Dec 31 |
Shaded rows moved to the business day before the scheduled date.
See which of your own people may be leaving, before they hand in notice.
Start 30-Day Free TrialThe first-Friday biweekly cycle pays three times in January, July and December of 2026.
Biweekly pay dates in each month of 2026
January, July and December have three pay dates, because the first one falls early enough in the month for a third to fit 28 days later. The other months have two.
14 of the pay dates above are paid early in 2026 because they land on a weekend or a federal holiday.
| Schedule | Scheduled | Paid | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biweekly | Fri, Jun 19 | Thu, Jun 18 | Juneteenth National Independence Day |
| Biweekly | Fri, Jul 3 | Thu, Jul 2 | Independence Day |
| Semimonthly | Sat, Jan 31 | Fri, Jan 30 | Weekend |
| Semimonthly | Sun, Feb 15 | Fri, Feb 13 | Weekend |
| Semimonthly | Sat, Feb 28 | Fri, Feb 27 | Weekend |
| Semimonthly | Sun, Mar 15 | Fri, Mar 13 | Weekend |
| Semimonthly | Sun, May 31 | Fri, May 29 | Weekend |
| Semimonthly | Sat, Aug 15 | Fri, Aug 14 | Weekend |
| Semimonthly | Sat, Oct 31 | Fri, Oct 30 | Weekend |
| Semimonthly | Sun, Nov 15 | Fri, Nov 13 | Weekend |
| Monthly, last day | Sat, Jan 31 | Fri, Jan 30 | Weekend |
| Monthly, last day | Sat, Feb 28 | Fri, Feb 27 | Weekend |
| Monthly, last day | Sun, May 31 | Fri, May 29 | Weekend |
| Monthly, last day | Sat, Oct 31 | Fri, Oct 30 | Weekend |
The list uses the biweekly cycle that starts on the first Friday and the monthly cycle that pays on the last day. Change either one in the box above and the dates redraw.
A weekly payroll paid on Fridays has 52 pay dates in 2026, biweekly has 26 or 27, semimonthly 24 and monthly 12.
Weekly payroll pays every week, biweekly every other week, semimonthly twice a month on fixed dates and monthly once. Use the paycheck calculator or the hourly paycheck calculator for what lands in the account on each date.
The 2026 calendar and holidays show the days these pay dates move around.
The federal holidays 2026 page lists the days off, and the 2026 calendar marks them in each month.
Here are answers to the questions people ask about 2026 pay periods.
- How many pay periods are in 2026?
- A biweekly payroll that pays on Friday, January 2, 2026 has 26 pay periods in 2026. A weekly payroll paid on Fridays has 52, a semimonthly payroll has 24 and a monthly payroll has 12. Pick your own first pay date above to see the count for your cycle.
- Why do some years have 27 biweekly pay periods?
- Twenty-seven pay dates, 14 days apart, span 365 days, so a 27th fits only when the first pay date of the year is January 1. In 2026 that means Thursday, January 1, 2026; every other first pay date gives 26. The Friday cycle that pays on Friday, January 2, 2026 has 26. A pay date that is moved off a holiday still counts, and so does one that lands on a Saturday or Sunday.
- What happens when a pay date is a weekend or a federal holiday?
- This calendar pays on the business day before. In 2026 that moves 2 biweekly pay dates (Friday, June 19 is paid Thursday, June 18 and Friday, July 3 is paid Thursday, July 2), 8 semimonthly pay dates and 4 monthly pay dates.
- What is the difference between biweekly and semimonthly pay?
- Biweekly pays every other week, so 26 times in 2026, and every paycheck covers 14 days. Semimonthly pays on the 15th and the last day, 24 times, so the dates are steady but the paychecks cover 15 or 16 days. A yearly salary divided by 26 gives a biweekly paycheck and divided by 24 a semimonthly one.
- How do I use this payroll calendar for my own pay dates?
- Pick any biweekly pay date of your cycle in the First biweekly pay date box. The list redraws with the pay dates that fall in 2026, and the address updates so you can share it. The monthly list follows the day of the month you choose.
Turnover is cheaper to prevent than to calculate.
TeamPredict flags resignation risk early from public LinkedIn signals, giving you lead time to retain your best people before they hand in notice.
Start 30-Day Free TrialNo charge today · Cancel anytime