Juneteenth — celebrated every 19 June, a Friday in 2026 — commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Its name blends "June" and "nineteenth." Here's the history of the date and how it became the newest US federal holiday.
See the Juneteenth holiday page or the US holiday calendar.
Why is Juneteenth on June 19?
It marks 19 June 1865, the day Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and issued General Order No. 3, announcing that all enslaved people in Texas were free.
Crucially, this came more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation (which took effect 1 January 1863). Texas, far from the fighting, had been the last major stronghold of slavery in the Confederacy — so for many enslaved people there, freedom only became real on that June day in 1865.
What Juneteenth celebrates
Juneteenth — also called Freedom Day, Emancipation Day or Jubilee Day — celebrates African American freedom, history, and culture. Long marked in Texas and Black communities, it features:
- Community gatherings, parades and festivals
- Readings of the Emancipation Proclamation
- Music, food, and education about African American heritage
Becoming a federal holiday
After generations as a grassroots celebration, Juneteenth became a US federal holiday in 2021 — Juneteenth National Independence Day — the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.
Quick answers
Why is Juneteenth on June 19? It marks 19 June 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were finally told they were free — over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
What does Juneteenth mean? The name combines "June" and "nineteenth," the date of the 1865 announcement.
When did Juneteenth become a federal holiday? In 2021, when it was established as Juneteenth National Independence Day.
When is Juneteenth 2026? Friday, 19 June 2026 — it is always 19 June.