are there 26 or 27 pay periods in 2026

A pay period is the window of time your paycheck covers — not to be confused with your payday. This plain-English guide explains pay period meaning, the four types of pay schedules, how many paychecks you get per year, and the 2026 pay period calendar including which months biweekly workers get three paychecks and whether 2026 is a 27-paycheck year.