The United States observes 11 federal holidays in 2027, established under Title 5, Section 6103 of the US Code. This holiday calendar 2027 guide lists every federal, bank, stock market, and religious observance date, explains which holidays shift because they fall on a weekend, and provides a downloadable format for calendar apps and payroll systems.
The information below applies to federal government offices and employees; private-sector observance varies by employer and is addressed separately in this guide.
Table of Contents
How Many Holidays Are There in 2027?
There are 11 federal holidays in 2027. They run from New Year’s Day on Friday, January 1, 2027, through Christmas Day, observed Friday, December 24, 2027. Good Friday, Easter, and most religious observances are not federal holidays, though many employers and schools close for them.
Three of the 11 federal holidays fall on a weekend in their fixed or calculated position and require a shifted observance date under federal pay and leave rules: Juneteenth, Independence Day, and Christmas Day. The remaining eight holidays fall on their actual calendar date.
2027 Holiday Calendar: Federal Holidays by Date
The table below lists the official date, day of the week, and federally observed date for each 2027 holiday. The “Observed” column differs from the “Actual Date” column only when a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
| Federal Holiday | Actual 2027 Date | Observed Date (if shifted) |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Friday, January 1, 2027 | No shift needed |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, January 18, 2027 | No shift needed |
| Washington’s Birthday (Presidents’ Day) | Monday, February 15, 2027 | No shift needed |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 31, 2027 | No shift needed |
| Juneteenth National Independence Day | Saturday, June 19, 2027 | Friday, June 18, 2027 |
| Independence Day | Sunday, July 4, 2027 | Monday, July 5, 2027 |
| Labor Day | Monday, September 6, 2027 | No shift needed |
| Columbus Day | Monday, October 11, 2027 | No shift needed |
| Veterans Day | Thursday, November 11, 2027 | No shift needed |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, November 25, 2027 | No shift needed |
| Christmas Day | Saturday, December 25, 2027 | Friday, December 24, 2027 |
Which 2027 Holidays Fall on a Weekend?
Three federal holidays in 2027 fall on a weekend and shift to an adjacent weekday for federal pay and leave purposes. Juneteenth (Saturday, June 19) moves to Friday, June 18. Independence Day (Sunday, July 4) moves to Monday, July 5. Christmas Day (Saturday, December 25) moves to Friday, December 24.
This shift follows a fixed rule, not agency discretion. Under 5 U.S.C. § 6103(b) and Executive Order 11582 (February 11, 1971), a holiday falling on a Saturday is observed the preceding Friday, and a holiday falling on a Sunday is observed the following Monday.
The rule applies to federal employee pay and leave calculations. It does not apply to private employers, who set their own holiday-pay policies.
A separate observance quirk affects the 2027–2028 transition: because New Year’s Day 2028 (January 1) falls on a Saturday, it is observed on Friday, December 31, 2027 — meaning federal employees receive a holiday on the last business day of 2027 for a holiday dated in 2028.
2026 vs. 2027 Federal Holidays: What Changed
Eight of the 11 federal holiday dates change year-over-year because most follow an “Nth weekday of the month” rule rather than a fixed date.
Only New Year’s Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Veterans Day, and Christmas Day have fixed calendar dates; their observed dates still shift when they land on a weekend.
| Federal Holiday | 2026 Date | 2027 Date |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thursday, January 1, 2026 | Friday, January 1, 2027 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, January 19, 2026 | Monday, January 18, 2027 |
| Washington’s Birthday | Monday, February 16, 2026 | Monday, February 15, 2027 |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 25, 2026 | Monday, May 31, 2027 |
| Juneteenth | Friday, June 19, 2026 | Friday, June 18, 2027 (observed) |
| Independence Day | Friday, July 3, 2026 (observed) | Monday, July 5, 2027 (observed) |
| Labor Day | Monday, September 7, 2026 | Monday, September 6, 2027 |
| Columbus Day | Monday, October 12, 2026 | Monday, October 11, 2027 |
| Veterans Day | Wednesday, November 11, 2026 | Thursday, November 11, 2027 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, November 26, 2026 | Thursday, November 25, 2027 |
| Christmas Day | Friday, December 25, 2026 | Friday, December 24, 2027 (observed) |
How the United States Compares Internationally on Paid Holidays
The United States guarantees no statutory minimum for paid holidays or vacation, unlike every other G7 economy. Federal law sets 11 paid holidays for federal employees only; private-sector workers have no federal guarantee. Austria requires 25 statutory vacation days plus 13 public holidays.
France and Spain each mandate 36 combined days of leave. Germany requires 30 days, and the United Kingdom requires 28. This gap became a public policy topic in mid-2025 when the sitting US president publicly argued the country observes too many non-working holidays, a claim that drew comparisons to these international figures in subsequent reporting.
The comparison is relevant to this calendar because it explains why “federal holiday” in the United States describes a narrower, more contested category than “public holiday” does in most other countries.
Every 2027 Federal Holiday Explained
Each of the 11 federal holidays has a distinct legal basis, historical origin, and observance pattern. The sections below cover each in calendar order.
New Year’s Day — Friday, January 1, 2027
New Year’s Day marks the first day of the Gregorian calendar year and has been a federal holiday since 1870, one of the original four holidays designated by Congress.
Federal offices, the US Postal Service, banks, and the NYSE close. Because January 1, 2027 falls on a Friday, the holiday creates an automatic three-day weekend without requiring a date shift.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day — Monday, January 18, 2027
Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemorates the civil rights leader’s birthday (January 15, 1929) and is observed on the third Monday of January, established as a federal holiday by law in 1983 and first observed in 1986.
In 2027, the third Monday falls on January 18. The holiday is designated a National Day of Service under the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Washington’s Birthday (Presidents’ Day) — Monday, February 15, 2027
Washington’s Birthday is the legal federal name for the holiday commonly called Presidents’ Day, observed on the third Monday of February under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968.
In 2027, that date falls on February 15 — three days before George Washington’s actual birthdate of February 22. The holiday does not legally honor “all presidents”; the official designation in 5 U.S.C. § 6103(a) refers only to Washington, though many states and retailers market it as a general presidential observance.
Is Presidents’ Day a Federal Holiday in 2027?
Yes, Presidents’ Day is a federal holiday in 2027, observed Monday, February 15. Federal offices, the US Postal Service, and most banks close. Retail businesses typically remain open and use the day for promotional sales.
Memorial Day — Monday, May 31, 2027
Memorial Day honors military personnel who died in service and is observed on the last Monday of May, a date fixed by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act since 1971. In 2027, the last Monday falls on May 31. The holiday traces back to Decoration Day, first observed in 1868 to honor Civil War dead.
Juneteenth National Independence Day — Observed Friday, June 18, 2027
Juneteenth commemorates the June 19, 1865 announcement of the end of slavery in Texas and became the newest federal holiday when signed into law on June 17, 2021. The fixed date, June 19, falls on a Saturday in 2027, shifting the federally observed date to Friday, June 18, 2027.
Is Juneteenth a Paid Federal Holiday in 2027?
Yes, Juneteenth is a paid federal holiday in 2027, observed Friday, June 18, because the fixed date of June 19 falls on a Saturday. Federal employees receive the preceding Friday off with pay under the standard weekend-shift rule.
Independence Day — Observed Monday, July 5, 2027
Independence Day commemorates the July 4, 1776 adoption of the Declaration of Independence and has been a federal holiday since 1870. The fixed date falls on a Sunday in 2027, shifting federal observance to Monday, July 5, 2027. This creates a three-day weekend spanning Saturday, July 3 through Monday, July 5.
Labor Day — Monday, September 6, 2027
Labor Day honors the American labor movement and is observed the first Monday of September, a designation dating to 1894. In 2027, the first Monday falls on September 6.
Columbus Day — Monday, October 11, 2027
Columbus Day commemorates Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492, and is observed the second Monday of October under federal law. In 2027, that date falls on October 11.
Several states and municipalities substitute or supplement the observance with Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the same date; this substitution does not change the federal designation, which remains Columbus Day at the national level.
Veterans Day — Thursday, November 11, 2027
Veterans Day honors all US military veterans and is fixed to November 11 regardless of the day of the week — one of only two federal holidays, alongside Thanksgiving, exempted from the Monday Holiday Law.
In 2027, November 11 falls on a Thursday. The date originates from Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I hostilities in 1918.
Thanksgiving Day — Thursday, November 25, 2027
Thanksgiving is observed on the fourth Thursday of November, a date fixed by federal statute in 1941. In 2027, the fourth Thursday falls on November 25.
Thanksgiving does not have a federally paid day-after observance; the Friday following (November 26, 2027) is a common but not federally mandated day off.
Christmas Day — Observed Friday, December 24, 2027
Christmas Day is a federal holiday since 1870, one of the original four alongside New Year’s Day, Independence Day, and Thanksgiving. The fixed date, December 25, falls on a Saturday in 2027, shifting federal observance to Friday, December 24, 2027.
Good Friday, Easter, and Other Non-Federal US Holidays in 2027
Good Friday and Easter are widely observed in the United States but are not federal holidays. This distinction matters for planning: federal offices, courts, and the US Postal Service remain open on both days unless a specific state, court, or employer designates otherwise.
Good Friday 2027 — Friday, March 26, 2027
Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and falls two days before Easter Sunday. In 2027, it lands on March 26. Good Friday functions as a statutory bank holiday in the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, but carries no such status under US federal law; some US state governments and financial institutions close voluntarily.
Is Good Friday a Bank Holiday in 2027?
Good Friday is not a mandatory federal or Federal Reserve bank holiday in 2027. Individual banks and credit unions may close at their own discretion; the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ do close for Good Friday, making it a stock market holiday even though it is not a banking-system-wide holiday.
Easter 2027 — Sunday, March 28, 2027
Easter Sunday falls on March 28, 2027, in the Western (Gregorian) calendar, calculated as the first Sunday after the first full moon following the March equinox.
This places Easter 2027 in the earlier third of its possible range, which spans March 22 to April 25. Easter Monday follows on March 29, 2027, observed as a public holiday in several other countries but not in the United States.
Orthodox Christian churches, which use the Julian calendar for Paschal calculations, observe Pascha (Orthodox Easter) separately on Sunday, May 2, 2027 — a 35-day gap between the two dates in 2027, wider than the typical one-to-five-week difference.
Other Widely Observed Non-Federal Days in 2027
The following dates are commonly marked on US calendars but carry no federal holiday status. None require an employer to grant time off.
| Observance | 2027 Date | Day of Week |
|---|---|---|
| Groundhog Day | February 2, 2027 | Tuesday |
| Valentine’s Day | February 14, 2027 | Sunday |
| St. Patrick’s Day | March 17, 2027 | Wednesday |
| Cinco de Mayo | May 5, 2027 | Wednesday |
| Mother’s Day | May 9, 2027 | Sunday |
| Flag Day | June 14, 2027 | Monday |
| Father’s Day | June 20, 2027 | Sunday |
| Halloween | October 31, 2027 | Sunday |
Federal vs. Bank vs. Stock Market vs. USPS Holidays in 2027
Federal, banking, stock market, and postal holiday schedules overlap substantially but are not identical. Each sector operates under a separate legal or institutional authority, which produces specific divergences in 2027.
Federal (OPM) Holiday Rules
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) administers the federal holiday schedule under 5 U.S.C. § 6103 for all executive-branch civilian employees. This is the baseline schedule listed in the table above, and the one most state and local governments substantially mirror, though states may add holidays such as Cesar Chavez Day or Patriots’ Day.
Bank Holiday Schedule 2027 (Federal Reserve)
The Federal Reserve System publishes its own holiday schedule, which banks nationwide generally follow for wire transfers, check clearing, and branch closures.
The Federal Reserve schedule matches the 11 OPM federal holidays exactly; it does not include Good Friday, which is not a Federal Reserve holiday despite common assumption.
NYSE and NASDAQ Stock Market Holidays 2027
The New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ close for nine full-day holidays in 2027: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday, Good Friday (March 26, 2027), Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day (observed), Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Columbus Day and Veterans Day are not stock market holidays; markets remain open and trade normally on both dates. This is the clearest sector divergence from the federal schedule: stock markets close for Good Friday, which is not federal, and stay open on Columbus Day and Veterans Day, which are federal.
USPS Mail and Post Office Holidays 2027
The US Postal Service observes all 11 federal holidays and suspends regular mail delivery on each. Priority Mail Express retains limited delivery on most holidays for an additional fee. USPS does not observe Good Friday, Easter, or any state-only holiday.
Court Holiday Schedules 2027
Federal and most state courts close for all 11 federal holidays. State courts frequently add state-specific holidays not on the federal list; California courts, for example, close for Cesar Chavez Day (March 31) and Native American Day (fourth Friday of September), neither of which appears on the federal schedule.
| Holiday | Federal (OPM) | Federal Reserve (Banks) | NYSE / NASDAQ | USPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| MLK Day | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Washington’s Birthday | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Good Friday | Open | Open | Closed | Open |
| Memorial Day | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Juneteenth | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Independence Day | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Labor Day | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Columbus Day | Closed | Closed | Open | Closed |
| Veterans Day | Closed | Closed | Open | Closed |
| Thanksgiving | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Christmas Day | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
2027 Long Weekends and PTO Planning Guide
Eight of the 11 federal holidays in 2027 fall on a Monday or Friday, each producing a three-day weekend without any additional leave.
The remaining three — Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and the actual date of Christmas — fall midweek or require a single bridge day to extend.
| Holiday Weekend | Dates | Total Days Off (holiday only) |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Friday, Jan 1 – Sunday, Jan 3 | 3 days |
| MLK Day | Saturday, Jan 16 – Monday, Jan 18 | 3 days |
| Presidents’ Day | Saturday, Feb 13 – Monday, Feb 15 | 3 days |
| Memorial Day | Saturday, May 29 – Monday, May 31 | 3 days |
| Juneteenth (observed) | Friday, Jun 18 – Sunday, Jun 20 | 3 days |
| Independence Day (observed) | Saturday, Jul 3 – Monday, Jul 5 | 3 days |
| Labor Day | Saturday, Sep 4 – Monday, Sep 6 | 3 days |
| Columbus Day | Saturday, Oct 9 – Monday, Oct 11 | 3 days |
| Christmas (observed) | Friday, Dec 24 – Sunday, Dec 26 | 3 days |
How to Maximize PTO Around 2027 Holidays
Applying two to four days of paid time off around a fixed holiday produces disproportionately long breaks. The following sequence illustrates the method using Thanksgiving 2027 as an example:
- Identify the fixed holiday date: Thursday, November 25, 2027.
- Take Friday, November 26, 2027 off using one PTO day.
- The resulting break spans Thursday through Sunday, November 28 — four consecutive days off using one day of leave.
- For a longer break, add Monday, November 22 through Wednesday, November 24, 2027, using three additional PTO days.
- This produces a nine-day break (November 20–28, 2027) using four total PTO days, assuming a standard Saturday–Sunday weekend on both ends.
The same method applied to Veterans Day 2027 (Thursday, November 11) using a single PTO day on Friday, November 12, produces a four-day weekend from November 11–14, 2027.
State Holidays vs. Federal Holidays in 2027
State holiday calendars are not identical to the federal calendar; states have independent authority to designate additional paid holidays for state employees. This calendar does not cover county or municipal holiday schedules, which vary further within a single state.
Common State-Only Holidays in 2027
The following are examples of state-designated holidays with no federal equivalent, illustrating the type of divergence to check before assuming an office is closed nationwide:
- Cesar Chavez Day (California, Texas) — Wednesday, March 31, 2027
- Patriots’ Day (Massachusetts, Maine) — third Monday of April, April 19, 2027
- Emancipation Day (District of Columbia) — April 16, 2027
- Native American Day (California) — fourth Friday of September, September 24, 2027
Do Private Employers Have to Give Federal Holidays Off?
No, private employers are not legally required to give federal holidays off. Federal law under 5 U.S.C. § 6103 applies only to federal government employees and offices.
Private-sector holiday policy, including whether the day is paid, unpaid, or worked, is set entirely by individual employer policy or collective bargaining agreements.
This typically means retail, hospitality, and healthcare employers remain open on most federal holidays, while office-based employers commonly mirror the federal schedule voluntarily.
Religious and Cultural Observances Calendar 2027
Religious and cultural holidays are calculated on lunar, lunisolar, or fixed ecclesiastical calendars rather than the Gregorian calendar used for federal holidays, which is why their Gregorian dates shift annually.
Exact start times for lunar-calendar holidays depend on local moon-sighting confirmation and can vary by one day from the calculated date shown below.
Jewish Holidays 2027
| Holiday | 2027 Date (Gregorian) |
|---|---|
| Rosh Hashanah | Begins sundown Friday, October 1, 2027; ends nightfall Sunday, October 3, 2027 |
| Yom Kippur | Begins sundown Sunday, October 10, 2027; ends nightfall Monday, October 11, 2027 |
| Sukkot | Begins sundown Friday, October 15, 2027 |
| Hanukkah | Begins sundown Friday, December 24, 2027; ends nightfall Saturday, January 1, 2028 |
Hanukkah 2027 begins on the same evening as the observed federal Christmas holiday (Friday, December 24, 2027), an overlap that does not recur in most years due to the roughly 11-day annual drift of the Hebrew lunisolar calendar relative to the Gregorian calendar.
Islamic Holidays 2027
Islamic dates depend on lunar crescent sighting and are calculated in advance using astronomical projection; actual observance may shift by one to two days.
| Holiday | Expected 2027 Date |
|---|---|
| Ramadan begins | Monday, February 8, 2027 |
| Eid al-Fitr | Wednesday–Thursday, March 10–11, 2027 |
| Eid al-Adha | Sunday, May 16, 2027 |
Hindu and Lunar Calendar Observances 2027
| Holiday | 2027 Date |
|---|---|
| Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year) | Saturday, February 6, 2027 — Year of the Fire Goat |
| Diwali | Friday, October 29, 2027 |
Orthodox Christian Holidays 2027
Orthodox Easter (Pascha) 2027 falls on Sunday, May 2, 2027, calculated using the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar used for Western Easter.
This produces a 35-day gap between Western Easter (March 28, 2027) and Orthodox Easter in 2027, near the upper end of the typical one-to-five-week separation between the two observances.
How to Add the Holiday Calendar 2027 to Google Calendar, Outlook, or iPhone
A subscribed calendar updates automatically and does not require manual entry of each date. This differs from a static printed or PDF calendar, which does not update if a federal observance date is later adjusted by executive order.
Subscribe to the Holiday Calendar 2027 via ICS Link
- Copy the calendar’s public .ics subscription URL.
- In Google Calendar, select “Other calendars,” then “From URL,” and paste the link.
- In Outlook, select “Add calendar,” then “Subscribe from web,” and paste the link.
- On iPhone, open Settings, select Calendar, then Accounts, then Add Account, then Other, then Add Subscribed Calendar, and paste the link.
- Confirm the calendar appears as a separate, non-editable layer labeled with its source name.
Download the Holiday Calendar 2027 as PDF or CSV
A PDF format suits printing and physical posting; a CSV format suits import into payroll or HR scheduling software such as Workday or Gusto, which typically require a fixed-column date format (MM/DD/YYYY) and a separate holiday-name column rather than a combined date-and-label cell.
Official Holidays vs. Novelty National Days: What’s Real in 2027?
Federal, state, and bank holidays are set by statute or regulatory authority; most “National [Something] Day” listings are not. Entries such as National Donut Day or National Puppy Day originate from private organizations, marketing campaigns, or paid submission services and carry no legal standing, no mandated closures, and no connection to 5 U.S.C. § 6103.
This calendar excludes novelty national days entirely and covers only holidays with a legal, financial-institution, or major religious basis.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2027 Holiday Calendar
How many federal holidays are there in 2027?
There are 11 federal holidays in 2027, unchanged in count from 2026 and 2025. No new federal holiday has been enacted since Juneteenth in 2021.
Is Columbus Day a federal holiday in 2027?
Yes. Columbus Day remains a federal holiday in 2027, observed on Monday, October 11. Some states and cities designate the same date as Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead; this does not remove the federal designation.
What happens when a 2027 holiday falls on a weekend?
The observance shifts to an adjacent weekday under 5 U.S.C. § 6103(b): Saturday holidays move to the preceding Friday, and Sunday holidays move to the following Monday. This applies to Juneteenth, Independence Day, and Christmas Day in 2027.
Is mail delivered on federal holidays in 2027?
No, regular USPS mail delivery is suspended on all 11 federal holidays in 2027. Priority Mail Express delivery continues on most holidays for an additional fee, excluding Christmas Day and Thanksgiving.
Are private employers required to give federal holidays off in 2027?
No. Federal holiday law applies only to federal government offices and employees. Private employers set their own holiday policy independently.
How many long weekends are there in 2027 from federal holidays?
Eight of the 11 federal holidays in 2027 create a three-day weekend without requiring additional leave: New Year’s Day, MLK Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Columbus Day.
