Planning around public holidays 2027 USA dates is important for employees, HR teams, managers, and businesses preparing their PTO calendars for the year ahead. In 2027, the United States has 11 federal holidays, including several that fall on weekends and are observed on a nearby weekday.
For most federal employees, Juneteenth will be observed on Friday, June 18, Independence Day on Monday, July 5, and Christmas Day on Friday, December 24. New Year’s Day 2028 also affects the 2027 work calendar because it falls on a Saturday, making Friday, December 31, 2027 the observed holiday for most federal employees.
This guide covers the complete 2027 US federal holiday calendar, observed dates, long weekends, useful PTO opportunities, state holiday examples, holiday pay rules, and practical planning advice for employers.
How Many Federal Holidays Are There in 2027?
There are 11 federal holidays in the United States in 2027.
Federal holidays are established by federal law and primarily determine when federal government offices and many federal employees observe a day off. Private businesses do not automatically have to close or provide paid time off simply because a date is a federal holiday.
Three federal holidays fall on a weekend in 2027:
Juneteenth falls on Saturday, June 19.
Independence Day falls on Sunday, July 4.
Christmas Day falls on Saturday, December 25.
For most federal employees, Saturday holidays are observed on the preceding Friday, while Sunday holidays are generally observed on the following Monday.
US Federal Holidays 2027
Here is the official federal holiday schedule for 2027:
U.S. federal holidays, 2027
| Federal Holiday | Actual Date | Federal Observed Date |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Friday, January 1 | Friday, January 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, January 18 | Monday, January 18 |
| Washington’s Birthday | Monday, February 15 | Monday, February 15 |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 31 | Monday, May 31 |
| Juneteenth National Independence Day | Saturday, June 19 | Friday, June 18 |
| Independence Day | Sunday, July 4 | Monday, July 5 |
| Labor Day | Monday, September 6 | Monday, September 6 |
| Columbus Day | Monday, October 11 | Monday, October 11 |
| Veterans Day | Thursday, November 11 | Thursday, November 11 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, November 25 | Thursday, November 25 |
| Christmas Day | Saturday, December 25 | Friday, December 24 |
The federal government’s official name for the February holiday is Washington’s Birthday, although it is commonly called Presidents’ Day by businesses, states, and the public.
Similarly, the federal October holiday remains officially named Columbus Day, although some state and local governments use names such as Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Is December 31, 2027 a Federal Holiday?
For most federal employees, Friday, December 31, 2027 will be treated as a holiday because New Year’s Day 2028 falls on Saturday, January 1.
That creates an unusual year-end calendar:
Christmas Day is observed Friday, December 24, 2027.
New Year’s Day 2028 is observed Friday, December 31, 2027.
Private employers are not automatically required to follow either federal observance. Businesses should clearly state their own holiday schedules so employees know whether December 24 and December 31 are company holidays, regular workdays, or days that require PTO.
Which 2027 Federal Holidays Fall on a Weekend?
Weekend holidays can cause confusion because the calendar date of the holiday and the date employees are actually off may be different.
Juneteenth
Juneteenth National Independence Day falls on Saturday, June 19, 2027.
For most federal employees, it will be observed on:
Friday, June 18, 2027
Independence Day
July 4 falls on a Sunday in 2027.
For most federal employees, Independence Day will therefore be observed on:
Monday, July 5, 2027
Christmas Day
Christmas Day falls on Saturday, December 25, 2027.
For most federal employees, it will be observed on:
Friday, December 24, 2027
New Year’s Day 2028
Although it technically belongs to the 2028 holiday calendar, New Year’s Day falls on Saturday, January 1, 2028.
That means most federal employees observe it on:
Friday, December 31, 2027
Private employers can establish different weekend holiday rules, so employees should always check their company holiday policy rather than assuming federal observance rules apply.
2027 Long Weekends and the Best Days to Use PTO
The 2027 holiday calendar offers several opportunities to create longer breaks while using relatively few PTO days.
For employees who normally work Monday through Friday and whose employers follow the federal holiday schedule, many holidays already create three-day weekends.
Holiday breaks and PTO needed, 2027
| Holiday Break | Dates | PTO Needed | Total Consecutive Days Off |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s weekend | Jan. 1 to Jan. 3 | 0 | 3 |
| MLK Day weekend | Jan. 16 to Jan. 18 | 0 | 3 |
| Presidents’ Day weekend | Feb. 13 to Feb. 15 | 0 | 3 |
| Memorial Day weekend | May 29 to May 31 | 0 | 3 |
| Juneteenth weekend | June 18 to June 20 | 0 | 3 |
| Independence Day weekend | July 3 to July 5 | 0 | 3 |
| Labor Day weekend | Sept. 4 to Sept. 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Columbus Day weekend | Oct. 9 to Oct. 11 | 0 | 3 |
| Veterans Day break | Nov. 11 to Nov. 14 | 1 | 4 |
| Thanksgiving break | Nov. 25 to Nov. 28 | 1 | 4 |
| Christmas weekend | Dec. 24 to Dec. 26 | 0 | 3 |
| Christmas to New Year | Dec. 24 to Jan. 2 | 4 | 10 |
Best PTO Opportunity in 2027
One of the strongest PTO opportunities comes at the end of December.
If your company observes both Friday, December 24 and Friday, December 31, employees could request PTO for:
Monday, December 27
Tuesday, December 28
Wednesday, December 29
Thursday, December 30
Using 4 PTO days could create 10 consecutive days away from work, from Friday, December 24 through Sunday, January 2.
This is also likely to be one of the most competitive periods for PTO requests.
HR teams should review staffing needs and communicate year-end approval rules early rather than waiting until December.
Other Useful PTO Bridge Days in 2027
A bridge day is a workday taken as PTO between a holiday and a weekend.
Two particularly useful bridge days in 2027 are:
Friday, November 12
Veterans Day falls on Thursday, November 11.
Employees who take Friday, November 12 as PTO can potentially create a four-day break from Thursday through Sunday.
Friday, November 26
Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 25.
Employees whose companies do not already close on Friday can use one PTO day on November 26 to create a four-day Thanksgiving weekend.
Because these dates may attract large numbers of requests, employers should decide in advance whether requests are handled first come, first served, based on staffing requirements, through rotation, or under another clearly defined approval method.
Federal Holidays vs. Public Holidays: Are They the Same?
The terms are often used interchangeably in everyday searches, but there is an important distinction.
A federal holiday is a holiday established by federal law. Federal offices generally close and eligible federal employees receive the applicable holiday treatment.
A company holiday is a date an individual employer chooses to recognize under its own workplace policy.
A state holiday may apply to certain state government offices, courts, public employees, or other state institutions depending on state law.
As a result, seeing a date on a federal or state holiday calendar does not automatically mean every employee in the state receives the day off.
State Holidays in 2027
States can recognize holidays in addition to the federal calendar. However, the effect of a state holiday varies.
Some dates apply to state employees, some affect court schedules, some apply only to a particular county or government institution, and others are commemorative rather than mandatory private-sector days off.
Here are several useful 2027 examples.
California
California government calendars include additional dates that are not part of the federal holiday list.
For example, California courts list:
Lincoln’s Birthday: Friday, February 12
Farmworkers Day: Wednesday, March 31
Native American Day: Friday, September 24
Day after Thanksgiving: Friday, November 26
California courts also observe Juneteenth on Friday, June 18, Independence Day on Monday, July 5, and Christmas on Friday, December 24 in 2027.
Employers should not assume that a court or government holiday automatically applies to private workplaces.
Hawaii
Hawaii recognizes several holidays that do not appear on the federal schedule.
Examples for 2027 include:
Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Day: Friday, March 26
Good Friday: Friday, March 26
King Kamehameha I Day: Friday, June 11
Statehood Day: Friday, August 20
Hawaii’s official state calendar also observes Independence Day on Monday, July 5 and Christmas Day on Friday, December 24 in 2027.
Massachusetts
The state recognizes Patriots’ Day on the third Monday in April, which falls on April 19 in 2027.
State law also identifies Evacuation Day on March 17 and Bunker Hill Day on June 17 in connection with Suffolk County, although their practical effect differs from statewide holidays.
Employers operating in Massachusetts should therefore check the applicable state rules rather than relying only on a national holiday list.
Texas
Texas has several state-recognized dates that are not federal holidays.
Related reading: Texas State Holidays 2026
The fiscal year 2027 Texas schedule includes:
Texas Independence Day: Tuesday, March 2
San Jacinto Day: Wednesday, April 21
Emancipation Day in Texas: Saturday, June 19
Lyndon Baines Johnson Day: Friday, August 27
Some of these are skeleton crew holidays, meaning state agencies remain sufficiently staffed to conduct business rather than simply closing.
Texas also specifies that designated holidays falling on Saturday or Sunday are not necessarily moved to another weekday for state offices.
Why Multi-State Employers Need Separate Holiday Calendars
If your company has employees in several states, avoid assuming that one holiday calendar fits everyone.
Instead:
Identify the employee’s work location.
Review federal holidays.
Check applicable state and local requirements.
Decide which company holidays apply at each location.
Add any floating or optional holidays.
Publish the final calendar before the new year.
Keeping separate holiday calendars by location can also prevent employees from being incorrectly charged PTO when a local holiday should already be treated as a non-working day.
Are Private Employers Required to Give Federal Holidays Off?
Generally, no.
The Fair Labor Standards Act does not require private employers to provide paid time off for federal holidays. It also does not generally require payment for time employees do not work because of a holiday.
Holiday benefits are usually determined by:
Company policy
Employment agreements
Collective bargaining agreements
Applicable state or local rules
Certain government contract requirements
This means a private company can remain open on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Independence Day, or another federal holiday unless another applicable requirement says otherwise.
Employers should still clearly document their holiday practices so employees understand which dates are paid holidays and which require PTO.
Do Employees Have to Receive Extra Pay for Working on a Holiday?
Federal law does not generally require private employers to pay employees extra simply because they work on a federal holiday.
For example, the FLSA does not automatically require:
Double pay for holiday work
Time-and-a-half solely because the date is a holiday
Paid time off when a business closes for a holiday
However, overtime requirements can still apply when an eligible nonexempt employee works more than 40 hours in a workweek.
An employer may also promise premium holiday pay through a company policy, employment contract, collective bargaining agreement, or other applicable arrangement.
Employers should therefore distinguish between holiday pay and overtime pay rather than treating them as the same thing.
How HR Teams Should Prepare for the 2027 Holiday Calendar
A holiday calendar affects much more than office closure dates. It can influence PTO demand, payroll, staffing, customer support, project deadlines, and employee expectations.
HR teams should ideally finalize their 2027 holiday schedule before employees begin planning year-end vacations.
Decide Which Holidays Your Company Observes
Start with the 11 federal holidays and determine which ones your company will recognize.
Some companies observe all federal holidays. Others select only certain dates or add additional company holidays such as:
Christmas Eve
Day after Thanksgiving
New Year’s Eve
Employee birthday leave
Floating holidays
Define Your Weekend Holiday Rule
Three major federal holidays fall on weekends in 2027.
Decide whether your company will follow the federal pattern:
Juneteenth observed June 18
Independence Day observed July 5
Christmas observed December 24
Put the rule in writing instead of deciding separately each time a holiday falls on a weekend.
Decide What Happens on December 31
Because New Year’s Day 2028 falls on a Saturday, most federal employees observe the holiday on Friday, December 31, 2027.
Private employers should decide whether they will follow the same schedule and communicate the decision well before year-end.
Review State and Local Holidays
Companies with employees in multiple locations should check applicable state and local calendars.
One office may be open while employees at another location follow a different holiday schedule.
Identify High-Demand PTO Dates
Expect greater demand around:
November 12
November 26
December 27 to 30
Compare expected requests with minimum staffing requirements before the request rush begins.
Review Carryover and Expiration Rules
Holiday planning often overlaps with PTO expiration and carryover deadlines.
Before employees begin requesting December leave, confirm:
How much PTO can carry over
Whether unused time expires
Whether any PTO must be paid out
Whether accrual caps apply
When balances reset
Whether state law affects your policy
Publish the Calendar Early
Employees should not have to guess whether a holiday is a working day.
Publish your 2027 holiday calendar through your employee handbook, HR system, shared calendar, PTO software, or internal communication channels.
The earlier employees can see the calendar, the easier it becomes to coordinate leave without creating last-minute staffing problems.
Managing Public Holidays and PTO With Day Off
Managing holidays becomes more complicated when a company has multiple locations, different schedules, and employees requesting PTO around long weekends.
Day Off helps businesses keep holidays, leave requests, work schedules, balances, and team availability in one place.
Create Holiday Calendars by Location
Companies can assign holiday calendars based on employee locations, making it easier to manage teams working in different states or countries.
This is especially helpful when one location observes a date that another does not.
Add Public and Company Holidays
HR teams can add applicable national, public, and company holidays to the calendar so employees can see non-working dates while planning leave.
On the Free plan, holidays are not deducted from an employee’s PTO balance when they fall within an approved leave period.
Pro provides additional holiday customization options, including greater control over how holidays are handled within leave periods and employee-level holiday customization.
Manage PTO Requests Around Long Weekends
Employees can request time off through Day Off while managers review requests and team availability.
This is useful during high-demand periods such as Thanksgiving and the final week of December.
The shared calendar allows managers to see who is already away before approving additional requests.
Use Custom Leave Types
Companies can create leave types for vacation, sick leave, personal days, floating holidays, unpaid leave, and other policies.
This helps employers separate regular PTO from special company-provided holiday benefits.
Apply Different Work Schedules
Not every employee works a standard Monday-to-Friday schedule.
Day Off supports different work schedules, helping companies manage employees with varying working days and hours rather than assuming that every federal holiday automatically creates a three-day weekend.
Control Carryover and Accrual Rules
With Day Off Pro, employers can configure more advanced PTO rules, including accrual frequencies, carryover limits, expiration rules, waiting periods, and other policy settings.
This can be particularly useful at year-end when holiday requests and PTO balance rules often overlap.
Monitor Team Coverage
Managers can use the team calendar to review absences and avoid approving too many overlapping requests when coverage is important.
Instead of tracking December vacations through spreadsheets, emails, and separate calendars, the team can work from one shared leave calendar.
Review PTO Reports
HR teams can review employee balances, leave usage, accruals, carryover information, and detailed leave records before year-end.
That makes it easier to identify employees with large remaining balances and prepare for upcoming PTO deadlines.
Day Off offers a Free plan for teams of up to 10 employees. Day Off Pro adds advanced PTO management features and starts at $2 per employee per month, with a 14-day free trial.
Tips for Employees Planning PTO Around 2027 Holidays
Employees can also use the holiday calendar strategically.
Before submitting a leave request:
Check which holidays your employer actually observes.
Confirm your available PTO balance.
Review carryover or expiration rules.
Request popular dates early.
Check your team’s existing absences.
Avoid assuming federal observed dates automatically apply to your workplace.
Consider using bridge days to extend weekends with fewer PTO days.
A little planning can significantly increase the value of your available PTO without increasing the number of leave days you use.
Frequently Asked Questions About US Public Holidays 2027
How many federal holidays are there in the US in 2027?
There are 11 federal holidays in 2027. They include New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
What is the first federal holiday of 2027?
The first federal holiday is New Year’s Day on Friday, January 1, 2027.
What is the last federal holiday of 2027?
Christmas Day is the final federal holiday whose actual calendar date falls in 2027. It falls on Saturday, December 25 and is observed for most federal employees on Friday, December 24.
Friday, December 31 is also treated as a holiday for most federal employees because it is the observed date for New Year’s Day 2028.
Is July 5, 2027 a federal holiday?
For most federal employees, yes. Independence Day falls on Sunday, July 4, so it is observed on Monday, July 5, 2027.
Is June 18, 2027 a federal holiday?
For most federal employees, yes. Juneteenth falls on Saturday, June 19, so the federal observed date is Friday, June 18.
Is Christmas Eve a federal holiday in 2027?
Christmas Eve is not normally a separate federal holiday. However, Christmas Day falls on Saturday in 2027, so most federal employees observe Christmas on Friday, December 24.
Is New Year’s Eve a federal holiday in 2027?
December 31 is not normally a separate federal holiday. In 2027, however, it is the observed federal holiday for New Year’s Day 2028 because January 1 falls on a Saturday.
Do private companies have to close on federal holidays?
No. Federal law generally does not require private businesses to close on federal holidays. Employers establish their own holiday schedules subject to applicable contracts and other laws.
Are employees entitled to holiday pay in the United States?
The FLSA generally does not require payment for time not worked on holidays. Whether an employee receives paid holidays usually depends on company policy, an employment agreement, a collective bargaining agreement, or another applicable requirement.
What are the best days to use PTO in 2027?
Some of the most useful dates are November 12, November 26, and December 27 through December 30. Employees whose workplaces follow the relevant holiday schedule may be able to turn one PTO day into a four-day weekend or four PTO days into a 10-day year-end break.
Conclusion
The public holidays 2027 USA calendar gives both employees and employers several important dates to plan around. The United States has 11 federal holidays in 2027, and Juneteenth, Independence Day, and Christmas require adjusted federal observance dates because they fall on weekends.
For employees, understanding these dates can help make better use of PTO, especially around Thanksgiving and the year-end holiday period. For employers, publishing the holiday calendar early helps prevent confusion, improves staffing decisions, and makes PTO approvals easier to manage.
The most important point is that a federal holiday does not automatically mean every private-sector employee receives a paid day off. Companies should define which holidays they observe, how weekend holidays are handled, what happens when employees work on a holiday, and how those dates interact with PTO.
With a leave management system such as Day Off, HR teams can combine holiday calendars, PTO requests, employee schedules, balances, approval workflows, and team availability in one place, making it easier to prepare for 2027 before the first leave requests arrive.