Mark the 2027 federal holidays now and you lock in every long weekend before anyone else thinks to look. The year gives you 11 paid days. Four of them slide because the actual date lands on a weekend. Know those shifts now, and you can book flights while seats are cheap and before the crowd catches on.
The 11 US Federal Holidays in 2027
How the Calendar Falls
2027 starts on a Friday and runs 365 days. That starting day matters. It pushes four federal celebrations onto weekends, which triggers the weekday observance rule. The government observes a holiday on its actual date unless that date is a Saturday or a Sunday. When it is, the day off moves.
The rule is straightforward. A Saturday holiday shifts to the preceding Friday. A Sunday holiday shifts to the following Monday. Four dates are affected in 2027: Juneteenth, Independence Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day 2028 (observed in 2027).
2027 Federal Holidays List with Observed Dates
Every Date You Need
Here is the complete 2027 calendar. Each entry shows the actual date and, where the weekend rule applies, the observed date you take off.
- New Year's Day, Friday, January 1 (actual and observed)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Monday, January 18 (actual and observed)
- Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day), Monday, February 15 (actual and observed)
- Memorial Day, Monday, May 31 (actual and observed)
- Juneteenth, Saturday, June 19 (observed Friday, June 18)
- Independence Day, Sunday, July 4 (observed Monday, July 5)
- Labor Day, Monday, September 6 (actual and observed)
- Columbus Day, Monday, October 11 (actual and observed)
- Veterans Day, Thursday, November 11 (actual and observed)
- Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 25 (actual and observed)
- Christmas Day, Saturday, December 25 (observed Friday, December 24)
The Bonus Day in December
January 1, 2028 is a Saturday. That means New Year's Day 2028 is observed on Friday, December 31, 2027. For federal purposes, the last day of the year is a holiday. Book that four-day stretch early.
Why Some Holidays Are Observed on Different Days
The 2027 observed holidays follow one consistent federal rule. A holiday that lands on a weekend shifts to give federal employees a weekday off. Juneteenth moves to Friday, June 18. Independence Day, on a Sunday, moves to Monday, July 5. Christmas Day moves to Friday, December 24. And New Year's Day 2028 moves to Friday, December 31, 2027.
The pattern never varies. Saturday holidays pull back to Friday. Sunday holidays push to Monday. Memorize that, and you can calculate any year's observed dates without a calendar.
How the Weekend Rule Works a Step-by-Step Guide
Use these steps to find the observed date for any federal holiday in any year.
- Find the actual date of the holiday on the calendar.
- Determine the day of the week for that date.
- Monday through Friday: the observed date is the actual date.
- Saturday: the observed date is the previous Friday.
- Sunday: the observed date is the following Monday.
In 2027, four holidays trigger the rule. Christmas Day lands Saturday, December 25, so you are off Friday, December 24. Independence Day lands Sunday, July 4, so you are off Monday, July 5. Juneteenth lands Saturday, June 19, so you are off Friday, June 18. New Year's Day 2028 lands Saturday, January 1, so you are off Friday, December 31, 2027.
What Federal Holidays Mean for You
If You Work for the Government
Federal holidays apply to federal employees and federal offices. Banks, post offices, and government buildings close on the observed day. On June 18, federal offices shut for Juneteenth. On December 24, they close for Christmas. Mark those dates. They are non-negotiable days off.
If You Work in the Private Sector
Private employers set their own holiday schedules. Many follow the federal calendar, but plenty do not. Some states observe different holidays or add state-specific ones. Check your company's written policy. Do not assume Christmas Eve is a paid day off just because federal offices close. Some businesses stay open Friday and close Saturday, December 25 instead.
Printing Your 2027 Calendar with Holidays
Print a 2027 calendar that marks both the actual and observed dates. Keep it on your desk. You will see Juneteenth on June 18, Independence Day on July 5, Christmas on December 24, and New Year's Day 2028 on December 31, 2027. A good calendar shows regular weekends too, so you can spot every three-day and four-day stretch at a glance.
Look for a calendar that distinguishes observed holidays clearly. The four shifted dates in 2027 are the ones that will trip up your planning. Get them printed correctly, and you are ahead of everyone else.