What are the 11 official US Federal Holidays in 2027, which dates are shifted for weekend observance, and how many 3-day long weekends occur?
Under 5 U.S.C. § 6103(a), the United States observes 11 permanent Federal Holidays in 2027. Because three fixed-date holidays fall on weekends in 2027, the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) shifts their legal observance to adjacent weekdays: Juneteenth (Saturday, June 19) is observed on Friday, June 18, 2027; Independence Day (Sunday, July 4) is observed on Monday, July 5, 2027; and Christmas Day (Saturday, December 25) is observed on Friday, December 24, 2027. In total, 9 of the 11 federal holidays in 2027 create natural 3-day long weekends (Friday–Sunday or Saturday–Monday).
2027 US Federal Holidays & Long-Weekend PTO Multiplier Calculator
Audited against 5 U.S.C. § 6103(a) & OPM Friday/Monday Weekend Observance Rules
1Complete List of 2027 US Federal Holidays & OPM Weekend Observance Rules (5 U.S.C. § 6103)
Title 5, Section 6103(a) of the United States Code establishes eleven public holidays for federal employees and District of Columbia agencies. Whenever a fixed-date holiday (such as January 1, June 19, July 4, November 11, or December 25) lands on a non-workday weekend, Section 6103(b) and Executive Order 11582 govern the 'in-lieu-of' observed holiday. For employees on standard Monday-through-Friday schedules, a Saturday holiday is legally observed on the preceding Friday, and a Sunday holiday is observed on the following Monday.
In 2027, three of the five fixed-date federal holidays collide with weekends. Juneteenth (Saturday, June 19, 2027) is observed on Friday, June 18, 2027; Independence Day (Sunday, July 4, 2027) is observed on Monday, July 5, 2027; and Christmas Day (Saturday, December 25, 2027) is observed on Friday, December 24, 2027.
- 1. New Year's Day: Friday, January 1, 2027 (3-Day Weekend: Fri Jan 1 – Sun Jan 3).
- 2. Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.: Monday, January 18, 2027 (3-Day Weekend: Sat Jan 16 – Mon Jan 18).
- 3. Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day): Monday, February 15, 2027 (3-Day Weekend: Sat Feb 13 – Mon Feb 15).
- 4. Memorial Day: Monday, May 31, 2027 (3-Day Weekend: Sat May 29 – Mon May 31).
- 5. Juneteenth National Independence Day: Observed Friday, June 18, 2027 • Actual Saturday, June 19 (3-Day Weekend).
- 6. Independence Day: Observed Monday, July 5, 2027 • Actual Sunday, July 4 (3-Day Weekend).
- 7. Labor Day: Monday, September 6, 2027 (3-Day Weekend: Sat Sep 4 – Mon Sep 6).
- 8. Columbus Day: Monday, October 11, 2027 (3-Day Weekend: Sat Oct 9 – Mon Oct 11).
- 9. Veterans Day: Thursday, November 11, 2027 (Mid-Week Thursday Holiday).
- 10. Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, November 25, 2027 (4-Day Weekend for employers granting Black Friday Nov 26).
- 11. Christmas Day: Observed Friday, December 24, 2027 • Actual Saturday, December 25 (3-Day Weekend).
22027 Long Weekends & Strategic PTO Optimization Blueprint
Because nine of the eleven federal holidays in 2027 land on a Friday or Monday (and the remaining two—Veterans Day and Thanksgiving—land on Thursdays), 2027 is one of the most favorable calendar years of the decade for extending short PTO blocks into nine-day vacations.
By requesting four consecutive PTO days adjacent to a three-day federal holiday weekend, employees bridge two full weekends plus the federal holiday—securing 9 consecutive days off work while spending only 4 days of accrued PTO (a 2.25x vacation multiplier).
- Memorial Day 9-Day Break: Take Tue Jun 1 – Fri Jun 4 (4 PTO days) for 9 days off (May 29 – Jun 6, 2027).
- Juneteenth + Father's Day 9-Day Break: Take Mon Jun 14 – Thu Jun 17 (4 PTO days) ahead of Fri Jun 18 Observed for 9 days off (Jun 12 – Jun 20, 2027).
- Independence Day 9-Day Break: Take Tue Jul 6 – Fri Jul 9 (4 PTO days) after Mon Jul 5 Observed for 9 days off (Jul 3 – Jul 11, 2027).
- Veterans Day 4-Day Mini-Break: Take Friday, November 12, 2027 (1 PTO day) after Thursday, Nov 11 for a 4-day autumn weekend.
- Thanksgiving 9-Day Break: Take Mon Nov 22 – Wed Nov 24 + Fri Nov 26 (4 PTO days) for 9 days off (Nov 20 – Nov 28, 2027).
3What Is Closed vs. Open on US Federal Holidays in 2027?
While federal statutes mandate closures only for federal executive branch agencies, non-essential government offices, and the United States Postal Service (USPS), state governments, public school districts, and private financial institutions closely mirror the OPM schedule—with two notable autumn exceptions.
Specifically, Columbus Day (October 11, 2027) and Veterans Day (November 11, 2027) are full holidays for USPS mail delivery, federal courts, DMV offices, and Federal Reserve banking settlement, yet Wall Street stock markets (NYSE and NASDAQ) and the vast majority of private-sector corporations remain open.
- Always Closed on All 11 Observed Dates: Federal agencies, USPS post office retail windows & regular mail delivery, Federal Reserve ACH/Fedwire, and federal courts.
- Private-Sector Standard 'Big 6' Paid Holidays: Most private US employers grant paid holidays on New Year's Day (Jan 1), Memorial Day (May 31), Independence Day Observed (Jul 5), Labor Day (Sep 6), Thanksgiving (Nov 25 + Black Friday Nov 26), and Christmas Observed (Dec 24).
- Retail, Grocery & Restaurants: Major national retailers (Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Costco) remain open on Monday federal holidays (often hosting major sales on MLK Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, and Labor Day) and close only on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
4Federal vs. Private-Sector Holiday Pay Laws (5 U.S.C. § 5546 vs. FLSA)
A common misconception among private-sector workers is that federal law requires private employers to provide paid time off or 1.5x overtime pay on US federal holidays. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) administered by the US Department of Labor, private employers are not legally required to pay employees for unworked holidays or pay premium rates for working on a federal holiday—unless hours worked exceed 40 hours in the workweek or state law (such as in Rhode Island) mandates holiday premium pay.
By contrast, civilian federal government employees covered under 5 U.S.C. § 5546 receive paid time off on all 11 holidays, and essential federal employees required to work during their regular tour of duty on an observed holiday receive 100% holiday premium pay (their basic rate plus an additional 100% of basic pay for up to 8 hours).
- Federal Employee Holiday Premium (5 U.S.C. § 5546): 100% additional pay for non-overtime hours worked on the official observed date.
- FLSA Private-Sector Rule: Holiday hours worked count as regular hours unless total weekly hours worked exceed 40 (or daily overtime thresholds in California).
- Observed Date Pay Trigger: For federal workers, holiday premium pay attaches to the Friday/Monday observed date (Jun 18, Jul 5, Dec 24) rather than the Saturday/Sunday calendar date, unless the employee's regular schedule includes Saturdays or Sundays.
Official 2027 US Federal Holidays Calendar: Actual Dates, OPM Observed Dates & Weekend Span
| Federal Holiday Name | 2027 Actual Date | 2027 OPM Observed Date | Long Weekend / PTO Window |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Friday, Jan 1, 2027 | Friday, Jan 1, 2027 | 3-Day Weekend (Jan 1–3) |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, Jan 18, 2027 | Monday, Jan 18, 2027 | 3-Day Weekend (Jan 16–18) |
| Washington's Birthday (Presidents' Day) | Monday, Feb 15, 2027 | Monday, Feb 15, 2027 | 3-Day Weekend (Feb 13–15) |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 31, 2027 | Monday, May 31, 2027 | 3-Day Weekend (May 29–31) |
| Juneteenth National Independence Day | Saturday, Jun 19, 2027 | Friday, Jun 18, 2027 (Obs.) | 3-Day Weekend (Jun 18–20) |
| Independence Day | Sunday, Jul 4, 2027 | Monday, Jul 5, 2027 (Obs.) | 3-Day Weekend (Jul 3–5) |
| Labor Day | Monday, Sep 6, 2027 | Monday, Sep 6, 2027 | 3-Day Weekend (Sep 4–6) |
| Columbus Day | Monday, Oct 11, 2027 | Monday, Oct 11, 2027 | 3-Day Weekend (Oct 9–11) |
| Veterans Day | Thursday, Nov 11, 2027 | Thursday, Nov 11, 2027 | Take Fri Nov 12 for 4-Day Break |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, Nov 25, 2027 | Thursday, Nov 25, 2027 | Take Fri Nov 26 for 4-Day Break |
| Christmas Day | Saturday, Dec 25, 2027 | Friday, Dec 24, 2027 (Obs.) | 3-Day Weekend (Dec 24–26) |
4-Step 2027 Federal Holiday & PTO Planning Blueprint
Verify Your Employer's Observed Holiday Policy in January 2027
Confirm whether your company follows all 11 OPM federal holidays or the standard 7–8 corporate holidays, especially for Friday, June 18 (Juneteenth Observed) and Friday, December 24 (Christmas Observed).
Use the 2027 PTO Multiplier Calculator Above to Stack 9-Day Breaks
Submit your 4-day PTO requests early in Q1 2027 around Memorial Day (Jun 1–4), Independence Day (Jul 6–9), and Thanksgiving (Nov 22–24) before team vacation quotas fill up.
Account for Mail & Government Permit Lead Times Around Observed Dates
Because USPS post offices, passport agencies, and federal courts close on Friday, June 18, Monday, July 5, and Friday, December 24, mail time-sensitive filings at least 3 business days ahead.
Coordinate Early Holiday Direct Deposits & Bill Autopay Dates
Scheduled payroll and Social Security deposits landing on a 2027 federal holiday clear on the prior business day, while recurring loan autopays process on the next business day.
Curated Expert Video Walkthroughs & Wall Street Briefings
Frequently Asked Questions (Verified Statutory Answers)
Q1: Why is Christmas observed on Friday, December 24 in 2027?
In 2027, Christmas Day (December 25) falls on a Saturday. Under 5 U.S.C. § 6103(b) and Executive Order 11582, when a statutory federal holiday lands on a Saturday, it is legally observed on the preceding Friday (Friday, December 24, 2027) for federal employees, banks, and the stock market.
Q2: Why is Independence Day observed on Monday, July 5 in 2027?
Because July 4, 2027 falls on a Sunday, federal law shifts the legal public holiday observance to the following Monday—Monday, July 5, 2027—closing federal offices, USPS post offices, banks, and NYSE/NASDAQ.
Q3: Is Black Friday (November 26, 2027) a federal holiday?
No, Black Friday is not a federal holiday, so USPS mail delivery, Federal Reserve banks, and federal agencies operate on Friday, November 26, 2027. However, over 20 US states declare the day after Thanksgiving a state government holiday, and most private corporate employers grant it as a paid holiday.
Q4: Is there an Inauguration Day federal holiday in 2027?
No. Inauguration Day (January 20) is a quadrennial federal holiday observed only once every four years following a US presidential election (such as 2025 and 2029), and primarily applies to federal employees in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
