The United States has 11 federal holidays, set by federal law (5 U.S.C. 6103). On these days federal offices close, most banks and the stock markets follow a similar schedule, and many — but not all — private employers give a day off. Knowing how the dates are calculated makes it easy to plan long weekends well in advance.
Fixed-date holidays
Five holidays fall on the same date every year: New Year’s Day (January 1), Juneteenth National Independence Day (June 19), Independence Day (July 4), Veterans Day (November 11) and Christmas Day (December 25). Juneteenth is the newest; it became a federal holiday in June 2021.
Monday holidays
The Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which took effect in 1971, moved several holidays to Mondays to create three-day weekends:
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day — third Monday in January (first observed in 1986).
- Washington’s Birthday, widely called Presidents’ Day — third Monday in February.
- Memorial Day — last Monday in May.
- Labor Day — first Monday in September.
- Columbus Day — second Monday in October. Many states and cities observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the same date.
Thanksgiving Day is the fourth Thursday in November, and many employers also give the following Friday off.
The observed-day rule
When a fixed-date holiday falls on a weekend, federal employees get a weekday off instead: a Saturday holiday is observed on the preceding Friday, and a Sunday holiday on the following Monday. Private employers are not required to follow this rule, so check your own workplace policy. Our calendars mark both the holiday and the observed day off.
Federal holidays in 2027
| Holiday | Date | Observed day off |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Friday, January 1 | — |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, January 18 | — |
| Presidents' Day | Monday, February 15 | — |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 31 | — |
| Juneteenth | Saturday, June 19 | Friday, June 18 |
| Independence Day | Sunday, July 4 | Monday, July 5 |
| Labor Day | Monday, September 6 | — |
| Columbus Day | Monday, October 11 | — |
| Veterans Day | Thursday, November 11 | — |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, November 25 | — |
| Christmas Day | Saturday, December 25 | Friday, December 24 |
All 2027 US holidays and observances →
Federal holidays vs. observances
Days such as Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Halloween are widely celebrated but are not federal holidays; offices and banks stay open. On our calendars they appear as observances in a lighter color and can be switched off. For printable versions, see the 2026 calendar with holidays and the 2027 calendar.