Federal holidays influence when offices close, when government services pause and when demand for moving services rises. For HR and mobility teams relocating employees to or within the United States, knowing the 2027 dates early helps plan moves, start dates and assignee arrivals.

This guide lists every US federal holiday in 2027, highlights the long weekends and explains how to plan relocations around them.

US federal holidays 2027

There are 11 federal holidays in 2027. When a holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed on the Friday before, and when it falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the Monday after.

Date	Day	Federal holiday
1 January	Friday	New Year’s Day
18 January	Monday	Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
15 February	Monday	Washington’s Birthday (Presidents’ Day)
31 May	Monday	Memorial Day
18 June	Friday	Juneteenth National Independence Day (observed)
5 July	Monday	Independence Day (observed)
6 September	Monday	Labor Day
11 October	Monday	Columbus Day (also recognised as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in many states)
11 November	Thursday	Veterans Day
25 November	Thursday	Thanksgiving Day
24 December	Friday	Christmas Day (observed)

In addition, New Year’s Day 2028 falls on a Saturday, so it is observed on Friday 31 December 2027. Official dates are published by the US Office of Personnel Management.

Observed federal holidays in 2027

Observed holidays are the weekdays on which a federal holiday is marked when the actual date falls on a weekend. Four holidays are observed on a different day in 2027.

Holiday	Actual date	Observed date
Juneteenth	Saturday 19 June	Friday 18 June
Independence Day	Sunday 4 July	Monday 5 July
Christmas Day	Saturday 25 December	Friday 24 December
New Year’s Day 2028	Saturday 1 January 2028	Friday 31 December 2027

Long weekends in the USA in 2027

Long weekends are three-day weekends created when a federal holiday falls on a Monday or Friday. In 2027, every federal holiday except Veterans Day and Thanksgiving creates a three-day weekend, and Thanksgiving often becomes a four-day weekend for many employers.

The end of December is particularly short for working time, with Christmas observed on Friday 24 December and New Year’s Day 2028 observed on Friday 31 December.

Federal holidays vs State and Company holidays

Federal holidays apply to federal government employees and services, while private employers decide which holidays they observe. Many states also have their own public holidays, and some private employers offer additional days such as the day after Thanksgiving.

For relocating employees, this means holiday entitlement depends on the employer’s policy and the destination state. Our USA labor law guide covers state-level considerations in more detail.

How US holidays affect relocation planning

US holidays affect relocation planning because demand for moving services peaks around long weekends, and many services pause on federal holidays. These include:

• Household goods providers and moving crews
• Banks and the US Postal Service
• Social Security offices and other federal agencies
• Schools and childcare providers
• Leasing offices and property managers

Summer holidays such as Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day fall within the busiest moving season, so early booking is especially important.

Planning relocations around US holidays in 2027

Planning relocations around US holidays helps avoid delays and higher costs. Practical steps include:

• Book household goods providers early for moves near Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day
• Avoid scheduling key appointments, such as Social Security registration, on federal holidays
• Allow extra time in late November and December for moves and start dates
• Check state-level holidays at the destination
• Share the 2027 holiday calendar with relocating employees during their policy briefing

Relocating employees to the UK as well? See our guide to UK bank holidays in 2027.

How MovePlus supports relocation planning

MovePlus works with HR and mobility teams to plan relocations around key dates, suppliers and destination-specific considerations. The MOVEPLUS™ platform centralises key dates, documents and approvals, helping teams coordinate every move and supporting relocating employees to start on schedule.

Get in touch to discuss how MovePlus can support your next assignment.

Frequently asked questions

1. How many federal holidays are there in 2027?

There are 11 federal holidays in 2027.

2. When is Thanksgiving 2027?

Thanksgiving falls on Thursday 25 November 2027.

3. When is Independence Day observed in 2027?

Independence Day falls on Sunday 4 July 2027 and is observed on Monday 5 July 2027.

4. Do private employers have to give federal holidays off?

No. Private employers set their own holiday policies, although many choose to observe most federal holidays.