2027 federal holidays: the full OPM schedule for federal employees

By the OnPAR Federal Retirement Education editorial team · Last updated November 9, 2026

Related: Election Day leave for federal employees · OPM retirement payment schedule 2026 · Retirement countdown · Start here · FEHB Open Season 2026

Short answer: OPM has published the 2027 federal holidays schedule. Most federal employees who work Monday through Friday get 11 observed holidays in 2027, including three in-lieu days when the legal holiday falls on a weekend: Friday, June 18 (Juneteenth), Monday, July 5 (Independence Day) and Friday, December 24 (Christmas) [1]. Election Day is not a federal holiday. Inauguration Day is not on the 2027 list (the next one is 2029). This page is education only, not advice, and we are not affiliated with OPM.

2027 federal holiday schedule (OPM)

OPM's 2027 Holiday Schedule lists these observe dates for most Monday-Friday employees [1]:

Source: OPM Federal Holidays - 2027 Holiday Schedule.

How OPM's in-lieu rule works

Federal law (5 U.S.C. 6103) sets the legal public holidays. When a holiday falls on a nonworkday for most Monday-Friday employees, OPM observes it on another day [1] [2]:

• If the holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday is treated as the holiday for pay and leave purposes (5 U.S.C. 6103(b)).
• If the holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is treated as the holiday (Section 3(a) of Executive Order 11582, February 11, 1971).

In 2027 that rule moves three holidays: Juneteenth (Saturday to Friday June 18), Independence Day (Sunday to Monday July 5) and Christmas (Saturday to Friday December 24) [1]. Part-time and intermittent employees are not entitled to an in-lieu holiday; see OPM's Federal Holidays - "In Lieu Of" Determination fact sheet for alternative work schedules and other tours [2].

Worked example: Christmas leave in 2027

Someone planning leave around Christmas 2027 on a typical Monday-Friday schedule gets Friday, December 24 off as the Christmas holiday - not Monday, December 27. The legal holiday is Saturday, December 25, so the in-lieu day is the preceding Friday [1] [2]. If you want a longer break, you would use annual leave for other days (for example Monday Dec 27 or Tuesday Dec 28), not expect another automatic holiday.

What is not on the 2027 list

• Election Day is not a federal holiday. Federal employees normally work their regular schedule. Some agencies may grant limited administrative leave for voting under OPM rules - see our guide to Election Day leave for federal employees.
• Inauguration Day is not on the 2027 schedule. It applies in inauguration years for eligible employees in the Washington, DC, area. The next Inauguration Day on OPM's published list is 2029 (January 20, 2029 falls on a Saturday; OPM notes there is no in-lieu day for employees not scheduled to work that Saturday) [1].

OPM's policy is to use the legal name Washington's Birthday (5 U.S.C. 6103), even though many state and private calendars call that Monday Presidents' Day [1].

Why the holiday calendar matters for FERS planning

Observed holidays affect when offices are closed, when OPM Retirement Services phones are closed, and how you spend annual leave near year-end. If you are aiming at a specific retirement date, pair this calendar with:

• Our retirement countdown and Start here guide
• The FERS retirement calculator and other tools
• OPM retirement payment dates (annuity pay dates shift when the first of the month falls on a weekend or holiday)
• FEHB Open Season 2026 (Nov 9 - Dec 14, 2026), which sits just before the winter holidays

Quick questions

How many federal holidays are there in 2027?

OPM lists 11 holidays on the 2027 Holiday Schedule for most Monday-Friday federal employees [1].

Is Christmas Monday, December 27, 2027?

No. For most Monday-Friday employees, Christmas is observed on Friday, December 24, 2027, because December 25 falls on a Saturday [1].

Is Election Day a federal holiday in 2027?

No. Election Day is not on OPM's federal holiday list. See voting leave rules for federal employees.

Official sources

1. OPM: Federal Holidays (2027 Holiday Schedule)
2. OPM Fact Sheet: Federal Holidays - "In Lieu Of" Determination

Checked against OPM on November 5, 2026. Education only, not legal, tax or financial advice. Not affiliated with OPM, USPS or any government agency.