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Colorado state holidays 2027

Colorado expects to give state employees 12 paid holidays in 2027, 2 of them still to be confirmed. Here are the observed dates, how weekend holidays move and what they mean for a private employer.

The 12 paid state holidays of 2027, plus December 31

8 long weekends

  1. January 1: New Year’s Day Friday Long weekend
  2. January 18: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday Long weekend
  3. February 15: President’s Day Monday Long weekend
  4. May 31: Memorial Day Monday Long weekend
  5. June 18: Juneteenth Friday · observed, June 19 is a Saturday Long weekend
  6. July 5: Independence Day Monday · observed, July 4 is a Sunday Long weekend
  7. September 6: Labor Day Monday Long weekend
  8. October 4: Frances Xavier Cabrini Day Monday Long weekend
  9. November 11: Veterans Day Thursday
  10. November 25: Thanksgiving Day Thursday 4-day weekend
  11. November 26: Governor’s Holiday Friday · day after Thanksgiving · to be confirmed 4-day weekend
  12. December 24: Christmas Day Friday · observed, December 25 is a Saturday · to be confirmed Long weekend
  13. December 31: New Year’s Day 2028 Friday · observed, January 1, 2028 is a Saturday · to be confirmed Long weekend

Colorado hasn’t published its 2027 holiday schedule for executive-branch employees yet; these dates follow the statute, 2026 practice and the Judicial Department’s 2027 schedule. December 31 would be the observed New Year’s Day 2028, which counts toward 2028, not the 12 holidays of 2027.

To be confirmed

  • Governor’s Holiday, Friday, November 26: It isn’t in the statute: the governor grants it in some years only.
  • Christmas Day, Friday, December 24: Colorado’s 2027 schedule isn’t published, and the law only moves Sunday holidays.
  • New Year’s Day 2028, Friday, December 31: It will be set in Colorado’s 2028 schedule, which isn’t published yet.

These days aren’t in the calendar download until they’re confirmed.

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Who Colorado state holidays apply to

State holidays in Colorado are the days the state gives its own employees off with pay. They don’t bind private employers: whether your team gets these days off, and whether they’re paid, depends on your policy, your employment contracts or a union agreement.

Colorado’s holiday law covers state offices, courts and legal deadlines. We found no Colorado law that requires private employers to give state holidays off or to pay extra for working them. Source: C.R.S. 24-11-101, Legal holidays (Colorado.Public.Law).

Holidays that fall on a weekend

Colorado law moves a Sunday holiday to the Monday after. Saturday holidays have been observed on the Friday before by practice, not by statute, and the state’s 2027 schedule isn’t out yet.

In 2027:

  • Juneteenth falls on Saturday, June 19 and is observed on Friday, June 18.
  • Independence Day falls on Sunday, July 4 and is observed on Monday, July 5.
  • Christmas Day falls on Saturday, December 25 and is observed on Friday, December 24 (to be confirmed).
  • New Year’s Day 2028 falls on Saturday, January 1, 2028 and is observed on Friday, December 31 (to be confirmed).

How Colorado compares with the federal holidays

Of the 11 federal holidays, Colorado doesn’t give state employees a paid day off for Columbus Day. On top of the federal list, it adds Frances Xavier Cabrini Day on Monday, October 4 and Governor’s Holiday on Friday, November 26.

Optional holidays

These days are on the state’s list but aren’t full paid days off, so they’re not in the count or the calendar download.

  • César Chávez Day, Wednesday, March 31: optional holiday, agency directors may grant it in place of another paid holiday.

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Frequently asked questions

How many paid state holidays does Colorado have in 2027?

Colorado gives state employees 12 paid holidays, 2 of them still to be confirmed: New Year’s Day on Friday, January 1; Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, January 18; President’s Day on Monday, February 15; Memorial Day on Monday, May 31; Juneteenth on Friday, June 18; Independence Day on Monday, July 5; Labor Day on Monday, September 6; Frances Xavier Cabrini Day on Monday, October 4; Veterans Day on Thursday, November 11; Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, November 25; Governor’s Holiday on Friday, November 26 (to be confirmed); and Christmas Day on Friday, December 24 (to be confirmed). Friday, December 31 may also be a day off, as the observed New Year’s Day 2028, but that’s still to be confirmed.

Is Juneteenth a state holiday in Colorado?

Yes. Juneteenth is a paid state holiday in Colorado, observed on Friday, June 18, because June 19 is a Saturday.

Is the day after Thanksgiving a holiday in Colorado?

It may be, but it’s still to be confirmed. It isn’t in the statute: the governor grants it in some years only.

Do private employers have to give state holidays off in Colorado?

Colorado’s holiday law covers state offices, courts and legal deadlines. We found no Colorado law that requires private employers to give state holidays off or to pay extra for working them. Beyond that, whether your team gets these days off, and whether they’re paid, depends on your policy, your employment contracts or a union agreement. Federal law doesn’t require holiday pay, but nonexempt employees still earn time and a half for hours over 40 in a workweek, holiday or not.

What state holidays fall on a weekend in 2027?

Juneteenth falls on Saturday, June 19 and is observed on Friday, June 18. Independence Day falls on Sunday, July 4 and is observed on Monday, July 5. Christmas Day falls on Saturday, December 25 and is observed on Friday, December 24 (to be confirmed). New Year’s Day 2028 falls on Saturday, January 1, 2028 and is observed on Friday, December 31 (to be confirmed).

Official sources

Data reviewed on October 12, 2026.