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District of Columbia holidays 2027

The District of Columbia gives District government employees 12 paid holidays in 2027. Here are the observed dates, how weekend holidays move and what they mean for a private employer.

The 12 paid District holidays of 2027, plus December 31

10 long weekends

  1. January 1: New Year’s Day Friday Long weekend
  2. January 18: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday Monday Long weekend
  3. February 15: Washington’s Birthday Monday Long weekend
  4. April 16: District of Columbia Emancipation Day Friday Long weekend
  5. May 31: Memorial Day Monday Long weekend
  6. June 18: Juneteenth National Independence Day Friday · observed, June 19 is a Saturday Long weekend
  7. July 5: Independence Day Monday · observed, July 4 is a Sunday Long weekend
  8. September 6: Labor Day Monday Long weekend
  9. October 11: Indigenous Peoples’ Day Monday Long weekend
  10. November 11: Veterans Day Thursday
  11. November 25: Thanksgiving Day Thursday
  12. December 24: Christmas Day Friday · observed, December 25 is a Saturday Long weekend
  13. December 31: New Year’s Day 2028 Friday · observed, January 1, 2028 is a Saturday · to be confirmed Long weekend

DCHR hasn’t issued its 2027 holiday schedule yet, so these dates follow the D.C. Code. December 31 would be the observed New Year’s Day 2028, which counts toward 2028, not the 12 holidays of 2027.

To be confirmed

  • New Year’s Day 2028, Friday, December 31: It follows the D.C. Code’s Saturday rule, but it will be confirmed in the District’s 2028 holiday schedule.

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

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Who District of Columbia holidays apply to

District holidays are the days the District 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.

We found no District of Columbia law that requires private employers to give these holidays off or to pay extra for working them. Source: D.C. Code 1-612.02, Legal public holidays.

Holidays that fall on a weekend

Under the D.C. Code, a Saturday holiday is observed on the Friday before and a Sunday holiday on the Monday after for District employees who work Monday to Friday. Inauguration Day doesn’t come up in 2027, and there’s no holiday the day after Thanksgiving.

In 2027:

  • Juneteenth National Independence Day 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.
  • New Year’s Day 2028 falls on Saturday, January 1, 2028 and is observed on Friday, December 31 (to be confirmed).

How the District of Columbia compares with the federal holidays

The District of Columbia gives District government employees all 11 federal holidays. On top of the federal list, it adds District of Columbia Emancipation Day on Friday, April 16.

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Frequently asked questions

How many paid District holidays does the District of Columbia have in 2027?

The District of Columbia gives District government employees 12 paid holidays: New Year’s Day on Friday, January 1; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday on Monday, January 18; Washington’s Birthday on Monday, February 15; District of Columbia Emancipation Day on Friday, April 16; Memorial Day on Monday, May 31; Juneteenth National Independence Day on Friday, June 18; Independence Day on Monday, July 5; Labor Day on Monday, September 6; Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Monday, October 11; Veterans Day on Thursday, November 11; Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, November 25; and Christmas Day on Friday, December 24. 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 District holiday in the District of Columbia?

Yes. Juneteenth National Independence Day is a paid District holiday in the District of Columbia, observed on Friday, June 18, because June 19 is a Saturday.

Is the day after Thanksgiving a holiday in the District of Columbia?

No. Friday, November 26 is a regular workday for District government employees in the District of Columbia. Many private employers give it off anyway; if yours does, put it in your holiday policy and on the team calendar.

Do private employers have to give District holidays off in the District of Columbia?

We found no District of Columbia law that requires private employers to give these 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 District holidays fall on a weekend in 2027?

Juneteenth National Independence Day 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. 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.