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Iowa state holidays 2027

Iowa gives state employees 9 paid holidays in 2027. Here are the observed dates, how weekend holidays move and what they mean for a private employer.

The 9 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.’s Birthday Monday Long weekend
  3. May 31: Memorial Day Monday Long weekend
  4. July 5: Independence Day Monday · observed, July 4 is a Sunday Long weekend
  5. September 6: Labor Day Monday Long weekend
  6. November 11: Veterans Day Thursday
  7. November 25: Thanksgiving Day Thursday 4-day weekend
  8. November 26: Friday after Thanksgiving Friday 4-day weekend
  9. December 24: Christmas Day Friday · observed, December 25 is a Saturday Long weekend
  10. December 31: New Year’s Day 2028 Friday · observed, January 1, 2028 is a Saturday Long weekend

Iowa’s Department of Administrative Services hasn’t published its 2027 list yet, so these dates follow Iowa Code 1C.2. December 31 is the observed New Year’s Day 2028, so it counts toward 2028, not the 9 holidays of 2027.

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Who Iowa state holidays apply to

State holidays in Iowa 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.

Iowa’s holiday statutes cover public offices and state employees. We found no Iowa law that requires private employers to give state holidays off or to pay extra for working them. Source: Iowa Code 1C.2, Paid holidays.

Holidays that fall on a weekend

Iowa Code 1C.2 observes a paid holiday that falls on a Saturday on the Friday before and one on a Sunday on the Monday after. State employees also get two extra paid leave days a year, added to their vacation.

In 2027:

  • 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.

How Iowa compares with the federal holidays

Of the 11 federal holidays, Iowa doesn’t give state employees a paid day off for Presidents’ Day, Juneteenth, and Columbus Day. On top of the federal list, it adds Friday after Thanksgiving on Friday, November 26.

Days that don’t close offices

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.

  • Lincoln’s Birthday, Friday, February 12: legal holiday, but not a paid day off for state employees.
  • Washington’s Birthday, Monday, February 15: legal holiday, but not a paid day off for state employees.
  • Juneteenth National Freedom Day, Saturday, June 19: proclaimed by the governor, not a paid holiday.

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Frequently asked questions

How many paid state holidays does Iowa have in 2027?

Iowa gives state employees 9 paid holidays: New Year’s Day on Friday, January 1; Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday on Monday, January 18; Memorial Day on Monday, May 31; Independence Day on Monday, July 5; Labor Day on Monday, September 6; Veterans Day on Thursday, November 11; Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, November 25; Friday after Thanksgiving on Friday, November 26; and Christmas Day on Friday, December 24. State employees also get Friday, December 31 off, because that’s when New Year’s Day 2028 is observed.

Is Juneteenth a state holiday in Iowa?

No. Juneteenth isn’t one of the paid state holidays in Iowa, so it’s a regular workday for state employees. It’s still a federal holiday, observed on Friday, June 18.

Is the day after Thanksgiving a holiday in Iowa?

Yes. Friday, November 26 is a paid state holiday, so state offices close.

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

Iowa’s holiday statutes cover public offices and state employees. We found no Iowa 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?

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.

Official sources

Data reviewed on October 12, 2026.