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North Carolina state holidays 2027
North Carolina gives state 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 state holidays of 2027
8 long weekends
- January 1: New Year’s Day Friday Long weekend
- January 18: Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Monday Long weekend
- March 26: Good Friday Friday Long weekend
- May 31: Memorial Day Monday Long weekend
- July 5: Independence Day Monday · observed, July 4 is a Sunday Long weekend
- September 6: Labor Day Monday Long weekend
- November 11: Veterans Day Thursday
- November 25: Thanksgiving Thursday 4-day weekend
- November 26: Day after Thanksgiving Friday 4-day weekend
- December 23: Christmas Thursday · one of the three Christmas days 5-day weekend
- December 24: Christmas Friday · one of the three Christmas days 5-day weekend
- December 27: Christmas Monday · one of the three Christmas days 5-day weekend
Who North Carolina state holidays apply to
State holidays in North Carolina 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.
We found no North Carolina law that requires private employers to give state holidays off or to pay extra for working them. Source: North Carolina Office of State Human Resources, Holidays.
Holidays that fall on a weekend
North Carolina’s State Human Resources Commission approves each year’s schedule. Weekend holidays get a substitute weekday, and Christmas gets three weekdays around December 25. New Year’s Day 2028 is observed on Monday, January 3, 2028, so there’s no closure on December 31.
In 2027:
- Independence Day falls on Sunday, July 4 and is observed on Monday, July 5.
How North Carolina compares with the federal holidays
Of the 11 federal holidays, North Carolina doesn’t give state employees a paid day off for Presidents’ Day, Juneteenth, and Columbus Day. On top of the federal list, it adds Good Friday on Friday, March 26 and Day after Thanksgiving on Friday, November 26.
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Frequently asked questions
How many paid state holidays does North Carolina have in 2027?
North Carolina gives state employees 12 paid holidays: New Year’s Day on Friday, January 1; Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday on Monday, January 18; Good Friday on Friday, March 26; 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 on Thursday, November 25; Day after Thanksgiving on Friday, November 26; Christmas on Thursday, December 23; Christmas on Friday, December 24; and Christmas on Monday, December 27.
Is Juneteenth a state holiday in North Carolina?
No. Juneteenth isn’t one of the paid state holidays in North Carolina, 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 North Carolina?
Yes. Friday, November 26 is a paid state holiday, so state offices close.
Do private employers have to give state holidays off in North Carolina?
We found no North Carolina 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.
Official sources
Data reviewed on October 12, 2026.