Is New Year's Day a Federal Holiday? Yes — Jan. 1, 2027
Yes, New Year's Day is a federal holiday: 5 U.S.C. 6103(a) lists “New Year's Day, January 1” among the 11 legal public holidays. In 2027 it is Friday, January 1. On Friday, January 1, 2027, federal offices, Federal Reserve Banks, NYSE and Post Offices (per USPS) are closed. New Year's Day 2028 falls on Saturday, January 1, 2028, so most federal employees get Friday, December 31, 2027.
The number of days to Friday, January 1, 2027 appears here once the page loads in your browser.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Federal sources checked November 1, 2026 · Methodology & sources
All dates for the year: federal holidays 2027. To check any other day, use the federal holiday checker.
The law: what 5 U.S.C. 6103(a) says about New Year's Day
5 U.S.C. 6103(a) lists “New Year's Day, January 1” as a legal public holiday. The full list of legal public holidays is quoted below.
(a) The following are legal public holidays: New Year's Day, January 1. Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., the third Monday in January. Washington's Birthday, the third Monday in February. Memorial Day, the last Monday in May. Juneteenth National Independence Day, June 19. Independence Day, July 4. Labor Day, the first Monday in September. Columbus Day, the second Monday in October. Veterans Day, November 11. Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday in November. Christmas Day, December 25.
Source: 5 U.S.C. 6103: Holidays (GovInfo), OPM: Federal Holidays (2026 to 2030 tables)
Who gets the day off on New Year's Day 2027
New Year's Day falls on a Friday in 2027, so there is no weekend shift: OPM lists Friday, January 1, 2027. OPM's rule for a holiday that falls on a Saturday or Sunday is quoted below.
On Friday, January 1, 2027, federal offices, Federal Reserve Banks, NYSE and Post Offices (per USPS) are closed.
The table shows who else follows which calendar; each row names its source. Market times are Eastern Time.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday, for most Federal employees, the preceding Friday will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes. (See 5 U.S.C. 6103(b).) If a holiday falls on a Sunday, for most Federal employees, the following Monday will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes. (See Section 3(a) of Executive Order 11582, February 11, 1971.)
| Who | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Federal offices and agencies | Closed | OPM lists Friday, January 1, 2027 as the New Year's Day holiday, and 5 U.S.C. 6103(a) makes it a legal public holiday. Federal offices are closed for most federal employees; employees whose work is required that day are covered by the holiday pay rules on this page.Source: OPM: Federal Holidays (2026 to 2030 tables), 5 U.S.C. 6103: Holidays (GovInfo) |
| Federal Reserve Banks | Closed | Federal Reserve Banks are closed on Friday, January 1, 2027 (New Year's Day), which is on both the Federal Reserve Financial Services holiday schedule and the Board's K.8 table. Whether a bank or credit union branch is open is up to each bank: each bank sets its own hours, so check with yours.Source: Federal Reserve Financial Services: Holiday Schedules, Federal Reserve Board: Holidays Observed (K.8) |
| USPS Post Offices and delivery | Closed | Closed: New Year's Day is a USPS holiday. Post Offices are closed and regular mail is not delivered on postal holidays. USPS says: “Regular mail delivery occurs Monday through Saturday, with the exception of postal holidays.” For Priority Mail Express, USPS says: “Sunday and holiday delivery available in many major markets for an additional fee.” Confirm local Post Office hours with USPS.Source: USPS: holidays and events, USPS FAQ: No mail delivery? |
| Stock market (NYSE) | Closed | NYSE's holiday list shows all NYSE markets closed on Friday, January 1, 2027 (New Year's Day). This page covers NYSE; check your exchange or broker for its own calendar.Source: NYSE: holidays and trading hours |
| Bond market (SIFMA recommendation) | Closed | SIFMA recommends a full close for the U.S. bond market on Friday, January 1, 2027 (New Year's Day).Source: SIFMA: U.S. holiday schedule |
Source: OPM: Federal Holidays (2026 to 2030 tables), Federal Reserve Financial Services: Holiday Schedules, Federal Reserve Board: Holidays Observed (K.8), USPS: holidays and events, NYSE: holidays and trading hours, SIFMA: U.S. holiday schedule
To check another day, use the bank holiday checker, Post Office holiday checker or the stock market holidays list. Related: New Year's Day: bank hours, New Year's Day: Post Office hours, New Year's Day: stock market hours.
Private employers and holiday pay
Federal holiday law covers federal employees. The U.S. Department of Labor says this about holiday pay, and about government contracts:
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations or holidays (federal or otherwise). These benefits are generally a matter of agreement between an employer and an employee (or the employee's representative).
On a government contract to which the labor standards of the McNamara O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) apply, holiday and/or vacation fringe benefit requirements are stated in the SCA wage determinations in contracts that exceed $2,500. On a government contract to which the labor standards of the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts apply, holiday pay and/or vacation pay is required for specific classifications of workers only if the Davis-Bacon wage determination in the covered contract specifies such requirements for workers employed in those classifications.
For federal employees who work on a holiday, 5 U.S.C. 5546(b) sets the pay rule quoted below. Your agency and pay system decide how it applies, so ask your HR office.
(b) An employee who performs work on a holiday designated by Federal statute, Executive order, or with respect to an employee of the government of the District of Columbia, by order of the District of Columbia Council, is entitled to pay at the rate of his basic pay, plus premium pay at a rate equal to the rate of his basic pay, for that holiday work which is not— (1) in excess of 8 hours; or (2) overtime work as defined by section 5542(a) of this title.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor: Holiday Pay, 5 U.S.C. 5546: Pay for Sunday and holiday work (GovInfo)
Pay periods and pay dates: 2027 federal pay period calendar.
New Year's Day dates, 2027 to 2030
New Year's Day is January 1 every year under 6103(a). The table matches OPM's published tables for 2027 through 2030.
In 2028, New Year's Day falls on Saturday and OPM lists Friday, December 31, 2027.
| Year | New Year's Day | Observed for federal pay and leave (most federal employees) | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Friday, January 1, 2027 | Friday, January 1, 2027 | OPM federal holiday table (2026 to 2030), matched by the 5 U.S.C. 6103 rule |
| 2028 | Saturday, January 1, 2028 | Friday, December 31, 2027 | OPM federal holiday table (2026 to 2030), matched by the 5 U.S.C. 6103 rule |
| 2029 | Monday, January 1, 2029 | Monday, January 1, 2029 | OPM federal holiday table (2026 to 2030), matched by the 5 U.S.C. 6103 rule |
| 2030 | Tuesday, January 1, 2030 | Tuesday, January 1, 2030 | OPM federal holiday table (2026 to 2030), matched by the 5 U.S.C. 6103 rule |
Source: OPM: Federal Holidays (2026 to 2030 tables), NYSE: holidays and trading hours
New Year's Day 2028 is observed on December 31, 2027
For most federal employees, the holiday that belongs to January 1, 2028 comes a day early. New Year's Day 2028 falls on Saturday, January 1, 2028. OPM's 2028 table lists Friday, December 31, 2027 as New Year's Day, and the OPM rule for a Saturday holiday is quoted above. The table shows what the other lists say for Friday, December 31, 2027.
| Who | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Federal offices and agencies | Closed | New Year's Day falls on Saturday, January 1, 2028. OPM lists Friday, December 31, 2027 as the holiday for pay and leave, so federal offices are closed on Friday, December 31, 2027 for most federal employees; employees whose work is required that day are covered by the holiday pay rules on this page.Source: OPM: Federal Holidays (2026 to 2030 tables), 5 U.S.C. 6103: Holidays (GovInfo) |
| Federal Reserve Banks | Open | Federal Reserve Banks are open on Friday, December 31, 2027. New Year's Day falls on Saturday, January 1; Federal Reserve Banks are open this Friday. Whether a bank or credit union branch is open is up to each bank: each bank sets its own hours, so check with yours.Source: Federal Reserve Financial Services: Holiday Schedules, Federal Reserve Board: Holidays Observed (K.8) |
| USPS Post Offices and delivery | Normal schedule (no holiday listed) | Not a USPS holiday: regular delivery runs. This date is not on the USPS holiday list. USPS says: “Regular mail delivery occurs Monday through Saturday, with the exception of postal holidays.” Hours vary by location. New Year's Day 2028 falls on Saturday, January 1, 2028. The USPS lists on this page end with 2027, so this page does not show whether January 1, 2028 is on the USPS holiday list; check USPS. Confirm local Post Office hours with USPS.Source: USPS: holidays and events, USPS FAQ: No mail delivery? |
| Stock market (NYSE) | Normal schedule (no holiday listed) | NYSE's holiday list does not list Friday, December 31, 2027 as a closure. This page covers NYSE; check your exchange or broker for its own calendar.Source: NYSE: holidays and trading hours |
| Bond market (SIFMA recommendation) | Normal schedule (no holiday listed) | SIFMA's U.S. holiday schedule shows an early close at 2:00 p.m. ET on Friday, December 31, 2027 (New Year's Eve).Source: SIFMA: U.S. holiday schedule |
Source: OPM: Federal Holidays (2026 to 2030 tables), Federal Reserve Financial Services: Holiday Schedules, Federal Reserve Board: Holidays Observed (K.8), USPS: holidays and events, NYSE: holidays and trading hours, SIFMA: U.S. holiday schedule
More federal holiday questions
- Is Memorial Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is Labor Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is 4th of July a Federal Holiday?
- Is Christmas a Federal Holiday?
- Is Halloween a Federal Holiday?
- Is Flag Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is St. Patrick's Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is César Chávez Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is Cinco de Mayo a Federal Holiday?
- Is Patriots' Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is New Year's Eve a Federal Holiday?
- Is the Day After Christmas a Federal Holiday?
- Is MLK Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is Presidents Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is Juneteenth a Federal Holiday?
- Is Columbus Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is Good Friday a Federal Holiday?
- Is Easter a Federal Holiday?
- Is Easter Monday a Federal Holiday?
- Is Veterans Day a Federal Holiday?
- Is Black Friday a Federal Holiday?
- Is Christmas Eve a Federal Holiday?
Questions
Do federal employees get New Year's Day off?
Yes. New Year's Day is a legal public holiday under 5 U.S.C. 6103(a), and OPM lists Friday, January 1, 2027. A covered employee who performs work on that holiday is entitled to holiday premium pay under 5 U.S.C. 5546(b), within that section's limits; ask your HR office how it applies.
Is the post office open on New Year's Day 2027?
Closed: New Year's Day is a USPS holiday. Post Offices are closed and regular mail is not delivered on postal holidays. USPS says: “Regular mail delivery occurs Monday through Saturday, with the exception of postal holidays.” For Priority Mail Express, USPS says: “Sunday and holiday delivery available in many major markets for an additional fee.” Confirm local Post Office hours with USPS.
Is the stock market open on New Year's Day 2027?
No. NYSE's holiday list shows all NYSE markets closed on Friday, January 1, 2027 (New Year's Day). This page covers NYSE; check your exchange or broker for its own calendar. SIFMA recommends a full close for the U.S. bond market on Friday, January 1, 2027 (New Year's Day).
Are Federal Reserve Banks closed on New Year's Day 2027?
Federal Reserve Banks are closed on Friday, January 1, 2027 (New Year's Day), which is on both the Federal Reserve Financial Services holiday schedule and the Board's K.8 table. Whether a bank or credit union branch is open is up to each bank: each bank sets its own hours, so check with yours.
Do private employers have to give New Year's Day off?
Not under federal law for most private employers. Federal holidays bind federal employees, not private employers. The Department of Labor says: "The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations or holidays (federal or otherwise)." On government contracts the rules can differ, and DOL says: "On a government contract to which the labor standards of the McNamara O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) apply, holiday and/or vacation fringe benefit requirements are stated in the SCA wage determinations in contracts that exceed $2,500." The Davis-Bacon and Related Acts can require holiday pay the same way, for specific classifications of workers and only if the wage determination specifies it. Check your employer and state law.
Is New Year's Day 2028 observed on December 31, 2027?
For most federal employees, yes. New Year's Day 2028 falls on Saturday, January 1, 2028, and OPM's 2028 table lists Friday, December 31, 2027 as New Year's Day. On that Friday, Federal Reserve Banks are open, NYSE's holiday list shows no closure, and the USPS 2027 holiday list does not include Friday, December 31, 2027 and the USPS 2028 list is not shown here, so check USPS for Post Office hours.
Do federal employees get extra pay for working on New Year's Day?
A covered employee who performs work on a holiday designated by Federal statute or Executive order is entitled to basic pay plus premium pay equal to basic pay, for holiday work that is not in excess of 8 hours and is not overtime work (5 U.S.C. 5546(b)). Your agency and pay system decide how it applies, so ask your HR office.
Sources: 5 U.S.C. 6103: Holidays (GovInfo) · 5 U.S.C. 5546: Pay for Sunday and holiday work (GovInfo) · OPM: Federal Holidays (2026 to 2030 tables) · U.S. Department of Labor: Holiday Pay · Federal Reserve Financial Services: Holiday Schedules · Federal Reserve Board: Holidays Observed (K.8) · USPS: holidays and events · USPS FAQ: No mail delivery? · NYSE: holidays and trading hours · SIFMA: U.S. holiday schedule