Independence Day, July 4th 2027
Independence Day, July 4th 2027 is on Sunday, July 4, 2027 (in 265 days). Because it falls on a Sunday, most federal employees observe the holiday on Monday, July 5, 2027. It is a U.S. federal holiday that celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
- Date
- Sunday, July 4, 2027
- Countdown
- In 265 days
- Federal holiday
- Yes
- Federal day off
- Monday, July 5, 2027
- Date rule
- July 4 (fixed date)
- Possible dates
- Always July 4; only the weekday changes
- Next occurrence
- Tuesday, July 4, 2028
Independence Day, July 4th dates by year
| Year | Date | Weekday | Federal day off | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | July 4, 2026 | Saturday | Fri, Jul 3 | 100 days ago |
| 2027 | July 4, 2027 | Sunday | Mon, Jul 5 | in 265 days |
| 2028 | July 4, 2028 | Tuesday | Same day | in 20 months |
| 2029 | July 4, 2029 | Wednesday | Same day | in 2 years |
| 2030 | July 4, 2030 | Thursday | Same day | in 3 years |
| 2031 | July 4, 2031 | Friday | Same day | in 4 years |
| 2032 | July 4, 2032 | Sunday | Mon, Jul 5 | in 5 years |
| 2033 | July 4, 2033 | Monday | Same day | in 6 years |
| 2034 | July 4, 2034 | Tuesday | Same day | in 7 years |
| 2035 | July 4, 2035 | Wednesday | Same day | in 8 years |
Dates are calculated from the rule shown above, not copied from a list, so they stay correct for any year. See everything else happening that month in the calendar for July 2027.
Date and observed day
Independence Day is fixed on July 4, so only the weekday changes. When July 4 falls on a weekend, 5 U.S.C. § 6103(b) moves the day off for most federal employees: a Saturday holiday is observed on the Friday before, and a Sunday holiday on the Monday after. The date of the holiday does not move, only the day off does.
The next such year is 2027: Independence Day, July 4th is on a Sunday and the federal holiday is observed on Monday, July 5, 2027.
What happened on July 4, 1776
The Continental Congress voted for independence on July 2, 1776, and approved the final wording of the Declaration of Independence on July 4. John Adams expected July 2 to be remembered as the great anniversary, but the date printed on the document is the one that stuck. Most delegates signed the engrossed copy on August 2, 1776.
How the holiday developed
Philadelphia marked the first anniversary in 1777. Congress made July 4 an unpaid holiday for federal employees in Washington, D.C. in 1870 and a paid holiday in 1938. The United States marked the 250th anniversary of the Declaration on July 4, 2026.
Coincidences and traditions
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two of the men who shaped the Declaration, both died on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of its adoption. James Monroe, the fifth president, died on July 4, 1831, and Calvin Coolidge was born on July 4, 1872. Bristol, Rhode Island, claims the oldest continuous Independence Day parade, held since 1785. In a letter to his wife Abigail on July 3, 1776, Adams predicted that the day of independence, which he expected to be July 2, would be marked with parades, games, bonfires and illuminations from one end of the continent to the other. The original engrossed Declaration is displayed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
What is open and closed on Independence Day
Federal government offices, federal courts, the Federal Reserve Banks and the U.S. Postal Service (no regular mail delivery) are closed. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq are closed too. When July 4 falls on a Saturday, the exchanges close on the Friday before, and when it falls on a Sunday they close on the Monday after. Parades, cookouts and fireworks are held across the country.
Frequently asked questions about Independence Day, July 4th
When is Independence Day, July 4th 2027?
Independence Day, July 4th 2027 is on Sunday, July 4, 2027.
When is Independence Day, July 4th 2028?
Independence Day, July 4th 2028 is on Tuesday, July 4, 2028.
What if July 4 falls on a weekend?
The date stays July 4, but federal employees get the nearest weekday off: Friday, July 3, when July 4 is a Saturday, and Monday, July 5, when it is a Sunday.
Why is July 4 celebrated if the vote for independence was on July 2?
July 2 was the vote, and July 4 is the date Congress approved the final text of the Declaration, which is the date printed on it. Americans have celebrated the Fourth since the first anniversary in 1777.
Is Independence Day a federal holiday?
Yes. 5 U.S.C. § 6103 lists Independence Day, July 4, as a legal public holiday.