New Year's Day 2027
New Year's Day 2027 is on Friday, January 1, 2027 (in 81 days). It falls on a weekday, so federal employees have the day itself off. It is a U.S. federal holiday.
- Date
- Friday, January 1, 2027
- Countdown
- In 81 days
- Federal holiday
- Yes
- Federal day off
- Friday, January 1, 2027
- Date rule
- January 1 (fixed date)
- Possible dates
- Always January 1; only the weekday changes
- Next occurrence
- Saturday, January 1, 2028
New Year's Day dates by year
| Year | Date | Weekday | Federal day off | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | January 1, 2026 | Thursday | Same day | 284 days ago |
| 2027 | January 1, 2027 | Friday | Same day | in 81 days |
| 2028 | January 1, 2028 | Saturday | Fri, Dec 31 | in 14 months |
| 2029 | January 1, 2029 | Monday | Same day | in 2 years |
| 2030 | January 1, 2030 | Tuesday | Same day | in 3 years |
| 2031 | January 1, 2031 | Wednesday | Same day | in 4 years |
| 2032 | January 1, 2032 | Thursday | Same day | in 5 years |
| 2033 | January 1, 2033 | Saturday | Fri, Dec 31 | in 6 years |
| 2034 | January 1, 2034 | Sunday | Mon, Jan 2 | in 7 years |
| 2035 | January 1, 2035 | Monday | 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 January 2027.
Date and observed day
New Year's Day is fixed on January 1, so only the weekday changes from year to year. When January 1 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, which is December 31 of the previous year, and a Sunday holiday on the Monday after.
The next such year is 2028: New Year's Day is on a Saturday and the federal holiday is observed on Friday, December 31, 2027. The table above shows the observed federal day for each year.
Why the year starts on January 1
The Romans moved the start of their civil year to January 1 in 153 BC, when the new consuls began taking office on that date, and Julius Caesar's calendar of 45 BC kept it. For centuries many European places started the year on other dates, such as March 25 or Easter. Britain and its American colonies adopted January 1 as the first day of the year in 1752, the same year they switched to the Gregorian calendar.
New Year's Day in the United States
An 1870 act of Congress made New Year's Day, Independence Day and Christmas Day holidays for federal employees in Washington, D.C., and the holiday later extended to federal workers everywhere. The best-known traditions are the Times Square ball drop on New Year's Eve, which has been held since 1907, and the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California, first held in 1890. When January 1 is a Sunday, the Rose Parade is moved to Monday, January 2.
Customs and resolutions
In the American South, eating black-eyed peas, often cooked with greens, on New Year's Day is a custom said to bring luck and prosperity in the coming year. Many Americans also make New Year's resolutions, promises to improve habits such as exercise or saving money, and some people greet the year with a "polar bear plunge" into cold water. College football bowl games, including the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, are played on or around January 1.
What is open and closed on New Year's 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 on January 1. When January 1 is a Saturday, the stock exchanges stay open on Friday, December 31, even though that is the observed federal holiday.
Frequently asked questions about New Year's Day
When is New Year's Day 2027?
New Year's Day 2027 is on Friday, January 1, 2027.
When is New Year's Day 2028?
New Year's Day 2028 is on Saturday, January 1, 2028.
Is New Year's Day always on January 1?
Yes. The date is fixed, and only the weekday changes. If January 1 falls on a weekend, federal employees get the nearest weekday off, but the holiday itself stays on January 1.
Is New Year's Eve a federal holiday?
No. December 31 is not a federal holiday, with one exception: when January 1 is a Saturday, the federal government observes New Year's Day on Friday, December 31.
Are banks open on New Year's Day?
The Federal Reserve Banks are closed, and most banks close their branches. Online banking and ATMs keep working, but transfers are not processed until the next business day.