Illinois Holidays 2027
Illinois has 11 federal holidays and 2 state holidays in 2027. Private employers don't have to give any of them.
Last updated on Nov 1, 2026
11 federal holidays and 2 state holidays in 2027.
11 federal holidays and 2 state holidays in 2027.
Trusted by 200,000+ people at companies you know
All 2027 holidays in Illinois
16 days listed| Month | Date | Holiday | Type | Paid by law? | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1Fri | New Year's Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| 18Mon | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | ||
| February | 12Fri | Lincoln's Birthday | State | Not required for private employers | |
| 15Mon | Washington's Birthday | Federal | Not required for private employers | ||
| March | 1Mon | Casimir Pulaski DayCommemorative holiday; state offices stay open | Observance | Not a day off | |
| 28Sun | Easter Sunday | Observance | Not a day off | ||
| May | 31Mon | Memorial Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| June | 19Sat | JuneteenthFalls on a Saturday. Observed Fri Jun 18 | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| July | 4Sun | Independence DayFalls on a Sunday. Observed Mon Jul 5 | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| September | 6Mon | Labor Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| October | 11Mon | Columbus Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| November | 11Thu | Veterans Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| 25Thu | Thanksgiving Day | Federal | Not required for private employers | ||
| 26Fri | Day after Thanksgiving | State | Not required for private employers | ||
| December | 25Sat | Christmas DayFalls on a Saturday. Observed Fri Dec 24 | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| 31Fri | New Year's Day (observed)Observed for New Year's Day on Sat Jan 1, 2028 | Federal | Not required for private employers |
Illinois 2027 is already addedImport Illinois' 2027 holidays into Vacation Tracker automatically, in one click
Your team sees them in Microsoft Teams, Slack or Google Workspace. Free for 14 days, no credit card.
What employers need to know
Paid holidays
Illinois law doesn't entitle employees to holiday pay. An employer and employee can agree to use benefit time, such as vacation or PTO, for days the business is closed.
Working on a holiday
Illinois employers don't have to pay time and a half or double time for work on a legal holiday or Sunday. Overtime is still owed if that work takes the employee over 40 hours in the workweek, and a policy promising holiday premium pay must be honored.
Holiday pay at separation
Illinois employers don't owe holiday pay when an employee leaves, unless they promised it in an employment contract or other agreement.
Holidays that fall on a weekend
Federal offices observe Saturday holidays on Friday and Sunday holidays on Monday.
Unused vacation when someone leaves
Illinois requires employers to pay out earned, unused vacation when an employee leaves. This applies to the vacation or general PTO the employer's policy provides.
From our Illinois leave laws guidePaid leave
Illinois requires all private employers to give paid leave that can be used for any reason. Employees accrue 1 hour for every 40 hours worked, up to 40 hours in a 12-month period.
From our Illinois leave laws guideMaximize your PTO in 2027
These are our suggestions for the best days to take off in Illinois. They use the 11 federal holidays plus the days Illinois state offices close for: Lincoln's Birthday and Day after Thanksgiving. Take all 12 suggested PTO days and you get 50 days off across 12 breaks, including 10 long weekends. Pick a break to see it on the calendar.
- Federal
- State
- Suggested PTO day
- Weekend
- Today
January 2027
February 2027
March 2027
April 2027
May 2027
June 2027
July 2027
August 2027
September 2027
October 2027
November 2027
December 2027
When Illinois teams take time off
The 5 weeks when the most Illinois employees using Vacation Tracker were off, compared with an average week.
- Dec 27 – Jan 2Week 52 3.1× a normal week3.1×
- Aug 9 – 15Week 32 1.8× a normal week1.8×
- Jul 12 – 18Week 28 1.6× a normal week1.6×
- Aug 16 – 22Week 33 1.4× a normal week1.4×
- Jun 21 – 27Week 25 1.4× a normal week1.4×
How Illinois holidays differ
State holidays
Illinois has 2 holidays of its own in 2027 on top of the federal ones. The median across the 50 states and DC is 2; 12 have more and 22 have fewer.
Shared with a few states
Lincoln's Birthday is also a state holiday in Connecticut, Indiana, Missouri and New York.
Federal holidays
Illinois state offices observe all 11 federal holidays.
Neighboring states in 2027
- Indiana4 holidays of its own
- Iowa1 holiday of its own
- Kentucky3 holidays of its own
- Missouri2 holidays of its own
- Wisconsin2 holidays of its own
Sources
- Illinois CMS memo – State Holiday Calendar for 2026 and 2027 (Nov 18, 2025)
- Illinois CMS – State Holidays
- 5 ILCS 490 State Commemorative Dates Act
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Federal holidays
- Holiday FAQ - Illinois Department of Labor
- Minimum Wage/Overtime FAQ - Illinois Department of Labor
- Wage Payment and Collection Act FAQ - Illinois Department of Labor
- FLSA Hours Worked Advisor: Holidays, Vacations and Sick Time | U.S. Department of Labor
Holiday calendar data includes date-holidays (CC BY-SA 3.0), checked against the official sources above.
Last updated on Nov 1, 2026. Holiday dates come from public sources. Check your employment contract and the official sources above before you rely on them.
Frequently asked questions
No. Illinois law doesn't entitle employees to holiday pay. Employers and employees can agree to use vacation, sick or PTO time for holiday closures.
In 2027, Illinois has the 11 federal holidays and 2 state holidays: Lincoln's Birthday (February 12) and Day after Thanksgiving (November 26).
Yes. Juneteenth is a federal holiday and an Illinois state holiday. In 2027 it falls on Saturday, June 19, and federal offices observe it on Friday, June 18.
Yes. Columbus Day is a federal holiday and an Illinois state holiday. In 2027 it falls on Monday, October 11.
Yes. The day after Thanksgiving (Friday, November 26) is an Illinois state holiday. Private employers don't have to give it.
No. Illinois employers don't have to pay time and a half or double time for holiday work, but they must pay overtime for hours over 40 in the workweek and must honor any policy that promises a holiday premium.
Under federal law (the FLSA), paid time off for a holiday isn't hours worked, so it doesn't have to be counted toward the 40 hours for overtime.
Federal offices observe Saturday holidays on Friday and Sunday holidays on Monday. In 2027, Juneteenth falls on a Saturday and is observed on Friday, June 18; Independence Day falls on a Sunday and is observed on Monday, July 5; Christmas Day falls on a Saturday and is observed on Friday, December 24.