Kentucky Holidays 2027
Kentucky has 11 federal holidays and 3 state holidays in 2027. Private employers don't have to give any of them.
Last updated on Nov 1, 2026
11 federal holidays, 3 state holidays and 1 commonly given in 2027.
11 federal holidays and 3 state holidays in 2027.
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All 2027 holidays in Kentucky
17 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 | 15Mon | Washington's BirthdayNot a Kentucky state holiday | Federal | Not required for private employers | |
| March | 26Fri | Good FridayHalf-day holiday for state employees (KRS 18A.190) | State | Not required for private employers | |
| 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 DayLegal holiday under KRS 2.110, but not a paid holiday for Kentucky state employees | 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 | Commonly given | Not required | ||
| December | 24Fri | Christmas Eve | State | Not required for private employers | |
| 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 | ||
| 31Fri | New Year's Eve | State | Not required for private employers |
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What employers need to know
Holiday pay
Holiday pay isn't required by Kentucky law. Private employers decide whether to offer paid holidays.
Working on a holiday
Under Kentucky's overtime regulation, employers don't have to pay overtime just because work falls on a holiday, a weekend or a regular day of rest.
Holidays and overtime
Kentucky's overtime regulation says overtime need not be paid unless more than 40 hours are actually worked in the workweek. Separately, KRS 337.050 requires time and a half for work on the seventh day when an employer lets an employee work seven days in one workweek.
Holidays that fall on a weekend
Federal offices observe Saturday holidays on Friday and Sunday holidays on Monday.
Unused vacation when someone leaves
Kentucky law does not require vacation payout at termination, but employers that offer vested vacation pay must pay it to departing employees. Whether and when vacation vests depends on company policy or a written agreement.
From our Kentucky leave laws guideSick leave
Kentucky has no state sick leave law and doesn't require private employers to provide paid or unpaid sick leave. Eligible employers must comply with federal FMLA.
From our Kentucky leave laws guideMaximize your PTO in 2027
These are our suggestions for the best days to take off in Kentucky. They use the 11 federal holidays plus the days Kentucky state offices close for: Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Take all 12 suggested PTO days and you get 49 days off across 12 breaks, including 11 long weekends. Pick a break to see it on the calendar.
- Federal
- State
- Commonly given
- 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 US teams take time off
The national pattern from Vacation Tracker data. We don't have enough Kentucky data for a state view yet.
How Kentucky holidays differ
State holidays
Kentucky has 3 holidays of its own in 2027 on top of the federal ones. The median across the 50 states and DC is 2; 6 have more and 39 have fewer.
Shared with a few states
Christmas Eve is also a state holiday in Arkansas, Michigan, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin. New Year's Eve is also a state holiday in Michigan and Wisconsin.
Federal holidays
Not a paid day off for Kentucky state employees: Washington's Birthday and Columbus Day.
Neighboring states in 2027
- Illinois2 holidays of its own
- Indiana4 holidays of its own
- Missouri2 holidays of its own
- Ohiono holidays of its own
- Tennessee1 holiday of its own
- Virginia4 holidays of its own
- West Virginia2 holidays of its own
Sources
- Personnel Memo 25-18: 2026 Holidays for State Personnel (Kentucky Personnel Cabinet)
- KRS 2.110 Public holidays
- Holidays & Leave - Kentucky Personnel Cabinet
- KRS 18A.190 Holidays for state personnel
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Federal holidays
- Wages and Hours | Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet
- 803 KAR 1:061, Overtime pay requirements (Kentucky Legislative Research Commission)
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. Holiday pay is not required by Kentucky law.
In 2027, Kentucky has the 11 federal holidays and 3 state holidays: Good Friday (March 26), Christmas Eve (December 24) and New Year's Eve (December 31). Washington's Birthday is a federal holiday, but not a Kentucky state holiday.
Yes. Juneteenth is a federal holiday and a Kentucky state holiday. In 2027 it falls on Saturday, June 19, and federal offices observe it on Friday, June 18.
Partly. Columbus Day is a federal holiday. Legal holiday under KRS 2.110, but not a paid holiday for Kentucky state employees. In 2027 it falls on Monday, October 11.
No. It isn't a Kentucky state holiday, so private employers don't have to give it. In 2027 it falls on Friday, November 26.
Not under Kentucky's overtime rules. The state's overtime regulation says employers aren't required to pay overtime for work on Saturdays, Sundays, holidays or regular days of rest.
No. Kentucky's overtime regulation says overtime need not be paid unless more than 40 hours are actually worked in the workweek, and paid holiday time off isn't time actually worked.
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.