Federal holidays & Long Weekends 2026-2027
When are they and where should you go on vacation?
When they are and where to go
So you're here because you're probably looking for some ideas to decide where to go during the long weekends of 2026/27. Good news: between Labor Day 2026 and New Year 2028 the federal holiday calendar hands you 69 days off and you only need to book 16 vacation days to take all of them. Plenty of three- and four-day escapes for a road trip, and one window long enough to cross an ocean.
U.S. Federal Holidays Calendar 2026-2027
Here's the list of long weekends left in 2026:
Labor Day: 5 – 7 September (3 days)
Columbus Day: 10 – 12 October (3 days)
Veterans Day: 11 – 15 November (5 days)
Thanksgiving: 26 – 29 November (4 days)
Christmas & New Year: 25 December – 3 January (10 days)
= 25 days off with 7 vacation days
And for anyone who, like us, can't wait, here's the 2027 calendar too:
Martin Luther King Jr. Day: 16 – 18 January (3 days)
Presidents' Day: 13 – 15 February (3 days)
Easter weekend: 26 – 29 March (4 days)
Memorial Day: 29 – 31 May (3 days)
Juneteenth: 18 – 20 June (3 days)
Independence Day: 3 – 5 July (3 days)
Labor Day: 4 – 6 September (3 days)
Columbus Day: 9 – 11 October (3 days)
Veterans Day: 11 – 14 November (4 days)
Thanksgiving: 25 – 28 November (4 days)
Christmas & New Year: 24 December – 3 January (11 days)
= 44 days off with 9 vacation days
Labor Day
Labor Day marks the last long weekend of summer, and we think that deserves one final adventure before the fall kicks in. Whether it's squeezing in one more beach trip or starting a new city escape, this is your excuse to make the most of the season. Ready for one last hurrah?
Columbus Day
October brings another long weekend, perfect for a getaway when the summer crowds have thinned and the weather's still on your side. Whether you're drawn to crisp city breaks or one last taste of warm-weather adventure, this is the day off to build a trip around. Where will you go?
Veterans Day
Veterans Day honors those who served, and for many travelers, it also means a well-timed day off in November. Perfect for squeezing in a quick city escape or starting to plan that bigger winter adventure. Got a day off coming up-what will you do with it?
Thanksgiving 2026
Got a few days off in November? Make them count. From Morocco to Indonesia, Argentina to South Africa, our trips turn your Thanksgiving break into something you'll actually be thankful for.
Christmas & New Years 2026
The holidays are coming and so is your best year-end yet. Snowy escapes, sunny beaches, vibrant city breaks: our Christmas and New Year's 2026 trips have it all. End the year in style, start the next with a story to tell.
Martin Luther King Day
AA long weekend in the depths of winter? Or maximize those days to take a longer break and get away from the cold? MLK Day gives US travelers a three-day breather, and we think that's just enough time to swap the cold for somewhere sunnier-or dive into a new city adventure. Ready to make the most of your Monday off?
Presidents' Day
Presidents' Day means another guaranteed long weekend, right when winter's dragging its feet. It's the ideal excuse to escape for a few days, or take a longer break, whether that's a beach reset or a city break packed with culture and new faces. Three days off for free shouldn't go to waste!
Spring Break
Spring break isn't just a school thing — it's your excuse too. One week, endless destinations. Pick one, book the flight, and we'll see you there.
Easter 2027
Next Easter, swap chocolate eggs for adventure. Good Friday through Easter Monday gives you the perfect window: new places, new friends, unforgettable memories.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day kicks off the unofficial start of summer, and with a long weekend in hand, it's tailor-made for travel. Whether you're after beach days, road trips, or a city escape with new travel buddies, this is the holiday that gets everyone dreaming about their next getaway. Where will you spend yours?
Juneteenth
Juneteenth marks a significant moment in US history, and with the day off, it's a great chance to slow down, reflect, or simply get away. Turn it into a long weekend adventure-whether that means new landscapes, new cultures, or new friends along the way. What will you make of your day off?
Independence Day
Independence Day falls on a weekend in 2027, but July 5th is still yours. Long weekend unlocked. Make the most of it, hop on a flight, and we'll see you at the destination.
Tips for travelers
Where to go for the 2026/2027 Federal Holidays?
The 2026/2027 federal holiday calendar is stacked: a steady run of three-day weekends, a couple that land just right, and a few that turn into real trips with two or three days of PTO. Here's where to go, holiday by holiday:
New Year's Day: warm in Morocco, Cuba or the Caribbean; cold in Iceland or Lapland.
MLK Day and Presidents' Day: back-to-back winter long weekends, Mexico, Guatemala or Colombia, or Egypt and Morocco if you add a couple of PTO days.
Memorial Day: the unofficial start of summer, Greek islands, Portugal or Morocco.
Juneteenth: observed on Friday 18 June in 2027, so it's a clean long weekend: Iceland under the midnight sun, Norway or Scotland.
Fourth of July: it lands on a Sunday in 2027 and is observed on Monday the 5th - Peru, the Balkans or Greece.
Labor Day: the last long weekend of summer, Japan, Jordan or Albania.
Columbus Day and Veterans Day: two autumn long weekends, one week apart from a whole different climate: Jordan, Nepal, Morocco or Mexico.
Thanksgiving and Christmas: the big ones. Three days of PTO around Thanksgiving buy you nine days straight - Thailand, Vietnam, Nepal or India - while Christmas is European markets, Lapland, or somewhere warm.
Do you have doubts about your next trip?
How does WeRoad work?
We’ll keep it short. Choose your trip based on departure dates, destinations, and travel style… then book! Once you receive the email confirming your trip, book your round-trip flights to the destination - no, they’re not included in the package, we like flexibility!
15 days before departure, the group leader will create a WhatsApp group so you can start getting to know your future travel mates. That’s it: enjoy your WeRoad trip! You’ll share incredible experiences, discover local culture, and live every moment to the fullest - you’ll probably shed a few tears when it’s time to say goodbye, but that’s totally normal!
Is the flight included?
Flights are not included: we like flexibility! This way, you’re free to choose which airport to depart from, which airline to fly with, how many layovers to make, and, if you wish, stay a few extra days at your destination.
We can help you choose your flights (just get in touch!), and we also offer discounts you can use with some of the major airlines.
Are WeRoad group trips suitable for solo travelers?
Yes, and it’s actually the most common case. The vast majority of WeRoad travelers book individually, without a group of friends to travel with.
That said, you can also book and travel with one or more friends! It can be a great way to bond even more and meet new people together. The more, the merrier!
Is it possible to book a last minute trip?
Yes, with WeRoad you can also book last minute and if you love flexibility, we even have a dedicated category for last-minute trips with the closest upcoming departures still available, at a discount!
Want to get to know us better before traveling with us?
We don’t have offices open to the public, it’s true, but you can find us everywhere, both online and offline we host many events all over Italy (check out the upcoming events here).
And if you’re not ready to jump into a 12-day trip on the other side of the world just yet, you can try the Express format: 5- or at most 6-day itineraries, perfect for understanding whether WeRoad is the kind of travel experience for you. That way, you’ll set off on bigger adventures with greater peace of mind, right?
What are the federal holidays in 2026?
There are 11 federal holidays in 2026: New Year's Day (Thursday 1 January), Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Monday 19 January), Presidents' Day (Monday 16 February), Memorial Day (Monday 25 May), Juneteenth (Friday 19 June), Independence Day (Saturday 4 July, observed Friday 3 July), Labor Day (Monday 7 September), Columbus Day (Monday 12 October), Veterans Day (Wednesday 11 November), Thanksgiving (Thursday 26 November) and Christmas Day (Friday 25 December). Eight of them fall on a Monday or a Friday, which means eight three-day weekends without spending a single vacation day.
When is Labor Day 2026?
Labor Day 2026 falls on Monday 7 September. It's always the first Monday in September, so it's a guaranteed three-day weekend - Saturday 5 to Monday 7 September - with zero vacation days spent. In 2027 it moves to Monday 6 September. Three days is plenty for a real trip: a weekend in Savannah or Philadelphia, Yosemite's waterfalls and stargazing, or Lake Tahoe's alpine lakes. Take the Tuesday to Friday after it and you're looking at nine days off for four days of PTO.
How many federal holidays are there in 2026 and 2027, and which ones create a long weekend?
Eleven in each year. In 2026, eight of them create an automatic three-day weekend because they land on a Monday or a Friday: MLK Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day (observed Friday 3 July), Labor Day, Columbus Day and Christmas Day. In 2027 it's nine: New Year's Day, MLK Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth (observed Friday 18 June), Independence Day (observed Monday 5 July), Labor Day, Columbus Day and Christmas Day (observed Friday 24 December). The ones that need a day of PTO to become a proper break are Veterans Day and Thanksgiving and both are worth it.
When are the long weekends in 2026-2027?
From now to the end of 2027: Labor Day (5–7 Sep 2026), Columbus Day (10–12 Oct 2026), Veterans Day (11–15 Nov 2026, 2 PTO days), Thanksgiving (26–29 Nov 2026, 1 PTO day), Christmas to New Year (25 Dec 2026 – 3 Jan 2027, 4 PTO days), MLK Day (16–18 Jan 2027), Presidents' Day (13–15 Feb 2027), Easter (26–29 Mar 2027, 2 PTO days), Memorial Day (29–31 May 2027), Juneteenth (18–20 Jun 2027), Independence Day (3–5 Jul 2027), Labor Day (4–6 Sep 2027), Columbus Day (9–11 Oct 2027), Veterans Day (11–14 Nov 2027, 1 PTO day), Thanksgiving (25–28 Nov 2027, 1 PTO day) and Christmas to New Year (24 Dec 2027 – 3 Jan 2028, 5 PTO days). Add it up: 69 days off for 16 vacation days.
Where should I go for a long weekend trip in 2026-2027?
For the three-day ones that cost you nothing, stay stateside: the Grand Canyon rim to river, Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Marfa and Big Bend, Las Vegas, Savannah, Philadelphia, Key West, or Los Angeles out to Joshua Tree. Spend one or two PTO days on Veterans Day or Thanksgiving and you can do Florida from Miami to Key West, California from San Francisco to LA, Utah's national parks, or New York in December. For Christmas to New Year — ten days off for four days of PTO — go long-haul: Japan, Bali, Peru, Sri Lanka, Egypt from the pyramids to the Red Sea, or the Northern Lights in the Canadian Rockies. Every WeRoad trip is a small group of travellers your age with a Coordinator; flights aren't included, so you pick the airport and the timing that work for you.