If you like to plan your vacations, travel, and long breaks well in advance, now is the perfect time to look at the public holidays coming in 2027. Several fall on Mondays or Fridays, creating some genuinely great long weekend opportunities — while a few others land on weekends and won't stretch your time off at all. Here's everything you need to know to make the most of next year.
Public holidays in 2027
In 2027, there are 11 official public holidays. They include national commemorations, Christian holidays, and two days of Christmas:
- January 1, Friday – New Year's Day
- March 15, Monday – National Day
- March 26, Friday – Good Friday
- March 29, Monday – Easter Monday
- May 1, Saturday – Labor Day
- May 17, Monday – Whit Monday
- August 20, Friday – National Foundation Day
- October 23, Saturday – Republic Day
- November 1, Monday – All Saints' Day
- December 25, Saturday – Christmas Day
- December 26, Sunday – Second Day of Christmas
The long weekends worth putting in your calendar
2027 is actually a pretty good year for long weekends — if you know where to look. New Year's Day falls on a Friday, which means the year kicks off with an immediate three-day weekend from January 1 to 3.
March is even better. National Day on March 15 is a Monday, giving you a three-day run from Saturday the 13th through to the 15th. Then, just two weeks later, Easter delivers a four-day stretch: Good Friday on March 26 and Easter Monday on March 29 bookend the weekend beautifully — one of the longest built-in breaks of the year.
Whit Monday on May 17 creates another three-day weekend from May 15 to 17. And in late summer, August 20 falls on a Friday, meaning National Foundation Day gives you yet another three-day break heading into the weekend.
November brings one more opportunity: All Saints' Day falls on a Monday in 2027, so October 30 through November 1 gives you three consecutive days off to rest, travel, or visit loved ones.
The holidays that fall on weekends — no bonus days off
Not every holiday works in your favor. Labor Day (May 1) is a Saturday, Republic Day (October 23) is a Saturday, and both Christmas Day (December 25) and the Second Day of Christmas (December 26) fall on a Saturday and Sunday respectively.
That means these four holidays won't add any extra days to your regular weekend. On the bright side, none of the 2027 public holidays fall on a Tuesday or Thursday, so there's no real reason to expect official bridge-day arrangements. The one possible exception is December 24, which lands on a Friday — there's a chance it could be designated as a paid day off in exchange for a working Saturday, but nothing is confirmed yet. The official work schedule is determined by ministerial decree, which had not been published at the time of writing.
Your quick overview of 2027
In summary, 2027 offers several well-placed long weekends: January, March, Easter, the May bank holiday, August, and November all bring multiple consecutive days off. The downside is that Labor Day, Republic Day, and both days of Christmas fall on weekends this year.
If you're planning trips or booking time off, it's worth mapping these dates out now. Just hold off on finalizing any bookings that depend on potential bridge days until the official work schedule is confirmed.
Which public holiday creates the longest break in 2027?
Easter is the standout. With Good Friday on March 26 and Easter Monday on March 29, you get a four-day long weekend — the longest uninterrupted break created by a single holiday period in 2027.
Do any holidays get extra days off if they fall on a weekend?
Not automatically. In 2027, Labor Day, Republic Day, and both Christmas holidays fall on weekends without generating replacement days off. Any additional arrangements would need to be announced officially by ministerial decree.
Is it worth booking travel around the August 20 holiday?
Absolutely. Since August 20 falls on a Friday, you get a natural three-day weekend. It's one of the cleanest long-weekend opportunities of the summer, and popular destinations tend to fill up fast around this time.
When will the official 2027 work schedule be confirmed?
The final work schedule — including any potential bridge days — is set by ministerial decree. At the time this article was written, that decree had not yet been published, so it's worth checking for updates before making firm plans around dates like December 24.
