We counted every public holiday in 2027 for 47 countries, states and provinces, then worked out which vacation days give the most time off. Pick your region below for a ready-made plan, or compare everywhere in the table. All numbers come from the official holiday lists behind our public holiday calendars.
Key findings for 2027
- Christmas 2027 falls on a Saturday. In England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Australia and New Zealand the holidays move to Monday December 27 and Tuesday December 28, and New Year’s Day moves to Monday January 3, 2028. Book December 29, 30 and 31 and you get 10 days off in a row (Saturday December 25 to Monday January 3) for 3 vacation days. In New Zealand and Scotland, where January 2 is also a holiday, the same 3 days give 11.
- Thursday holidays in Canada. Canada Day (July 1), the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30) and Remembrance Day (November 11) all fall on a Thursday. In British Columbia, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island and federally regulated workplaces, booking three Fridays gives three 4-day weekends.
- The US gets 12 federal holidays on weekdays in 2027. New Year’s Day 2028 is a Saturday, so it is observed on Friday December 31, 2027, on top of the 11 regular federal holidays. Veterans Day and Thanksgiving both fall on a Thursday, so 1 day off each turns them into 4-day weekends.
- Easter is early: March 26 to 29. Where Good Friday and Easter Monday are both holidays (England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Australia, New Zealand), booking 4 days, either March 22 to 25 or March 30 to April 2, gives 10 days off in a row.
- Most and fewest working days. Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia have the most working days in 2027 (255), because they have only 6 general holidays on weekdays. Most of New Zealand and US federal employees have the fewest (249).
Your 2027 vacation planner
All regions compared
Tap a column to sort. * = some 2027 dates not announced yet (see the method below).
| Region | Holidays on weekdays | Long weekends | Working days | Best deal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland, Northland, Waikato, New Zealand | 12 | 9 | 249 | 3 → 11 days (Sat Dec 25) |
| Canterbury, New Zealand | 12 | 9 | 249 | 3 → 11 days (Sat Dec 25) |
| Chatham Islands, New Zealand | 12 | 9 | 249 | 3 → 11 days (Sat Dec 25) |
| Hawke's Bay, New Zealand | 12 | 8 | 249 | 3 → 11 days (Sat Dec 25) |
| Marlborough, New Zealand | 12 | 9 | 249 | 3 → 11 days (Sat Dec 25) |
| Nelson, New Zealand | 12 | 9 | 249 | 3 → 11 days (Sat Dec 25) |
| Otago, New Zealand | 12 | 9 | 249 | 3 → 11 days (Sat Dec 25) |
| South Canterbury, New Zealand | 12 | 9 | 249 | 3 → 11 days (Sat Dec 25) |
| Southland, New Zealand | 12 | 8 | 249 | 3 → 11 days (Sat Dec 25) |
| Taranaki, New Zealand | 12 | 9 | 249 | 3 → 11 days (Sat Dec 25) |
| Wellington, Manawatū, Whanganui, New Zealand | 12 | 9 | 249 | 3 → 11 days (Sat Dec 25) |
| Westland, New Zealand | 12 | 9 | 249 | 3 → 11 days (Sat Dec 25) |
| Philippines* | 12 | 7 | 249 | 1 → 4 days (Sat Nov 27) |
| United States (federal holidays) | 12 | 10 | 249 | 1 → 4 days (Thu Nov 11) |
| Australian Capital Territory | 11 | 8 | 250 | 1 → 4 days (Sat Jan 23) |
| British Columbia, Canada | 11 | 8 | 250 | 1 → 4 days (Thu Jul 1) |
| Northwest Territories, Canada | 11 | 8 | 250 | 1 → 4 days (Thu Jul 1) |
| Nunavut, Canada | 11 | 8 | 250 | 1 → 4 days (Thu Jul 1) |
| Yukon, Canada | 11 | 8 | 250 | 1 → 4 days (Thu Jul 1) |
| India (Central Government, Delhi) | 11 | 4 | 250 | 1 → 5 days (Thu Apr 15) |
| New Zealand (national holidays) | 11 | 8 | 250 | 3 → 11 days (Sat Dec 25) |
| Northern Territory, Australia | 10 | 7 | 251 | 1 → 4 days (Sat Jan 23) |
| Western Australia, Australia | 10 | 7 | 251 | 1 → 4 days (Sat Jan 23) |
| Canada (federally regulated employers) | 10 | 6 | 251 | 1 → 4 days (Thu Jul 1) |
| Saskatchewan, Canada | 10 | 8 | 251 | 1 → 4 days (Thu Jul 1) |
| South Africa | 10 | 6 | 251 | 1 → 4 days (Sat Apr 24) |
| Northern Ireland, United Kingdom | 10 | 7 | 251 | 3 → 10 days (Sat Dec 25) |
| New South Wales, Australia | 9 | 6 | 252 | 1 → 4 days (Sat Jan 23) |
| Queensland, Australia | 9 | 6 | 252 | 1 → 4 days (Sat Jan 23) |
| South Australia, Australia | 9 | 6 | 252 | 1 → 4 days (Sat Jan 23) |
| Victoria, Australia* | 9 | 5 | 252 | 1 → 4 days (Sat Jan 23) |
| Alberta, Canada | 9 | 7 | 252 | 1 → 4 days (Thu Jul 1) |
| Manitoba, Canada | 9 | 7 | 252 | 1 → 4 days (Thu Jul 1) |
| Ontario, Canada | 9 | 7 | 252 | 1 → 4 days (Thu Jul 1) |
| Scotland, United Kingdom | 9 | 6 | 252 | 1 → 4 days (Sat Nov 27) |
| Tasmania, Australia | 8 | 5 | 253 | 1 → 4 days (Sat Jan 23) |
| New Brunswick, Canada | 8 | 6 | 253 | 1 → 4 days (Thu Jul 1) |
| Prince Edward Island, Canada | 8 | 5 | 253 | 1 → 4 days (Thu Jul 1) |
| Quebec, Canada | 8 | 6 | 253 | 1 → 4 days (Thu Jun 24) |
| Ireland | 8 | 7 | 253 | 2 → 5 days (Sat Mar 13) |
| Jamaica | 8 | 6 | 253 | 3 → 9 days (Sat Jul 31) |
| Kenya* | 8 | 5 | 253 | 1 → 4 days (Sat May 29) |
| Singapore | 8 | 5 | 253 | 1 → 4 days (Thu May 20) |
| England and Wales, United Kingdom | 8 | 6 | 253 | 3 → 10 days (Sat Dec 25) |
| Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada | 6 | 4 | 255 | 1 → 4 days (Thu Jul 1) |
| Nova Scotia, Canada | 6 | 5 | 255 | 1 → 4 days (Thu Jul 1) |
| Nigeria (federal)* | 4 | 3 | 257 | 4 → 10 days (Sat Mar 20) |
Best long weekends 2027 in the biggest regions
United States (federal holidays): 12 weekday holidays, 10 long weekends
- Thu Nov 11 – Sun Nov 14: book 1 day off, get 4 days in a row (Veterans Day)
- Thu Nov 25 – Sun Nov 28: book 1 day off, get 4 days in a row (Thanksgiving Day)
- Fri Dec 24 – Sun Jan 2: book 4 days off, get 10 days in a row (Christmas Day, New Year's Day)
- Sat Jan 16 – Sun Jan 24: book 4 days off, get 9 days in a row (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
Ontario: 9 weekday holidays, 7 long weekends
- Thu Jul 1 – Sun Jul 4: book 1 day off, get 4 days in a row (Canada Day)
- Sat Dec 25 – Mon Jan 3: book 3 days off, get 10 days in a row (Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day)
- Sat Feb 13 – Sun Feb 21: book 4 days off, get 9 days in a row (Family Day)
- Sat Mar 20 – Sun Mar 28: book 4 days off, get 9 days in a row (Good Friday)
British Columbia: 11 weekday holidays, 8 long weekends
- Thu Jul 1 – Sun Jul 4: book 1 day off, get 4 days in a row (Canada Day)
- Thu Sep 30 – Sun Oct 3: book 1 day off, get 4 days in a row (National Day for Truth and Reconciliation)
- Thu Nov 11 – Sun Nov 14: book 1 day off, get 4 days in a row (Remembrance Day)
- Sat Dec 25 – Mon Jan 3: book 4 days off, get 10 days in a row (Christmas Day, New Year's Day)
England and Wales: 8 weekday holidays, 6 long weekends
- Sat Dec 25 – Mon Jan 3: book 3 days off, get 10 days in a row (Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day)
- Sat Mar 20 – Mon Mar 29: book 4 days off, get 10 days in a row (Good Friday, Easter Monday)
- Sat May 1 – Sun May 9: book 4 days off, get 9 days in a row (Early May bank holiday)
- Sat May 29 – Sun Jun 6: book 4 days off, get 9 days in a row (Spring bank holiday)
New South Wales: 9 weekday holidays, 6 long weekends
- Sat Jan 23 – Tue Jan 26: book 1 day off, get 4 days in a row (Australia Day)
- Sat Dec 25 – Mon Jan 3: book 3 days off, get 10 days in a row (Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day)
- Sat Mar 20 – Mon Mar 29: book 4 days off, get 10 days in a row (Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday)
- Sat Apr 24 – Sun May 2: book 4 days off, get 9 days in a row (Anzac Day)
New Zealand: 11 weekday holidays, 8 long weekends
- Sat Dec 25 – Tue Jan 4: book 3 days off, get 11 days in a row (Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day)
- Fri Jan 1 – Sun Jan 10: book 4 days off, get 10 days in a row (New Year's Day, Day after New Year's Day)
- Sat Mar 20 – Mon Mar 29: book 4 days off, get 10 days in a row (Good Friday, Easter Monday)
- Sat Feb 6 – Sun Feb 14: book 4 days off, get 9 days in a row (Waitangi Day)
How we calculated this
For each region we took the 2027 public holidays from the official government list (linked from each region's holiday page on this site), including the substitute or observed days that apply when a holiday falls on a weekend. Weekends are Saturday and Sunday. A long weekend is any run of 3 or more days off in a row that includes a holiday. Working days are the weekdays in 2027 that are not public holidays.
The vacation plans look at every stretch between two weekends or holidays and count the working days you would need to book. We list the stretches that give at least twice as many days off as vacation days used, best value first, without overlapping. Plans that run past December 31 use the official 2028 holiday dates.
Some holidays are left out on purpose: part-day holidays such as Christmas Eve evening in South Australia and the Northern Territory, holidays that apply only to banks or one city (the NSW Bank Holiday, the Royal Queensland Show), and optional or employer-chosen days. In the Philippines we count special non-working days as days off. Regions marked * still have holidays to be announced: Eid dates in Nigeria, Kenya and the Philippines, and Victoria's Friday before the AFL Grand Final. Your own employer, union agreement or school calendar may give you more or different days.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best long weekend in 2027?
For the most days off for the fewest vacation days, Christmas and New Year: in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, 3 vacation days (December 29 to 31) give 10 or 11 days off. In Canada and the US, a single Friday after a Thursday holiday (Canada Day, Remembrance Day, Veterans Day or Thanksgiving) gives a 4-day weekend.
Which country has the most public holidays in 2027?
Among the regions we track, the Philippines, the US (counting the December 31 observance of New Year's Day 2028), British Columbia, the Australian Capital Territory, India's central government offices and most New Zealand regions have 11 or 12 holidays on weekdays. Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia have the fewest general holidays on weekdays, with 6.
When is Easter 2027?
Good Friday is March 26 and Easter Monday is March 29, 2027, the earliest Easter of the 2020s.
Related: business days calculator and public holidays by country.
Data checked against official government holiday lists on November 2, 2026. Free to quote or republish with a link to this page.