Pennsylvania’s holiday schedule reads as if it comes from a Commonwealth that still cares about its civic calendar. It follows the federal model for the most part, but it also makes a couple of deliberate choices that say a lot about what the state wants to recognize officially.
The clearest example is Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Pennsylvania treats it as a closure day for Commonwealth offices, and it adds the day after Thanksgiving on top of that.
The tables below show the days Commonwealth administrative offices close in 2027 and 2026, based on the holiday circulars issued by the state’s Office of Administration.
List of National and State Holidays in Pennsylvania for 2027
| S.No. | Date | Day | Holiday | Holiday Type |
|---|
| 1 | Jan 01 | Friday | New Year’s Day | Federal |
| 2 | Jan 18 | Monday | Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Federal |
| 3 | Feb 15 | Monday | Presidents’ Day | Federal |
| 4 | May 31 | Monday | Memorial Day | Federal |
| 5 | Jun 18 | Friday | Juneteenth National Freedom Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 6 | Jul 05 | Monday | Independence Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 7 | Sep 06 | Monday | Labor Day | Federal |
| 8 | Oct 11 | Monday | Indigenous Peoples’ Day | State |
| 9 | Nov 11 | Thursday | Veterans Day | Federal |
| 10 | Nov 25 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day | Federal |
| 11 | Nov 26 | Friday | Day After Thanksgiving | State |
| 12 | Dec 24 | Friday | Christmas Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 13 | Dec 31 | Friday | New Year’s Day 2028 (Observed) | Federal |
Pennsylvania observes a holiday that falls on a Saturday on the Friday before, and one that falls on a Sunday on the following Monday. In 2027, that moves Juneteenth to Friday, June 18, Independence Day to Monday, July 5, Christmas Day to Friday, December 24, and New Year’s Day 2028 to Friday, December 31, 2027. The Commonwealth has not yet published its official 2027 holiday circular, so these dates follow state rules.
Official State Holidays in Pennsylvania for 2026
| S.No. | Date | Day | Holiday | Holiday Type |
|---|
| 1 | Jan 01 | Thursday | New Year’s Day | Federal |
| 2 | Jan 19 | Monday | Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day | Federal |
| 3 | Feb 16 | Monday | Presidents’ Day | Federal |
| 4 | May 25 | Monday | Memorial Day | Federal |
| 5 | Jun 19 | Friday | Juneteenth National Freedom Day | Federal |
| 6 | Jul 03 | Friday | Independence Day (Observed) | Federal |
| 7 | Sep 07 | Monday | Labor Day | Federal |
| 8 | Oct 12 | Monday | Indigenous Peoples’ Day | State |
| 9 | Nov 11 | Wednesday | Veterans Day | Federal |
| 10 | Nov 26 | Thursday | Thanksgiving Day | Federal |
| 11 | Nov 27 | Friday | Day After Thanksgiving | State |
| 12 | Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | Federal |
How Holidays Work in Pennsylvania
This calendar covers Commonwealth administrative office closings, which is the schedule that matters for most dealings with state government in Harrisburg.
Two entries stand out as Pennsylvania’s own:
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day (second Monday in October): an official closure day for Commonwealth administrative offices.
- The day after Thanksgiving: another Commonwealth closure day. In practice it often matters more than it looks on paper, since it gives state staff a four-day weekend.
Juneteenth closes state offices too. Pennsylvania observes it as Juneteenth National Freedom Day, in step with the federal holiday.
Banks follow the federal banking holiday calendar, which overlaps with the Commonwealth’s list but isn’t identical to it. Private employers set their own holiday policies and don’t have to follow the state schedule.
FAQs
1. Is Indigenous Peoples’ Day an official state holiday in Pennsylvania?
Yes. Pennsylvania lists it as a closure day for Commonwealth administrative offices.
2. Why does Pennsylvania list the day after Thanksgiving as a holiday?
Commonwealth offices close on that Friday, which gives state staff a predictable long weekend and makes scheduling easier.
3. Is Juneteenth a federal or state holiday here?
Both, in practice. It is a federal holiday, and Pennsylvania also closes Commonwealth offices for it as Juneteenth National Freedom Day.
4. Does this list apply to every town and county in Pennsylvania?
Not necessarily. This is the Commonwealth administrative closure schedule; local governments may differ.
5. Do courts and schools follow this exact list?
Often similar, but not guaranteed. Courts and school districts can have separate calendars.
