Juneteenth
Juneteenth 2027 falls on Saturday, June 19. In 2028, Juneteenth falls on Monday, June 19.
The dates of Juneteenth, this year and in the years ahead.
When is Juneteenth?
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Thursday, June 19, 2025 |
| 2026 | Friday, June 19, 2026 |
| 2027 | Saturday, June 19, 2027Day off: Friday, June 18, 2027 |
| 2028 | Monday, June 19, 2028 |
| 2029 | Tuesday, June 19, 2029 |
| 2030 | Wednesday, June 19, 2030 |
| 2031 | Thursday, June 19, 2031 |
Dates calculated from the statutory rules. Source: U.S. Office of Personnel Management: federal holidays. More about our sources
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth, officially Juneteenth National Independence Day, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and General Gordon Granger announced that all enslaved people in Texas were free. That was more than two years after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which could not be enforced in areas still under Confederate control.
The name combines 'June' and 'nineteenth'. The day is also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day.
The newest federal holiday
For generations Juneteenth was celebrated mainly in Black communities, first in Texas and later across the country, and many states recognized it over time. Congress then made it a federal holiday, the newest one on the list and the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
When June 19 falls on a Saturday, federal employees get Friday, June 18 off; when it falls on a Sunday, the holiday is observed on Monday, June 20.
In 2027 it falls on Saturday, June 19.
How Juneteenth is celebrated
Celebrations include parades, festivals, readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, music and family cookouts. Red foods and drinks, such as strawberry soda and red velvet cake, are a tradition in many communities. Federal offices and banks are closed; whether schools and private employers close varies by state and employer.
Frequently asked questions
When is Juneteenth 2027?
In 2027, Juneteenth falls on Saturday, June 19.
Is Juneteenth a day off?
Juneteenth is a federal holiday: federal offices are closed and federal employees have the day off. Whether state offices, schools and private businesses close depends on the state and the employer; private employers are not required to give the day off.
Why is Juneteenth on June 19?
Because on June 19, Union troops in Galveston, Texas, announced that enslaved people in Texas were free.
Is Juneteenth a federal holiday?
Yes. Juneteenth National Independence Day is the newest federal holiday.