New Year's Day
New Year's Day 2027 falls on Friday, January 1. In 2028, New Year's Day falls on Saturday, January 1.
The dates of New Year's Day, this year and in the years ahead.
When is New Year's Day?
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Wednesday, January 1, 2025 |
| 2026 | Thursday, January 1, 2026 |
| 2027 | Friday, January 1, 2027 |
| 2028 | Saturday, January 1, 2028Day off: Friday, December 31, 2027 |
| 2029 | Monday, January 1, 2029 |
| 2030 | Tuesday, January 1, 2030 |
| 2031 | Wednesday, January 1, 2031 |
Dates calculated from the statutory rules. Source: U.S. Office of Personnel Management: federal holidays. More about our sources
Why does the year start in January?
New Year's Day is the first day of the calendar year. Starting the year in January goes back to the Romans, who began their civil year on the first day of that month. Over the following centuries many European countries began their year on other dates, often in March. England and its American colonies only switched to a year starting in January in the mid-eighteenth century, at the same time as they adopted the Gregorian calendar; Scotland had already done so long before.
The date never changes; only the day of the week does. The table above shows which day New Year's Day falls on in the coming years.
New Year's Day in the United States
New Year's Day is a federal holiday. When January 1 falls on a Saturday, federal employees get Friday, December 31 off, so the observed holiday actually falls in the previous year. When it falls on a Sunday, the holiday is observed on Monday, January 2.
The celebrations start the night before, with the ball drop in Times Square in New York as the best-known countdown. On the day itself, the Rose Parade in Pasadena and the college football bowl games are long-standing traditions, and in the South many families eat black-eyed peas for good luck.
Frequently asked questions
When is New Year's Day 2027?
In 2027, New Year's Day falls on Friday, January 1.
Is New Year's Day a day off?
New Year's Day 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 does the year start in January?
Because the Romans began their civil year in January. Many European countries later used other start dates, but over time the first of January became the standard almost everywhere.
What happens if New Year's Day falls on a Saturday?
Then federal employees get the day off on Friday, December 31. If it falls on a Sunday, the holiday is observed on Monday, January 2.