By The Diary desk · Last verified 3 October 2026
Singapore has 11 gazetted public holidays in 2027, announced by the Ministry of Manpower, and five long weekends: New Year’s Day (Friday 1 January), Chinese New Year (with Monday 8 February off in lieu), Good Friday (26 March), Hari Raya Haji (Monday 17 May) and National Day (Monday 9 August). Labour Day and Christmas Day fall on Saturdays. Vesak Day and Deepavali fall on Thursdays, so one day of leave on the Friday after each gives you four days off.
The calendar for next year is a happy one. Here’s every date, and the smartest way to stretch your leave.
Quick facts
- 11 public holidays in 2027.
- Five long weekends: New Year, Chinese New Year, Good Friday, Hari Raya Haji and National Day.
- Chinese New Year falls on Saturday and Sunday, so Monday 8 February is a holiday.
- Labour Day (1 May) and Christmas (25 December) fall on Saturdays, with no weekday in lieu for everyone.
- Vesak Day and Deepavali fall on Thursdays: take the Friday for a four-day break.
- Hari Raya Puasa falls on Wednesday 10 March.
All 11 public holidays in 2027
| Holiday | Date | Day | Long weekend? |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 January | Friday | Yes, Fri to Sun |
| Chinese New Year | 6 and 7 February | Saturday and Sunday | Yes, with Monday 8 February off |
| Hari Raya Puasa | 10 March | Wednesday | No |
| Good Friday | 26 March | Friday | Yes, Fri to Sun |
| Labour Day | 1 May | Saturday | No |
| Hari Raya Haji | 17 May | Monday | Yes, Sat to Mon |
| Vesak Day | 20 May | Thursday | Take Fri 21 May for four days |
| National Day | 9 August | Monday | Yes, Sat to Mon |
| Deepavali | 28 October | Thursday | Take Fri 29 October for four days |
| Christmas Day | 25 December | Saturday | No |
Chinese New Year counts as two of the 11 holidays. Dates for Hari Raya Puasa, Hari Raya Haji, Vesak Day and Deepavali follow religious calendars, and MOM confirms them each year.
The smartest leave days
- Friday 21 May: with Vesak Day on Thursday, one day of leave gives Thursday to Sunday off. And Hari Raya Haji is the Monday before, so three days of leave (Tuesday 18, Wednesday 19 and Friday 21 May) bridge the whole week: nine days off, from Saturday 15 to Sunday 23 May.
- Friday 29 October: Deepavali on Thursday plus one day of leave means four days off.
- Thursday 11 and Friday 12 March: after Hari Raya Puasa on Wednesday, two days of leave give you five days off, Wednesday to Sunday. The school March holidays start that Saturday too.
- Christmas week: with Christmas on a Saturday, five days of leave from Monday 27 to Friday 31 December give you nine days off, through to the weekend of New Year’s Day 2028.
What happens when a holiday falls on a weekend?
When a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the next day, Monday, is a public holiday, which is why 8 February 2027 is off. When it falls on a Saturday, there’s no gazetted Monday off. Instead, under the Employment Act, employees who don’t normally work on Saturdays are entitled to another day off or an extra day’s salary, as their employer decides. Check your contract or ask HR.
The WahLiao Verdict
Book May now. The Hari Raya Haji and Vesak Day pairing is the best leave deal of 2027, and flights and hotels for that week will climb as everyone else works it out. Then put in for 29 October, and keep Christmas week in mind for a long year-end escape.
Questions people ask
Do shops and hawkers close on public holidays?
Most malls and many hawker stalls stay open, though some stalls close over Chinese New Year. See what closes over Chinese New Year.
Do I get paid more if I work on a public holiday?
Under the Employment Act, covered employees who work on a public holiday get an extra day’s pay at their basic rate, or a day off in lieu if both sides agree.
When are the school holidays?
See our guide to school terms and holidays for 2027.
Is Polling Day a public holiday?
Yes, whenever a general or presidential election is held, Polling Day is a public holiday. It isn’t on the fixed list because the date is set when the election is called.
Sources: Ministry of Manpower’s 2027 public holiday list, as reported by Mothership and AsiaOne. Leave entitlements depend on your contract; check MOM for the rules that apply to you. The Diary explains; it does not advise.
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For what’s worth it this week, with the bill shown, read The WahLiao Week.
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