Labor Day 2027 is Monday, September 6, 2027. It’s always the first Monday in September, so Labor Day weekend runs from Saturday, September 4 to Monday, September 6.
Labor Day is a federal holiday honoring American workers, and it’s widely treated as the unofficial end of summer. This guide covers the date rule, what’s open and closed, the 1894 law and the holiday’s origins, how the US date compares with other countries, and the dates through 2031.
Labor Day 2027 at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Date | Monday, September 6, 2027 |
| Rule | First Monday in September (possible dates: September 1–7) |
| Labor Day weekend | Saturday, September 4 – Monday, September 6 |
| Federal holiday? | Yes, since 1894 |
| Next federal holiday | Columbus Day, Monday, October 11, 2027 (35 days later) |
| First day of fall | September equinox, Thursday, September 23, 2027, 2:01 a.m. EDT |
See the days left on our Labor Day countdown, or plan the month with the September 2027 calendar.
How the Labor Day date is set
Federal law, 5 U.S.C. 6103, lists Labor Day as “the first Monday in September.” The first Monday of any month falls between the 1st and the 7th, so Labor Day ranges from September 1 to September 7. In 2027, September 1 is a Wednesday, which puts the first Monday on September 6, near the late end of the range.
Unlike the holidays moved by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1968, Labor Day was a Monday holiday from the start. The 1894 law set it on the first Monday in September, so it has always given a three-day weekend.
Labor Day dates, 2026 to 2031
| Year | Labor Day | Labor Day weekend |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday, September 7, 2026 | September 5–7 (latest possible date) |
| 2027 | Monday, September 6, 2027 | September 4–6 |
| 2028 | Monday, September 4, 2028 | September 2–4 |
| 2029 | Monday, September 3, 2029 | September 1–3 |
| 2030 | Monday, September 2, 2030 | August 31 – September 2 |
| 2031 | Monday, September 1, 2031 | August 30 – September 1 (earliest possible date) |
When Labor Day falls on September 1 or 2, the long weekend starts in August.
What’s open and closed on Labor Day 2027
- Federal offices: closed on Monday, September 6.
- Post offices: closed, with no regular mail delivery.
- Banks: the Federal Reserve Banks are closed, so most banks close and transfers settle on Tuesday, September 7.
- Stock market: the New York Stock Exchange is closed on Monday, September 6, 2027.
- Schools: public schools that have already started for the year generally close. Many districts start the school year in the weeks around Labor Day, so check your district’s first day.
- Stores and restaurants: most open, sometimes on holiday hours.
Private employers aren’t required by federal law to give the day off, so check your own schedule.
The history of Labor Day and the 1894 law
The US Department of Labor’s history of the holiday traces it to the labor movement of the 1880s:
- Tuesday, September 5, 1882: the first Labor Day was held in New York City, following plans by the Central Labor Union.
- February 21, 1887: Oregon became the first state to make Labor Day a legal holiday.
- June 28, 1894: Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday, and President Grover Cleveland signed it. The first Labor Day under the federal law was Monday, September 3, 1894.
By then, according to the Congressional Research Service, 23 states already recognized Labor Day. Who first proposed the holiday is still debated. The Department of Labor notes claims for Peter J. McGuire of the carpenters’ union and for Matthew Maguire, a machinist who was secretary of New York’s Central Labor Union in 1882, and says more recent research tends to favor Maguire.
Labor Day weekend: the unofficial end of summer
For many families, Labor Day weekend is the last long weekend of summer and the bookend to Memorial Day weekend in May. In 2027 the two are 98 days apart, from Monday, May 31 to Monday, September 6; see our Memorial Day 2027 guide. Astronomical summer lasts a little longer: fall begins with the September equinox on Thursday, September 23, 2027, and the countdown to fall tracks it.
- Make it four days: take Friday, September 3 or Tuesday, September 7 off.
- Plan travel early: it’s a holiday weekend at the end of the summer travel season, so roads and airports get busy.
- Short week ahead: the week of September 6 has four working days, and September 2027 has 22 weekdays but 21 federal working days.
- The next long weekend: Columbus Day, Monday, October 11, 2027, also observed by many as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. See our Columbus Day guide and the full list of long weekends in 2027.
Labor Day in Canada and around the world
Canada’s Labour Day falls on the same day, the first Monday in September, so it’s Monday, September 6, 2027 in both countries; see Canada’s 2027 public holidays. Many other countries instead hold a workers’ holiday on May 1. In 2027, May 1 falls on a Saturday, and our world holiday data lists it as Labor Day in countries such as China, Mexico and South Korea.
Frequently asked questions
What date is Labor Day 2027?
Monday, September 6, 2027. Labor Day weekend is Saturday, September 4 through Monday, September 6.
Is Labor Day a federal holiday?
Yes. Congress made it a federal holiday in 1894, and it’s listed in 5 U.S.C. 6103 as the first Monday in September. Federal offices, post offices, most banks and the stock market are closed.
Why is Labor Day always on a Monday?
The 1894 law set it on the first Monday in September rather than a fixed date, which guarantees a three-day weekend every year.
When was the first Labor Day?
The first Labor Day parade and celebration took place in New York City on Tuesday, September 5, 1882. Oregon made it a state holiday in 1887, and it became a federal holiday in 1894.
Is there mail on Labor Day?
No. Post offices are closed and there’s no regular mail delivery on Monday, September 6, 2027. Priority Mail Express still delivers in some areas.