Public Holidays in Mexico 2027: Mandatory Rest Days and Employer Guide

August 25, 2026 • 16 min read •

By Kate Vodopian

Public Holidays in Mexico 2027: Mandatory Rest Days and Employer Guide

Quick answer: Mexico has eight mandatory rest days in 2027 for employees covered by the Federal Labour Law.

This includes the federal election on Sunday, June 6, 2027.

The complete list is:

• Friday, January 1;
• Monday, February 1;
• Monday, March 15;
• Saturday, May 1;
• Sunday, June 6;
• Thursday, September 16;
• Monday, November 15;
• Saturday, December 25.

Three important dates fall on a weekend:

• Labour Day falls on Saturday, May 1;
• Federal Election Day falls on Sunday, June 6;
• Christmas Day falls on Saturday, December 25.

Mexico does not have a general rule that automatically moves these holidays to Friday or Monday.

An employment contract, collective agreement, or company policy can provide a substitute day, but the Federal Labour Law does not require one automatically.

Last reviewed: 25 August 2026.

Public holidays in Mexico are often called días festivos, días feriados, or días de descanso obligatorio.

For employers, the final term is the most important.

A date can be widely celebrated without being a mandatory rest day under employment law.

This is why dates such as Holy Week, Cinco de Mayo, Day of the Dead, and Christmas Eve often cause confusion.

Some schools, banks, and public offices may close.

That does not automatically mean every private-sector employee is legally entitled to the day off.

How Public Holidays Work in Mexico

Mandatory rest days are set by Article 74 of the Federal Labour Law, known in Spanish as the Ley Federal del Trabajo or LFT.

The core rules apply across Mexico.

Unlike countries with large regional holiday calendars, Mexico does not have a separate private-sector statutory holiday list for every state.

However, differences can still arise because of:

• ordinary federal or local elections;
• state and municipal public-sector calendars;
• collective bargaining agreements;
• employment contracts;
• school calendars;
• bank closure calendars;
• and company holiday policies.

For most private employers, the starting point is always Article 74 of the Federal Labour Law.

Mexico Mandatory Public Holidays in 2027

The table below contains all mandatory rest dates that are expected to apply nationally in 2027.

The February, March, and November holidays are not informal observed dates.

The Monday itself is the mandatory rest day established by law.

The original historical dates remain:

• Constitution Day — February 5;
• Benito Juárez’s Birthday — March 21;
• Revolution Day — November 20.

However, private employers should use the Monday dates listed in the table when creating their 2027 employee calendars.

Mexico Public Holidays 2027: Calendar Summary

Federal Election Day Is a Mandatory Rest Day in 2027

Mexico will hold an ordinary federal election on Sunday, June 6, 2027.

The election will renew all 500 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.

Article 74 of the Federal Labour Law includes the day designated by federal or local electoral law for an ordinary election as a mandatory rest day.

This means June 6 should be included in the 2027 statutory holiday calendar.

Employees who work on election day

Some businesses will still need staff to work.

Employers must give employees the time needed to vote when the voting period overlaps with their working hours.

Employers must also allow time for employees to perform compulsory electoral duties where applicable.

Because June 6 falls on a Sunday, an employee who works that day is normally entitled to:

• their normal salary for the mandatory rest day;
• double salary for the work performed;
• and the Sunday premium of at least 25% of their ordinary daily salary.

This is often described as triple salary plus the Sunday premium.

There is no automatic requirement to give every employee Monday, June 7 off instead.

No Presidential Inauguration Holiday in 2027

Article 74 also provides a mandatory rest day on October 1 every six years when the federal executive power is transferred to a new President.

The most recent presidential inauguration holiday was in 2024.

The next scheduled presidential transfer is in 2030.

There is therefore no presidential inauguration holiday in 2027.

Employers should not add October 1 to the 2027 calendar as a mandatory rest day.

What Happens When a Holiday Falls on a Weekend?

Mexico does not use one general substitute-day system for weekend public holidays.

This is different from countries where a Saturday holiday automatically moves to Friday or Monday.

In 2027:

An employee who does not normally work on Saturday does not automatically receive Friday or Monday off because Labour Day or Christmas falls on Saturday.

An employee who does not normally work on Sunday does not automatically receive Monday off after the election.

A company can still provide a substitute day through:

• an employment contract;
• a collective agreement;
• an internal holiday policy;
• or a discretionary company benefit.

Any additional company day should be recorded separately from the legal holiday.

Working on a Mandatory Rest Day in Mexico

Some businesses must continue operating on public holidays.

This is common in:

• healthcare;
• hospitality;
• transport;
• security;
• manufacturing;
• retail;
• emergency services;
• utilities;
• and continuous shift operations.

Under Article 75 of the Federal Labour Law, employers and employees should determine how many people need to work on the mandatory rest day.

An employee who works is entitled to:

1. their normal salary for the mandatory rest day; and
2. double salary for the work performed.

The total payment is therefore normally equal to three times the employee’s ordinary daily salary.

Holiday Pay Example

Assume an employee’s ordinary daily salary is MXN 500.

The Sunday premium is at least 25% of the employee’s ordinary daily salary.

Actual payroll treatment may also depend on:

• the employee’s pay structure;
• overtime;
• the weekly rest arrangement;
• a collective agreement;
• and any more generous contractual benefit.

Sunday Election Pay in 2027

Federal Election Day on June 6 creates a special payroll point because it is both:

• a mandatory rest day;
• and a Sunday.

An employee required to work that day should normally receive:

Employers should make sure payroll does not treat June 6 as an ordinary Sunday.

Common Mexican Holidays That Are Not Mandatory Rest Days

Many important dates are widely observed in Mexico but are not included in Article 74.

An employment contract, collective agreement, or company policy may still provide one or more of these dates as paid leave.

State offices, schools, banks, and individual businesses may also close.

That does not change the general private-sector rule under Article 74.

Is Holy Week a Public Holiday in Mexico?

Holy Week is widely observed in Mexico.

In 2027:

• Maundy Thursday falls on March 25;
• Good Friday falls on March 26;
• Easter Sunday falls on March 28.

However, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are not mandatory rest days under the Federal Labour Law.

Some employers voluntarily close or provide one or both dates as a benefit.

Banks, schools, public offices, and individual sectors may also use different calendars.

Employers should check:

• the employment contract;
• the collective agreement;
• the company handbook;
• and the relevant sector calendar.

Do not automatically load Holy Thursday or Good Friday as statutory holidays for every employee.

Is Cinco de Mayo a Mandatory Public Holiday?

No.

Cinco de Mayo falls on Wednesday, May 5, 2027.

It commemorates the Battle of Puebla, but it is not a nationwide mandatory rest day under Article 74.

The 2026–2027 national school calendar includes May 5 as a suspension of teaching activities.

That school closure does not create a general paid day off for private-sector employees.

Local arrangements may be different, particularly in Puebla or for public-sector organisations.

Is Day of the Dead a Mandatory Holiday?

No.

Day of the Dead is one of Mexico’s best-known cultural observances.

The main dates in 2027 are:

• Monday, November 1;
• Tuesday, November 2.

Neither date is a nationwide mandatory rest day under the Federal Labour Law.

Some schools, public offices, banks, and employers may close or provide leave.

Private employers should follow their own contract or company policy unless another binding rule applies.

School Holidays Are Not the Same as Employment Holidays

The Ministry of Public Education publishes a national school calendar.

It can include:

• school holidays;
• teacher training days;
• administrative days;
• vacation periods;
• and suspensions of teaching activities.

These dates apply to schools covered by the calendar.

They do not automatically become mandatory rest days for parents or employees in private businesses.

For example, May 5 is included as a school closure in the 2026–2027 school calendar.

It is still not a general Article 74 mandatory rest day.

Employers should avoid copying the school calendar into the company public holiday calendar.

Bank Holidays Are Also Separate

Banks and other regulated financial institutions follow closure dates published under financial-sector rules.

The banking calendar can contain dates that do not appear in Article 74.

A bank being closed does not automatically mean that every private-sector employee is entitled to paid leave.

The final 2027 banking calendar should be checked when it is published by the relevant Mexican financial authorities.

Businesses that rely on:

• bank transfers;
• payroll processing;
• settlement dates;
• or financial deadlines

may need to record bank holidays separately from employee mandatory rest days.

Do Public Holidays Vary by State?

The main private-sector mandatory rest days in Article 74 apply nationally.

Mexico does not have a different full statutory holiday calendar for every state in the same way as the United States or Spain.

However, local differences can still matter.

These can include:

• state government office closures;
• municipal celebrations;
• local school calendars;
• local ordinary election dates;
• collective agreements;
• and sector-specific arrangements.

In 2027, the federal election and most concurrent local elections are scheduled for June 6.

Where a state or local authority holds an ordinary election on another legally designated date, employers should check whether Article 74’s election provision applies.

Public Holidays and Annual Leave

Mandatory rest days should be tracked separately from annual vacation.

A statutory holiday is not the same as a day of annual leave.

When a mandatory rest day falls inside an employee’s vacation period, the employer should check:

• whether the date would normally be a working day;
• the employee’s schedule;
• the employment contract;
• and the company’s vacation calculation method.

For a standard Monday-to-Friday employee, the Monday holidays on February 1, March 15, and November 15 should not normally be deducted as annual vacation days.

Shift workers require individual treatment because their scheduled working days may be different.

Shift Workers and Mandatory Rest Days

A mandatory rest day is not automatically a day without work for every employee.

Employees in continuous operations may still be scheduled.

The important point is that the correct holiday pay must be applied.

Employers should record:

• the actual mandatory rest date;
• whether the employee worked;
• the hours worked;
• whether the date was Sunday;
• the employee’s weekly rest day;
• and any substitute company day provided.

This is especially important for:

• Saturday, May 1;
• Sunday, June 6;
• and Saturday, December 25.

A Simple Way to Manage Mexican Public Holidays

Keep one clear record of:

• Article 74 mandatory rest days;
• election dates;
• company holidays;
• bank closure dates;
• school dates;
• local public-sector holidays;
• and employee work schedules.

TimeOff.Management lets businesses create different public holiday calendars and assign them to the right employees.

You can keep:

• statutory holidays;
• optional company holidays;
• local dates;
• and shift-specific arrangements

separate.

Managers can then see public holidays alongside vacation, sickness, and other absences in one shared calendar.

Start a 30-day free trial — no card needed.

Practical Checklist for Employers

• Add all eight mandatory rest dates. Include Federal Election Day on June 6.
• Do not move Saturday holidays automatically. May 1 and December 25 do not automatically create Friday or Monday leave.
• Mark June 6 correctly. It is a mandatory rest day and a Sunday.
• Apply the right pay. Employees working on a mandatory rest day normally receive triple daily salary.
• Add the Sunday premium. Employees working on June 6 receive at least the additional 25% Sunday premium.
• Give employees time to vote. Working arrangements must not prevent employees from exercising their voting rights.
• Keep Holy Week separate. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are not nationwide statutory holidays.
• Do not copy the school calendar. School closures do not automatically create employee leave.
• Check the bank calendar separately. Financial-sector closure dates may be different.
• Review contracts and agreements. They may provide more generous holiday benefits.
• Separate holidays from annual leave. Do not deduct statutory holidays as normal vacation days without checking the schedule.
• Review the law again before 2027. New legislation or electoral arrangements could affect the final calendar.

Key Points for Employers

• Mexico has eight mandatory rest dates in 2027.
• The February, March, and November holidays are legally set on Mondays.
• Labour Day falls on Saturday, May 1.
• Federal Election Day falls on Sunday, June 6.
• Christmas Day falls on Saturday, December 25.
• Weekend holidays do not automatically move to Friday or Monday.
• Employees who work on a mandatory rest day normally receive triple daily salary.
• Employees working on Sunday, June 6 also receive the Sunday premium.
• Holy Week, Cinco de Mayo, Day of the Dead, and Christmas Eve are not nationwide mandatory rest days.
• School and bank calendars should be managed separately.
• There is no presidential inauguration holiday in 2027.

FAQ

How Many Mandatory Public Holidays Are There in Mexico in 2027?

There are eight mandatory rest dates expected to apply in 2027.

Seven come from the recurring Article 74 calendar.

The eighth is Federal Election Day on Sunday, June 6.

What Are Mexico’s Official Public Holidays in 2027?

The mandatory dates are:

• January 1;
• February 1;
• March 15;
• May 1;
• June 6;
• September 16;
• November 15;
• December 25.

Is February 5 a Public Holiday in 2027?

The historical date is February 5.

However, the mandatory rest day is the first Monday in February.

In 2027, employees observe the statutory holiday on Monday, February 1.

Is March 21 a Public Holiday in 2027?

The holiday commemorates Benito Juárez’s birthday on March 21.

The legal rest day is the third Monday in March.

In 2027, that date is Monday, March 15.

Is November 20 a Public Holiday in 2027?

The holiday commemorates the Mexican Revolution on November 20.

The mandatory rest day is the third Monday in November.

In 2027, that date is Monday, November 15.

Is May 1 Moved to Monday in 2027?

No.

Labour Day falls on Saturday, May 1.

The Federal Labour Law does not automatically move it to Friday, April 30 or Monday, May 3.

An employer can voluntarily provide a substitute day.

Is June 6, 2027 a Mandatory Rest Day?

Yes.

The INE has scheduled the ordinary federal election for Sunday, June 6, 2027.

Article 74 includes ordinary election day as a mandatory rest day.

Do Employees Get Monday, June 7 Off?

Not automatically.

The election falls on Sunday, but the law does not create an automatic Monday substitute.

A contract or company policy may provide one.

How Much Should Employees Be Paid for Working on Election Day?

An employee working on June 6 should normally receive:

• their normal mandatory-rest-day salary;
• double salary for the work performed;
• and the Sunday premium of at least 25%.

This is commonly described as triple salary plus the Sunday premium.

Is Good Friday a Public Holiday in Mexico?

Not under the general Federal Labour Law.

Good Friday falls on March 26, 2027.

Some companies, schools, banks, or public offices may close, but it is not a nationwide mandatory rest day for private-sector employees.

Is Cinco de Mayo a Mandatory Holiday?

No.

Cinco de Mayo falls on Wednesday, May 5, 2027.

It is an important civic commemoration and a school closure date in the 2026–2027 SEP calendar, but it is not a nationwide mandatory rest day under Article 74.

Is Day of the Dead a Mandatory Holiday?

No.

November 1 and November 2 are not general mandatory rest days under the Federal Labour Law.

A company may still provide them as paid leave.

Is Christmas Eve a Mandatory Holiday?

No.

Christmas Eve falls on Friday, December 24, 2027.

Christmas Day on Saturday, December 25 is the mandatory rest day.

Is There a Presidential Inauguration Holiday in 2027?

No.

The presidential transfer holiday occurs on October 1 every six years.

It applied in 2024 and is next expected in 2030.

Do Public Holidays Reduce Annual Vacation?

Mandatory rest days and annual vacation should be recorded separately.

Whether a date counts within a particular leave period can depend on the employee’s normal schedule and the company’s vacation calculation rules.

Do All States in Mexico Have the Same Public Holidays?

The main Article 74 mandatory rest days apply nationally.

State public offices, schools, municipalities, collective agreements, and local elections can create additional dates for particular employees or organisations.

Further Reading

• Mexican Chamber of Deputies — Current Federal Labour Law
• PROFEDET — Mandatory rest days and holiday pay
• INE — Federal Electoral Process 2026–2027
• Official Gazette — October 1 presidential transfer holiday reform
• PROFEDET — Holy Week is not mandatory leave
• SEP — 2026–2027 School Calendar