Mandatory holidays in Mexico 2026 and 2027

Updated October 7, 2026.

The mandatory holidays left in 2026 are November 16 and December 25. In 2027 they are January 1, February 1 and March 15. Also May 1, September 16, November 15 and December 25 (art. 74). Add the day of a regular election (art. 74 section IX). A person who works that day gets double pay, in addition to the pay for the day (art. 75).

What the law says

Article 74 of the LFT (Federal Labor Law) says that these are mandatory holidays:

I. El 1o. de enero; II. El primer lunes de febrero en conmemoración del 5 de febrero; III. El tercer lunes de marzo en conmemoración del 21 de marzo; IV. El 1o. de mayo; V. El 16 de septiembre; VI. El tercer lunes de noviembre en conmemoración del 20 de noviembre; VII. El 1o. de octubre de cada seis años, cuando corresponda a la transmisión del Poder Ejecutivo Federal; VIII. El 25 de diciembre, y IX. El que determinen las leyes federales y locales electorales, en el caso de elecciones ordinarias, para efectuar la jornada electoral.

Translation: I. January 1; II. The first Monday of February, in commemoration of February 5; III. The third Monday of March, in commemoration of March 21; IV. May 1; V. September 16; VI. The third Monday of November, in commemoration of November 20; VII. October 1 every six years, when the federal executive power changes hands; VIII. December 25, and IX. The day that federal and local election laws set for election day, in the case of regular elections.

2026 calendar

October 1, 2026 is a working day. Section VII applies only when the federal executive power changes hands, every six years. The last time was in 2024. The next will be in 2030.

2027 calendar

In 2027, May 1 and December 25 fall on a Saturday. Art. 74 sets those dates and does not provide for moving them to another day.

Election days (section IX)

Election day of a regular election is also a mandatory holiday. The federal and local election laws set the date.

For 2027: the Ley General de Instituciones y Procedimientos Electorales (the federal elections law) says that regular elections are held "el primer domingo de junio del año que corresponda" ("on the first Sunday of June of the year in question"). Federal deputies are elected every three years, and the last election was in 2024. For this reason, the 2027 regular federal election falls on Sunday, June 6, 2027 (LGIPE art. 22).

Local elections depend on each state. Before you plan shifts, confirm the calendar of the INE (the National Electoral Institute) and of the election authority of your state.

If someone works that day

Article 75 says that the employees and the employer decide how many people will work that day. If they do not agree, the labor court decides.

A person who works a mandatory holiday is entitled to two payments:

1. The pay for the holiday, which they get even if they do not work.
2. Double pay for the work done.

The text says: "tendrán derecho a que se les pague, independientemente del salario que les corresponda por el descanso obligatorio, un salario doble por el servicio prestado" ("they will be entitled to be paid, in addition to the wage they are owed for the mandatory holiday, double pay for the work done") (art. 75).

Example with a daily wage of $420.00:

Do not confuse it with the weekly day off

The weekly day off is a different right. For every six days of work, the person gets at least one day off with full pay (art. 69). If they work that day, they get double pay in addition to the pay for the day off (art. 73).

These are two different rules with similar payments. Record them separately for payroll.

Days that are not mandatory under the LFT

These days are not in art. 74:

• January 6
• Holy Thursday and Good Friday
• November 2
• December 12
• December 24 and 31

Your company can give them as its own holidays. They can also come from a collective bargaining agreement or from the internal work rules. If you give them every year, check with your lawyer whether they are already an acquired right.

What a company risks

In a lawsuit, the company must prove the "pagos de días de descanso y obligatorios" ("payments for days off and mandatory holidays") (art. 784 section IX). Without records of who worked and why, it is hard to prove that the payment was correct.

Quick checklist for admins

• Mark the days of the year in your calendar with their section of art. 74.
• Add election day when the election calendar confirms it.
• Agree in writing on who will work those days.
• Record the hours worked on a mandatory holiday separately from the others.
• Pay double pay in addition to the pay for the day.

How Presente helps you

Presente comes with the mandatory holidays calculated for each year. You add your company's holidays and election day. On that day nobody has a shift. If someone needs to work, they request overtime in the app and their leader decides with art. 75 in view. The hours are reported in the "worked holiday" column.

See policies

This guide explains the law for information only. It is not legal advice. For a specific case, talk to a labor lawyer.

Related links: Vacaciones dignas (the vacation reform) · Overtime under the LFT