Cabinet Approves 2027 BVI Public Holidays
The Virgin Islands Cabinet has approved the official public holiday schedule for 2027 in accordance with the Public Holidays Act. The early release outlines 14 official holidays and provides residents, public sector offices, and local businesses with the necessary information to plan their long-term schedules. Several observances will take place on adjacent weekdays where traditional dates fall on weekends.
The Office of the Deputy Governor has officially released the schedule of public holidays for the Virgin Islands for 2027, following formal approval by the Cabinet in accordance with Section 5 of the Public Holidays Act (Cap 199), as amended. The early publication of the calendar enables public sector departments, private enterprises, schools, and event organisers across the territory to plan their operational schedules, commercial rosters, and annual activities well in advance.
The approved public holidays for 2027 are as follows: Friday, 1 January – New Year’s Day Monday, 8 March – Anniversary of the Birth of Hamilton Lavity Stoutt (in lieu of Sunday, 7 March) Friday, 26 March – Good Friday Monday, 29 March – Easter Monday Monday, 17 May – Whit Monday Friday, 11 June – Sovereign’s Birthday (to be confirmed) Monday, 5 July – Virgin Islands Day Monday, 2 August – Emancipation Monday Tuesday, 3 August – Emancipation Tuesday Wednesday, 4 August – Emancipation Wednesday Monday, 18 October – Heroes and Foreparents Day Monday, 22 November – Commemoration of the Great March of 1949 and the Restoration of the Legislative Council Monday, 27 December – Christmas Day (in lieu of Saturday, 25 December) Tuesday, 28 December – Boxing Day (in lieu of Sunday, 26 December) Under statutory provisions, when a public holiday falls on a weekend, alternate weekday observances are designated to ensure the public receives the statutory non-working day.
In 2027, the anniversary of the birth of the territory's first Chief Minister, Hamilton Lavity Stoutt, will be observed on Monday, 8 March, as the actual date of 7 March falls on a Sunday. Similarly, with Christmas Day falling on a Saturday and Boxing Day falling on a Sunday, the corresponding public holidays will be observed on Monday, 27 December, and Tuesday, 28 December, respectively.
The date for the Sovereign’s Birthday on 11 June remains subject to official confirmation closer to the period. For more information or general inquiries, members of the public can contact the Office of the Deputy Governor or reach out to the Government of the Virgin Islands central inquiry line at (284) 468-3701.
Primary source: BVI Government