Rosal

From November 29, 2026 to November 27, 2027

Holy days of obligation 2026-2027: US, Mexico and Spain

On a feast-day morning, a clay family in their best clothes walks hand in hand up the steps of a white town church under strings of paper flags

A holy day of obligation is a day on which Catholics are bound to go to Mass: every Sunday, plus a few great feasts that change from country to country. Here is the list for the United States, Mexico and Spain, with the date and day of the week of each, for the liturgical year that runs from Sunday, November 29, 2026 to Saturday, November 27, 2027.

The 2027 liturgical calendar to print (free PDF), to mark your holy days →

Holy days of obligation in the United States, 2026-2027

Besides Sundays, the United States has six holy days of obligation. When Mary, the Mother of God (January 1), the Assumption (August 15) or All Saints (November 1) falls on a Saturday or a Monday, the obligation to attend Mass is lifted that year, though Mass is still celebrated. The Immaculate Conception and Christmas are always holy days of obligation, whatever the day of the week.

Most ecclesiastical provinces move the Ascension to the following Sunday; a few keep it on Thursday, and there it is a holy day of obligation. Check your diocese’s calendar. The Epiphany is kept on the Sunday between January 2 and 8, and Corpus Christi on the Sunday after Trinity Sunday. Saint Joseph and Saints Peter and Paul are celebrated, but they are not holy days of obligation.

Kept on a Sunday instead

  • The Epiphany of the Lord, Three Kings Day: Sunday, January 3, 2027
  • Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of Christ: Sunday, May 30, 2027

Celebrated, but not holy days of obligation

  • Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  • Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

Source: the complementary norm of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to canon 1246 §2 of the Code of Canon Law (1991).

Holy days of obligation in Mexico, 2026-2027

Besides Sundays, Mexico has four holy days of obligation: Mary, the Holy Mother of God (January 1), Corpus Christi (on its Thursday, the Thursday after Trinity Sunday), Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12) and Christmas (December 25).

The Epiphany, Three Kings Day, is kept on the Sunday between January 2 and 8, and the Ascension on the Sunday after its Thursday, so Sunday Mass covers both. The Immaculate Conception, Saint Joseph, Saints Peter and Paul, the Assumption and All Saints are still celebrated on their days, but they are not holy days of obligation.

Kept on a Sunday instead

  • The Epiphany of the Lord, Three Kings Day: Sunday, January 3, 2027
  • The Ascension of the Lord: Sunday, May 9, 2027

Celebrated, but not holy days of obligation

  • The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  • Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  • Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles
  • The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  • All Saints

Source: the complementary norms of the Conferencia del Episcopado Mexicano to canon 1246 §2 of the Code of Canon Law.

Holy days of obligation in Spain, 2026-2027

Besides Sundays, Spain has eight holy days of obligation, whether or not they are public holidays: Mary, the Mother of God (January 1), the Epiphany (January 6), Saint Joseph (March 19), Saint James the Apostle, patron of Spain (July 25), the Assumption (August 15), All Saints (November 1), the Immaculate Conception (December 8) and Christmas (December 25).

Saint Joseph and Saint James are not public holidays in every region. Where the work calendar raises a doubt, the bishop of each diocese decides whether to dispense from the obligation or move the feast, so ask at your parish or look at your diocese’s website. When one of these solemnities falls on a Sunday of Advent or Lent and moves to the Monday, the obligation does not move with it.

Corpus Christi and the Ascension are kept on the following Sunday. Saints Peter and Paul has not been a holy day of obligation in Spain since 1977.

Kept on a Sunday instead

  • The Ascension of the Lord: Sunday, May 9, 2027
  • Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of Christ: Sunday, May 30, 2027

Celebrated, but not holy days of obligation

  • Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

Source: the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, Calendario litúrgico-pastoral, “Fiestas de precepto en España”.

What is a holy day of obligation?

A holy day of obligation is a day on which Catholics are bound to take part in Mass and to rest from work that keeps them from worshiping God. Every Sunday is one, because it is the day Jesus rose from the dead, and so are a few solemnities through the year. It is the first of the precepts of the Church (Catechism, 2042 and 2180).

The Code of Canon Law sets it out in canon 1246: Sunday is the first holy day of all, and ten solemnities are kept as well: Christmas, the Epiphany, the Ascension, Corpus Christi, Mary the Mother of God, the Immaculate Conception, the Assumption, Saint Joseph, Saints Peter and Paul, and All Saints (Catechism, 2177). Canon 1247 says what the day asks: to take part in Mass, and to avoid work and business that get in the way of worship, of the joy of the Lord’s day and of rest.

Any Mass celebrated on the day itself or on the evening before counts (canon 1248).

Why does the list change from country to country?

The same canon 1246, in its second paragraph, lets the bishops’ conference of each country, with the approval of the Holy See, suppress some of these solemnities as holy days of obligation or move them to a Sunday. Each conference has made its own choice, often with its country’s work calendar in mind.

That is why in Mexico Our Lady of Guadalupe and Corpus Christi are holy days and the Assumption is not; why in Spain Three Kings Day and Saint James are holy days, while in Mexico and the United States the Epiphany moves to a Sunday; and why in the United States a holy day can be lifted when it falls next to a Sunday. The solemnity is still celebrated everywhere; what changes is whether Mass that day is an obligation.

What if I can’t go to Mass?

Missing Mass on a holy day of obligation on purpose, without a serious reason, is a grave sin, but the Church does not ask the impossible. Someone who is ill, who is caring for a baby or a sick person, or who has no way of getting to a church is excused, and your parish priest can dispense you in a particular case (Catechism, 2181; canon 1245).

If you can’t go, set aside some time to pray at home: read the day’s Gospel together and pray an Our Father. And if work keeps you from resting that day, you can still live it as the Lord’s day, with a prayer and time for your family (Catechism, 2185, 2187 and 2188).

As a family

At the start of the year, mark your country’s holy days of obligation on the kitchen calendar and choose ahead of time which Mass you will go to. After Mass, celebrate the feast with something simple: sweet bread, a walk, or someone’s favorite meal.

To read more, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 2042, 2177, 2180, 2181, 2185, 2187, 2188, and the Code of Canon Law, canons 1245 to 1248.