Google calls them special hours. Go to Edit profile > Hours > Special hours, pick the date, set your hours or mark it Closed, and save (Google Business Profile Help). They replace your regular hours on those dates only, for up to 6 days in a row. For 7 days or more, mark the business Temporarily closed.
How do I set holiday hours?
Follow these steps (Google Business Profile Help):
- Open your Business Profile and select Edit profile.
- Go to Hours.
- Next to "Special hours", select Edit.
- Pick a date. Google suggests upcoming holidays, and you can add your own date.
- Tick Closed, or enter the opening and closing times.
- For a split day, select More, then Add hours.
- Select Save.
Special hours show only when your business is set to "Open with main hours" (Google Business Profile Help).
Should I set them even if I'm open as usual?
Yes. Google says: "It's a good idea to confirm your hours for official holidays, even if they're the same as your regular hours" (Google Business Profile Help). When you confirm them, customers can see that you checked your hours, and Google does not have to guess. If you don't confirm them, Maps may show a note that your holiday hours might differ.
Which dates does Google not suggest?
Google suggests official holidays. Many local closures are not official holidays, so you have to add them as custom dates. Examples:
- The day after Diwali (Govardhan Puja)
- Your city's own festival, such as Ganesh Chaturthi in Pune or Mumbai, Durga Puja in Kolkata, or Onam in Kerala
- Chhath
- A change to your market's weekly off day
- Eid, because the date depends on the moon sighting
- Long Tet or Songkran breaks in Vietnam or Thailand
The Diwali 2026 dates are Dhanteras on Friday 6 Nov, Choti Diwali on Saturday 7 Nov, Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) on Sunday 8 Nov, Govardhan Puja on Monday 9 Nov, and Bhai Dooj on Wednesday 11 Nov. Check your local Panchang, because dates can differ by region.
The Eid date moves with the moon. Set the expected dates early. If the date shifts, edit it the day before.
What about late-night or overnight hours?
One set of special hours can't be longer than 24 hours. If you stay open past midnight, make two entries: one that ends at midnight and one that starts at midnight the next day (Google Business Profile Help).
For example, a sweet shop open from 8 am to 2 am on Diwali night sets:
- 8 Nov: 08:00 to 24:00
- 9 Nov: 00:00 to 02:00
What if I'm closed for a week or more?
Special hours cover up to 6 days in a row. For 7 days or more, mark the business Temporarily closed (Google Business Profile Help). Remember to reopen the business when you're back. If Google still shows you as closed, read why your business shows as closed on Google.
I have many branches. Can I set them in bulk?
Yes. In a bulk spreadsheet, enter special hours in the format YYYY-MM-DD: HH:MM-HH:MM (Google Business Profile Help).
When should I set them?
Set them at least a week before the festival, because edits can take up to 3 days to appear (Google Business Profile Help).
While you're there, post a festival update on your profile. After the festival, check that your regular hours are still correct. Google can change your hours based on suggestions from users. See how to fix business info across listings.
Worked example: a sweet shop's Diwali week
This example is illustrative. Agarwal Sweets in Jaipur is normally open 9:00 to 21:00. Here is what the owner sets for Diwali week 2026:
| Date | What happens | Special hours to set |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 6 Nov, Dhanteras | What happensRush | Special hours to set8:00 to 23:00 |
| Sat 7 Nov, Choti Diwali | What happensRush | Special hours to set8:00 to 23:30 |
| Sun 8 Nov, Diwali | What happensOpen till late night | Special hours to set8:00 to 24:00 |
| Mon 9 Nov, Govardhan Puja | What happensOwner closes at 2 am | Special hours to set00:00 to 02:00 (closed the rest of the day) |
| Wed 11 Nov, Bhai Dooj | What happensHalf day | Special hours to set9:00 to 14:00 |
That is five dates in a row, so it fits within the 6-day limit. On Monday, the only hours are 00:00 to 02:00, so Google shows the shop as closed for the rest of that day.
Business marked closed on Google
FAQ
- Where do I set holiday hours on my phone?
- Use the same path in Google Maps or Search: Edit profile > Hours > Special hours (source).
- Why don't my special hours show?
- Your profile must be set to "Open with main hours" (source). Edits can also take up to 3 days to appear (source).
- Can I set holiday hours a year ahead?
- Google suggests upcoming holidays and lets you add custom dates. Set your hours as soon as you know the dates.
- Will setting holiday hours change my regular hours?
- No. Special hours apply only to the dates you pick (source).
- Google changed my hours by itself. What do I do?
- See how to fix business info across listings.
- Should I use Temporarily closed for a 3-day break?
- No. For up to 6 days in a row, use special hours (source).
Plan every festival's hours from one screen
With Reach
The profile page in Reach by Locus lets you edit your weekly hours and special dates. You can mark each date closed all day or give it its own hours. Reach publishes the changes to Google when you save. After each save, it shows which changes reached Google and which ones Google refused. Reach does not set Temporarily closed or Permanently closed, so do those in Google.