MS Planner - Public Holidays calendar

DC 0 Reputation points
2026-01-21T23:29:06.54+00:00

I’m trying to find the instructions on how to set up public holidays in Planner, so the scheduling takes them into account. Currently there is only the default calendar available is there a way to change the default calendar.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Project | Other | Other
Microsoft 365 and Office | Project | Other | Other

Microsoft project management software used to plan, manage, and communicate a project schedule and other information among workgroup members, project managers, and other stakeholders.

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  1. Anonymous
    2026-01-22T01:43:06.6533333+00:00

    Dear @DC,

    Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A forum. I’m happy to assist you.

    Unfortunately, Microsoft Planner does not include any built‑in options to customize the calendar or change the default calendar used for scheduling.

    As a workaround, you may consider using Microsoft Project, which allows you to configure scheduling through Fixed Units or Fixed Work. This can help prevent assigning tasks to users on public holidays.

    For more details, please refer to this article: Add a holiday to the project calendar | Change the task type for more accurate scheduling

    Another option is to use Dynamics. An user have reported that they were able to add staff leave and statutory holidays in Dynamics directly from their Active Plans. When a Planner task conflicts with a leave date entered in Dynamics (for example, in the Bookable Resources section under the Teams tab), Planner will not automatically adjust the task dates, but it will adjust the effort.

    For example, if user A has leave on 5 December and you create a 2‑day task for 5 - 6 December, the effort will show as 8 hours instead of 16, because one day is marked as leave.

    You can find their post here: How can I incorporate staff leave and statutory holidays into Microsoft Planner so that work is not scheduled for staff on these days?

    If you prefer to continue using Planner, you may also consider Power Automate to manage tasks more effectively, especially when dealing with schedules, leave dates, or more advanced workflow requirements.

    Since this forum mainly provides support for Microsoft 365 Office, basic troubleshooting, and general product guidance, more advanced workflow or automation questions may go beyond our scope. For detailed assistance, I kindly recommend posting a new question in the Power Platform Community or Microsoft Tech Community, where specialists in automation and scheduling can offer tailored support.

    My sincere apologies for directing you to another forum. Our goal is to ensure you receive the most accurate and effective assistance from the right experts, and those communities are best equipped to help with advanced Power Automate and scheduling scenarios. I agree that having the ability to add public holidays or customize the default calendar in Microsoft Planner would better support diverse user needs and improve scheduling accuracy. I encourage you to submit this as feedback to Microsoft so the product team can consider it for future improvements. You can submit it directly to Microsoft via the Planner app (Help > Give feedback), or through Feedback Hub by

    Go to: Microsoft 365 Feedback Hub > Send Feedback > Describe your proposal in detail.

    User's image

    Sharing your experience through this channel is the most impactful way to advocate for a change that would benefit you and other users.

    Thank you again for your patience and for bringing this to our attention. While I can't change the product's design, please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any other questions about its current functionality. Your perspective is important, and I’m confident it will support the continued development of the Microsoft Planner experience.

    If you need any further assistance, feel free to reach out. We're here to help. Thank you very much for your understanding and your cooperation.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-01-21T23:29:13.4666667+00:00

    Currently, Microsoft Planner does not have a built-in feature specifically for setting up public holidays or a dedicated holiday calendar. Planner primarily relies on the default calendar settings provided by the organization. If you need to account for public holidays in your scheduling, you may need to manage this manually by adjusting task deadlines or using other tools that integrate with Planner to account for holidays.

    For more comprehensive scheduling capabilities, consider using Microsoft Project, which allows for more detailed calendar management, including setting up non-working days and holidays.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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