diff --git a/changes/21268-calendar-free b/changes/21268-calendar-free
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f51a103ecf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/21268-calendar-free
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Scheduled maintenance events will now be scheduled over calendar events marked "Free" (not busy) in Google Calendar.
diff --git a/ee/server/calendar/google_calendar.go b/ee/server/calendar/google_calendar.go
index 39c31d4807..7abbc6c4c6 100644
--- a/ee/server/calendar/google_calendar.go
+++ b/ee/server/calendar/google_calendar.go
@@ -597,6 +597,11 @@ func (c *GoogleCalendar) createEvent(
 			continue
 		}
 
+		if gEvent.Transparency == "transparent" {
+			// Ignore events that do not block time on the calendar (e.g. free events)
+			continue
+		}
+
 		// Ignore events that the user has declined
 		var declined bool
 		for _, attendee := range gEvent.Attendees {