Holiday planning
Long Weekends in Panama 2026
Panama has 9 long weekends in 2026. The longest natural break is 5 days around Carnival & Carnival / Ash Wednesday (Sat 14 Feb – Wed 18 Feb). Take Thursday and Friday off and turn the Carnival & Carnival / Ash Wednesday break into a 9-day run.
9
Long weekends
9
Longest break (days)
9
Bridge day opportunities
All long weekends in Panama 2026
Sorted by calendar date. "Days off" = the natural break without any annual leave. "Bridge days" = working days to take as paid leave to extend the break.
| Date range | Holiday | Days off | Bridge days to take | Total break |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 1 Jan – Sun 4 Jan | New Year's Day | 1 | Friday(Fri 2 Jan) | 4d |
| Thu 8 Jan – Sun 11 Jan | Martyr's Day | 3 | Thursday(Thu 8 Jan) | 4d |
| Sat 14 Feb – Sun 22 Feb | Carnival, Carnival / Ash Wednesday | 5 | Thursday + Friday(Thu 19 Feb, Fri 20 Feb) | 9d |
| Thu 2 Apr – Sun 5 Apr | Good Friday | 3 | Thursday(Thu 2 Apr) | 4d |
| Thu 30 Apr – Sun 3 May | Labor Day | 3 | Thursday(Thu 30 Apr) | 4d |
| Sat 31 Oct – Thu 5 Nov | Separation Day, National Symbols Day, Colón Day | 3 | Monday(Mon 2 Nov) | 6d |
| Sat 7 Nov – Tue 10 Nov | Shout in Villa de los Santos | 1 | Monday(Mon 9 Nov) | 4d |
| Sat 5 Dec – Tue 8 Dec | Mother's Day | 1 | Monday(Mon 7 Dec) | 4d |
| Thu 24 Dec – Sun 27 Dec | Christmas Day | 3 | Thursday(Thu 24 Dec) | 4d |
Best long weekends in Panama 2026
The top breaks ranked by total consecutive days off.
February
Carnival & Carnival / Ash Wednesday
Sat 14 Feb – Sun 22 Feb
9
days
November
Separation Day & National Symbols Day & Colón Day
Sat 31 Oct – Thu 5 Nov
6
days
January
New Year's Day
Thu 1 Jan – Sun 4 Jan
4
days
January
Martyr's Day
Thu 8 Jan – Sun 11 Jan
4
days
How to use bridge days in Panama
A bridge day (sometimes called a sandwiched day) is a working day that sits between a public holiday and a weekend. By taking it as paid annual leave, you connect the holiday to the weekend and create a longer uninterrupted break.
For example, if a public holiday falls on a Thursday, taking Friday off gives you Thursday + Friday + Saturday + Sunday — four consecutive days using only one day of leave.
In Panama 2026, there are 9 bridge day opportunities highlighted in the table above. The biggest gain is around Carnival & Carnival / Ash Wednesday: take Thursday and Friday off to turn a 5-day break into 9 consecutive days using only 2 days of annual leave.
Public holidays linked to long weekends
Continue exploring
More for Panama 2026
Public holidays
Public holidays in Panama 2026
Full list of 19 public holidays with dates and observance notes.
Working days
Working days in Panama 2026
Monthly breakdown of weekdays minus public holidays.
Other year
Long weekends in Panama 2027
Same bridge day analysis for 2027.
Country overview
Panama holidays overview
All years at a glance — upcoming public holidays.
Calculator
Working Days Between Two Dates
Net working days for any date range — public holidays excluded, 192 countries.
Frequently asked questions
How many long weekends does Panama have in 2026?
Panama has 9 long weekends in 2026 where a public holiday creates a break of three or more consecutive days.
What is a bridge day?
A bridge day is a regular working day that falls between a public holiday and a weekend. Taking it as annual leave creates an uninterrupted break of four or more days using just one or two days of paid leave — maximising your time off.
What is the longest long weekend in Panama in 2026?
The longest break is 9 days from Saturday, 14 February 2026 to Sunday, 22 February 2026, centred around Carnival and Carnival / Ash Wednesday (taking Thursday and Friday as annual leave).
How can I get the most days off with the least leave in Panama 2026?
The best bridge day opportunity is around Carnival & Carnival / Ash Wednesday (Sat 14 Feb – Wed 18 Feb). Take Thursday and Friday as annual leave to get a 9-day break using only 2 days of paid leave.
Are bridge days public holidays in Panama?
No. Bridge days are ordinary working days — employees choose to take them as paid annual leave. They are not legally mandated public holidays.