Regional overview

Africa

Public holidays across African countries

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2026 Holiday Calendar

Africa · Public holidays across African countries

Holidays in May

May 2026

SSun

MMon

TTue

WWed

TThu

FFri

SSat

2

3

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

Day of Customs and Traditions

Liberation Day Observed

Restoration of Somaliland Sovereignty

Restoration of Somaliland Sovereignty Holiday

21

22

23

Independence Day

Pentecost Sunday

Pentecost Monday

Eid al-Adha Holiday

Eid al-Adha Holiday

29

30

31

HolidayTodayWeekend

Holidays in May

1Fri
May Day
Angola
Fixed
1Fri
Labour Day
Benin
Variable
14Thu
Ascension Day
Benin
Variable
25Mon
Whit Monday
Benin
Variable
27Wed
Tabaski
Benin
Fixed
1Fri
Labour Day
Botswana
Variable
14Thu
Ascension Day
Botswana
Variable
1Fri
Labour Day
Burkina Faso
Fixed
14Thu
Ascension Day
Burkina Faso
Fixed
15Fri
Day of Customs and Traditions
Burkina Faso
Fixed
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
Burkina Faso
Fixed
1Fri
Labour Day
Burundi
Fixed
14Thu
Ascension Day
Burundi
Fixed
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
Burundi
Fixed
1Fri
Labour Day
Cabo Verde
Fixed
1Fri
Labour Day
Cameroon
Fixed
14Thu
Ascension Day
Cameroon
Fixed
20Wed
National Day
Cameroon
Fixed
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
Cameroon
Fixed
1Fri
Labour Day
Central African Republic
Fixed
14Thu
Ascension Day
Central African Republic
Fixed
25Mon
Pentecost Monday
Central African Republic
Fixed
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
Central African Republic
Fixed
1Fri
May Day
Chad
Fixed
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
Chad
Fixed
1Fri
Labour Day
Comoros
Fixed
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
Comoros
Fixed
28Thu
Eid al-Adha Holiday
Comoros
Fixed
1Fri
Labor Day
Cote d'Ivoire
Fixed
14Thu
Ascension Day
Cote d'Ivoire
Fixed
25Mon
Pentecost Monday
Cote d'Ivoire
Fixed
27Wed
Aid el-Kebir
Cote d'Ivoire
Fixed
1Fri
Labor Day
Djibouti
Fixed
26Tue
Arafat Day
Djibouti
Fixed
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
Djibouti
Fixed
28Thu
Eid al-Adha Holiday
Djibouti
Fixed
1Fri
Labour Day
DR Congo
Variable
1Fri
May Day
DR Congo
Fixed
16Sat
Liberation Day Observed
DR Congo
Fixed
17Sun
Liberation Day
DR Congo
Variable
1Fri
International Workers' Day
Eritrea
Fixed
24Sun
Independence Day
Eritrea
Fixed
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
Eritrea
Fixed
1Fri
May Day
Eswatini
Fixed
14Thu
Ascension Day
Eswatini
Fixed
1Fri
International Labor Day
Ethiopia
Fixed
5Tue
Patriots' Day
Ethiopia
Fixed
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
Ethiopia
Fixed
1Fri
Labour Day
Gabon
Variable
6Wed
Martyr's Day
Gabon
Variable
14Thu
Ascension Day
Gabon
Fixed
25Mon
Whit Monday
Gabon
Variable
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
Gabon
Fixed
1Fri
Labour Day
Gambia
Variable
25Mon
Africa Day
Gambia
Variable
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
Gambia
Fixed
1Fri
May Day
Ghana
Variable
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
Ghana
Fixed
1Fri
Labour Day
Guinea
Fixed
25Mon
Africa Day
Guinea
Fixed
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
Guinea
Fixed
28Thu
Eid al-Adha Holiday
Guinea
Fixed
1Fri
Labour Day
Guinea-Bissau
Fixed
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
Guinea-Bissau
Fixed
1Fri
Labour Day
Kenya
Variable
1Fri
May Day
Lesotho
Fixed
1Fri
Workers' Day
Lesotho
Variable
14Thu
Ascension Day
Lesotho
Variable
25Mon
Africa Day/ Heroes' Day
Lesotho
Variable
14Thu
National Unification Day
Liberia
Fixed
1Fri
Labor Day
Madagascar
Fixed
14Thu
Ascension Day
Madagascar
Variable
24Sun
Pentecost Sunday
Madagascar
Fixed
25Mon
Whit Monday
Madagascar
Variable
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
Madagascar
Fixed
1Fri
May Day
Malawi
Fixed
14Thu
Kamuzu Day
Malawi
Fixed
1Fri
Workers' Day
Mali
Fixed
25Mon
Africa Day
Mali
Fixed
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
Mali
Fixed
1Fri
Labor Day
Mauritania
Fixed
25Mon
Africa Day
Mauritania
Fixed
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
Mauritania
Fixed
1Fri
Labour Day
Mauritius
Fixed
1Fri
May Day
Mozambique
Fixed
1Fri
Worker's Day
Mozambique
Variable
1Fri
Workers' Day
Namibia
Variable
4Mon
Cassinga Day
Namibia
Variable
14Thu
Ascension Day
Namibia
Variable
25Mon
Africa Day
Namibia
Variable
28Thu
Genocide Remembrance Day
Namibia
Variable
1Fri
Labour Day
Niger
Variable
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
Niger
Fixed
28Thu
Eid al-Adha Holiday
Niger
Fixed
1Fri
Workers' Day
Nigeria
Variable
27Wed
Children's Day
Nigeria
Variable
27Wed
Id el Kabir
Nigeria
Fixed
28Thu
Id el Kabir additional holiday
Nigeria
Fixed
1Fri
Labour Day
Republic of Congo
Variable
14Thu
Ascension Day
Republic of Congo
Variable
25Mon
Whit Monday
Republic of Congo
Variable
1Fri
Labor Day
Rwanda
Fixed
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
Rwanda
Fixed
1Fri
Labour Day
Sao Tome and Principe
Fixed
1Fri
Labour Day
Senegal
Fixed
14Thu
Ascension Day
Senegal
Fixed
25Mon
Pentecost Monday
Senegal
Fixed
27Wed
Tabaski
Senegal
Fixed
1Fri
Labour Day
Seychelles
Variable
1Fri
International Worker's Day
Sierra Leone
Fixed
27Wed
Tabaski
Sierra Leone
Fixed
1Fri
May Day
Somalia
Fixed
18Mon
Restoration of Somaliland Sovereignty
Somalia
Fixed
19Tue
Restoration of Somaliland Sovereignty Holiday
Somalia
Fixed
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
Somalia
Fixed
28Thu
Eid al-Adha Holiday
Somalia
Fixed
1Fri
Workers' Day
South Africa
Variable
1Fri
May Day
South Sudan
Fixed
16Sat
SPLA Day
South Sudan
Fixed
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
South Sudan
Fixed
1Fri
Labour Day
Tanzania
Fixed
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
Tanzania
Fixed
1Fri
Labour Day
Togo
Fixed
14Thu
Ascension Day
Togo
Fixed
25Mon
Pentecost Monday
Togo
Fixed
27Wed
Tabaski
Togo
Fixed
1Fri
Labour Day
Uganda
Variable
27Wed
Eid al-Adha
Uganda
Fixed
1Fri
Labour Day
Zambia
Fixed
25Mon
Africa Freedom Day
Zambia
Fixed
1Fri
Worker's Day
Zimbabwe
Variable
25Mon
Africa Day
Zimbabwe
Variable

Upcoming holidays in Africa

All countries in Africa

About

Africa encompasses 47 countries, each with its own set of national and public holidays. Public holidays vary significantly across the region, reflecting different religious traditions, historical events, and cultural celebrations.

Many countries in Africa observe both internationally recognized holidays — such as New Year's Day and Labour Day — and locally unique commemorative days. Religious holidays are particularly significant and may follow lunar or other non-Gregorian calendars.

FAQ

Africa holiday questions

Do African public holidays differ by country?

Yes. African holiday calendars reflect national independence dates, religious observances, liberation days, and local civic traditions.

Are religious holidays fixed across Africa?

Some Christian holidays are fixed or Easter-based, while Islamic holidays follow the lunar calendar and may depend on official local announcements.