Bosnia and Herzegovina 2026 Public Holidays

New Year's Day

1 January. In many countries the day off moves to the following Monday when it falls on a weekend.

The first day of the Gregorian calendar year, and the most widely observed public holiday in the world — a day off in almost every country that uses the Gregorian calendar, regardless of religion. Several countries extend the break to 2 January, and some in East Asia keep both the Gregorian and a separate lunar new year.

Orthodox Christmas Day

7 January — 25 December on the Julian calendar.

Christmas as observed by churches following the Julian calendar, thirteen days after the Gregorian date. A public holiday in Russia, Serbia, Georgia, Ethiopia and other Orthodox-majority countries.

Orthodox New Year

14 January — 1 January on the Julian calendar.

The Julian calendar new year, still marked in Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and parts of Russia. Usually an observance rather than a day off.

Independence Day

The anniversary of the country's independence — a different date in every country.

The national day of a country that gained independence from another state, and typically its most important secular holiday. Over a hundred countries observe one, on dates ranging across the whole calendar.

Day off for Independence Day

The next available weekday when the national day falls on a weekend.

The substitute day for a country's independence day.

Eid al-Fitr

1 Shawwal, the day after Ramadan ends. The date depends on a moon sighting and is often confirmed only a day or two in advance.

The festival that ends Ramadan, and the largest holiday of the year across the Muslim world. Most countries grant two to three consecutive days; Indonesia and Malaysia extend it further with collective leave. Because the date is set by moon sighting, calendars published far in advance are provisional.

Good Friday

The Friday before Easter Sunday.

Commemorates the crucifixion, and is the most widely observed Christian public holiday after Christmas. Together with Easter Monday it produces a four-day weekend in much of Europe, the Commonwealth and Latin America. In several countries it also carries trading or entertainment restrictions beyond the day off itself.

Easter Sunday

The first Sunday after the first full moon on or after 21 March, so the date moves between 22 March and 25 April.

The central feast of the Christian year, commemorating the resurrection. Because it always falls on a Sunday, the day off it generates is usually Good Friday or Easter Monday rather than the day itself. Its movable date sets the timing of Carnival, Ascension and Pentecost.

Easter Monday

The Monday after Easter Sunday.

A public holiday across most of Europe, the Commonwealth and Latin America, extending the Easter weekend to four days. Notably not a holiday in the United States, Portugal or Spain outside Catalonia and the Balearics.

Orthodox Good Friday

The Friday before Orthodox Easter, which is computed on the Julian calendar.

Good Friday on the Orthodox reckoning. Orthodox Easter usually falls one to five weeks after the Western date, so the two rarely coincide.

Orthodox Easter Sunday

Computed on the Julian calendar.

Easter Sunday on the Orthodox reckoning.

Orthodox Easter Monday

The Monday after Orthodox Easter.

A public holiday in Greece, Cyprus, Romania, Bulgaria and other Orthodox-majority countries, extending the Easter break.

Labor Day

1 May in most countries; the first Monday of September in the United States and Canada.

The workers' holiday. Almost everywhere it falls on 1 May; in the United States and Canada it was deliberately placed in September to avoid the associations of May Day.

Victory Day

8 or 9 May in Europe; other dates elsewhere.

Marks the end of the Second World War in Europe. Western Europe keeps 8 May; Russia and most post-Soviet states keep 9 May, because the surrender took effect after midnight Moscow time.

All Saints' Day

1 November.

Honours all saints, and in much of Catholic Europe and Latin America is the day families visit and tend graves. A public holiday in France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Portugal, the Philippines and many francophone African countries.

Statehood Day

The anniversary of statehood — varies by country.

Marks the establishment of a state, used mainly in the Balkans and in several US states.

Christmas Eve

24 December.

The evening of 24 December is the main celebration in the Nordics, Germany, Poland and much of Central Europe, where gifts are exchanged that night rather than on Christmas morning. Often a half day or a de facto day off rather than a statutory holiday.

Christmas Day

25 December. The day off moves to the following weekday when it falls on a weekend.

The most widely observed public holiday after New Year's Day, a day off in the great majority of countries including many with no Christian majority, where it functions as a secular end-of-year holiday. Orthodox churches following the Julian calendar keep it on 7 January instead.