Central African Republic 2026 Public Holidays

New Year

1 January.

The start of the Gregorian calendar year. Some sources list this alongside a separate New Year's Day entry when a country grants more than one day off around the turn of the year.

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.

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.

Labour Day

1 May in most countries.

International Workers' Day, commemorating the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago, and a public holiday in most of the world. The United States and Canada are the notable exceptions, holding their Labor Day in September instead.

Ascension Day

The Thursday 39 days after Easter Sunday.

Marks the ascension of Christ, forty days after Easter. Always a Thursday, which makes it a popular bridge day — in France, Germany, the Nordics and the Benelux many people take the Friday off to reach a four-day weekend.

Whit Monday

The Monday 50 days after Easter Sunday.

The day after Pentecost, and a public holiday in much of continental Europe and francophone Africa. France treats it as a solidarity day on which the holiday status depends on the employer.

Eid al-Adha

10 Dhu al-Hijjah, about seventy days after Eid al-Fitr, confirmed by moon sighting.

The Feast of Sacrifice, marking the end of the Hajj pilgrimage and commemorating Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son. Alongside Eid al-Fitr it is one of the two principal Islamic holidays, and is observed with several days off in most Muslim-majority countries.

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.

Assumption of Mary

15 August.

A Catholic and Orthodox feast marking the assumption of the Virgin Mary. A public holiday across southern and Central Europe, Latin America and francophone Africa, and the peak of the summer holiday season in France and Italy.

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.

Republic Day

The anniversary of the founding of the republic — varies by country.

Marks the adoption of a republican constitution or the end of a monarchy. Observed in India, Italy, Turkey, Portugal and a number of other states.

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.