Public holidays in Argentina in 2026 include national commemorations, Carnival, Christian celebrations, transferred holidays and a special nationwide holiday for the visit of Pope Leo XIV. Argentina distinguishes between national public holidays (feriados nacionales), general non-working days (días no laborables) and holidays restricted to particular jurisdictions. The official calendar includes 17 nationwide public holiday dates, with additional regional and optional non-working days governed by separate provisions.
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Public Holidays in Argentina 2026
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Argentina's national holiday system is principally governed by Law No. 27,399, which establishes fixed holidays, transferable holidays and legally recognized non-working days. The government can also designate additional dates for tourism or exceptional national events.
The 2026 calendar includes two Carnival holidays, several important historical commemorations and a special national holiday on November 9 for the official visit of Pope Leo XIV. Some holidays remain on their original calendar dates, while others are observed on a designated Monday under Argentina's transfer rules.
National Holidays in Argentina
Argentina's national public holidays commemorate independence, democratic history, military service and significant figures in the country's development. These holidays are recognized under national legislation and generally apply throughout the country.
May Revolution Day
May Revolution Day is observed on May 25 and commemorates the political events of 1810 that led to the establishment of Argentina's First Patriotic Government. It is one of the country's principal historical holidays and is legally designated as a fixed national public holiday.
Independence Day
Argentina celebrates Independence Day on July 9, marking the declaration of independence from Spain in 1816. It is a nationwide public holiday and is not transferred to another date under the ordinary holiday calendar.
National Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice
March 24 commemorates the victims of state terrorism during Argentina's last military dictatorship, which began with the 1976 coup. The National Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice is a fixed statutory public holiday.
Day of the Veterans and Fallen of the Malvinas War
April 2 honors Argentine veterans and those who died during the 1982 Malvinas War. The date is a fixed national public holiday dedicated to remembrance and recognition of military service.
Flag Day and General Manuel Belgrano Memorial Day
June 20 marks the anniversary of the death of General Manuel Belgrano, who created the Argentine national flag. The holiday is commonly associated with Flag Day and is observed on its statutory calendar date.
General José de San Martín Memorial Day
Argentina honors General José de San Martín, a central figure in South American independence, through a national holiday associated with August 17. This holiday belongs to the legally transferable category, although it remains on August 17 in 2026.
Carnival Holidays in Argentina in 2026
Carnival Monday and Carnival Tuesday are both nationwide public holidays in Argentina. They fall on February 16 and February 17 in 2026, creating a four-day break when combined with the preceding Saturday and Sunday for employees following a standard Monday-to-Friday schedule.
Carnival is celebrated through parades, music, dancing and regional festivities. Celebrations are particularly prominent in destinations such as Gualeguaychú and Corrientes, although activities and local traditions vary considerably across Argentina.
Both Carnival dates are fixed within the annual movable religious calendar and are designated national public holidays under Law No. 27,399.
Transferred Public Holidays in Argentina in 2026
Argentina operates a system of transferable national holidays designed to move certain commemorations to Monday. Article 6 of Law No. 27,399 provides that eligible holidays falling on Tuesday or Wednesday move to the preceding Monday, while those falling on Thursday or Friday move to the following Monday.
Two important transfers affect the 2026 calendar:
- General Martín Miguel de Güemes Memorial Day: The commemoration associated with June 17 is observed on Monday, June 15, 2026.
- National Sovereignty Day: The commemoration associated with November 20 is observed on Monday, November 23, 2026.
General José de San Martín Memorial Day and the Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity are also legally transferable holidays, but their dates already fall on Monday in 2026.
These transfers create extended weekends without changing the historical dates being commemorated.
Special National Holiday for the Visit of Pope Leo XIV
Argentina declared Monday, November 9, 2026, a special nationwide public holiday in connection with the official visit of Pope Leo XIV.
The holiday was established through Decree of Necessity and Urgency No. 1103/2026, issued on September 25 and published in the Official Gazette on September 28, 2026.
The decree recognizes the national significance of the papal visit and provides for special arrangements relating to public events, security, transportation and official activities.
Unlike Argentina's recurring statutory holidays, November 9 is an exceptional holiday specifically established for the 2026 visit. It applies throughout the country.
The government also declared two additional public holidays with restricted geographical coverage:
- November 10, 2026: A public holiday in Córdoba Province and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires.
- November 11, 2026: A public holiday in Buenos Aires Province.
These two dates do not apply nationwide and should not be included as general national holidays in an Argentina-wide calendar.
The national and regional arrangements are established in Decree 1103/2026 published by the Argentine government.
Non-Working Days for Tourism in Argentina in 2026
Argentina can establish up to three additional holidays or non-working days annually to encourage domestic tourism and longer travel breaks.
For 2026, Resolution 164/2025 designated three tourism-purpose non-working days:
- March 23: Monday before the National Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice.
- July 10: Friday after Independence Day.
- December 7: Monday before the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
These dates are officially classified as non-working days for tourism purposes, rather than ordinary national public holidays. Their treatment can differ from the mandatory holiday arrangements applicable to statutory public holidays.
Employees should confirm whether their employer observes these dates because a tourism-purpose non-working day does not automatically create an identical entitlement to a national public holiday.
The dates are established in Resolution 164/2025 of the Cabinet Chief's Office.
Religious Holidays in Argentina
Argentina's national public holiday calendar includes Christian celebrations, while legislation separately recognizes certain religious non-working days for members of Jewish and Muslim communities.
Christian Public Holidays
Good Friday, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and Christmas Day are nationwide statutory public holidays. Holy Thursday is separately designated as a non-working day rather than a general national public holiday.
In 2026, Holy Thursday coincides with April 2, which is already a nationwide holiday for the remembrance of Malvinas War veterans and the fallen. Good Friday follows on April 3.
Jewish Religious Non-Working Days
Article 2 of Law No. 27,399 establishes legally recognized non-working days for people who observe Judaism. These include Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and specified days of Passover.
The entitlement is based on the applicable religious and employment provisions. These observances are not classified as general nationwide public holidays for every employee.
Muslim Religious Non-Working Days
Article 3 of Law No. 27,399 recognizes Islamic New Year, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as non-working days for people who observe Islam.
The dates follow the Islamic calendar and may depend on religious calendar determinations. They should not be treated as general public holidays or assigned an unverified fixed Gregorian date.
Articles 2 through 4 of Law No. 27,399 establish the relevant religious non-working day provisions and employment protections.
Long Weekends in Argentina in 2026
Argentina's public holiday calendar provides several opportunities for extended weekends. Some are created by statutory holidays falling on Monday or Friday, while others depend on tourism-purpose non-working days.
- February 14–17: A four-day Carnival weekend covering Saturday through Tuesday.
- April 2–5: A four-day break created by the Malvinas remembrance holiday, Good Friday and the weekend.
- May 1–3: A three-day weekend beginning with Labour Day on Friday.
- June 13–15: A three-day weekend created by the transferred Güemes memorial holiday.
- August 15–17: A three-day weekend ending with General José de San Martín Memorial Day.
- October 10–12: A three-day weekend ending with the Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity.
- November 7–9: A three-day weekend created by the special national holiday for the papal visit.
- November 21–23: A three-day weekend ending with the transferred National Sovereignty Day holiday.
- December 25–27: A three-day weekend beginning with Christmas Day.
Additional extended breaks may be available around March 23–24, July 9–10 and December 7–8 for employees whose workplaces observe the designated tourism-purpose non-working days.
These examples assume the normal Saturday-Sunday weekend. Actual time off depends on employment arrangements and the legal classification of each date.
Public Holidays and Employment Rules in Argentina
Are Public Holidays Paid in Argentina?
Argentina's Labour Contract Law provides special compensation rules for work performed on national public holidays. Employees who qualify for holiday pay receive the applicable statutory remuneration, while those required to work on a national holiday may be entitled to additional compensation.
The precise entitlement depends on the employee's circumstances, working arrangements and applicable labour legislation.
What Is the Difference Between a Public Holiday and a Non-Working Day?
A national public holiday, or feriado nacional, is subject to mandatory holiday and remuneration provisions under Argentine labour law.
A general non-working day, or día no laborable, has a different legal treatment. In many private-sector situations, the employer determines whether work continues, except where specific legislation establishes a protected entitlement, such as certain religious observances.
This distinction is especially relevant to Holy Thursday and the tourism-purpose non-working days scheduled for 2026.
Are Banks Closed on Public Holidays in Argentina?
Argentine banks generally observe the banking holiday calendar published by the Central Bank of Argentina (Banco Central de la República Argentina, BCRA). Banking holidays can include national public holidays and additional dates designated for financial institutions.
Bank customers should consult the Central Bank's official banking holiday calendar for branch closure dates and available services.
Are Government Offices and Schools Closed?
Government offices and public educational institutions generally follow applicable national and jurisdictional holiday rules. School calendars may also include province-specific closures, academic breaks and institutional arrangements.
Regional holidays do not necessarily affect institutions outside the designated jurisdiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holidays are there in Argentina in 2026?
Argentina's 2026 calendar includes 17 nationwide public holiday dates, counting both Carnival days and the special national holiday on November 9. Regional holidays and separately designated non-working days are excluded from this total.
Is Carnival a public holiday in Argentina?
Yes. Carnival Monday and Carnival Tuesday are national public holidays. In 2026, they fall on February 16 and February 17.
Why is November 9 a public holiday in Argentina in 2026?
November 9 was declared a special nationwide public holiday for the official visit of Pope Leo XIV under Decree 1103/2026. The decree also established regional holidays on November 10 and November 11 for specified jurisdictions.
Is March 23 a national public holiday in Argentina?
No. March 23, 2026, is an officially designated non-working day for tourism purposes under Resolution 164/2025. It is not classified as an ordinary nationwide statutory public holiday.
Why is General Martín Miguel de Güemes Memorial Day observed on June 15 in 2026?
The historical commemoration falls on June 17, but Argentina's holiday transfer rules move the 2026 observance to Monday, June 15.
Is Holy Thursday a public holiday in Argentina?
Holy Thursday is legally classified as a non-working day, not a general national public holiday. In 2026, it falls on April 2, which is independently a nationwide holiday for the remembrance of Malvinas War veterans and the fallen.
Are tourism-purpose non-working days mandatory for every employee?
No. Tourism-purpose non-working days are legally distinct from national public holidays. Whether an employee receives the day off depends on the applicable employment provisions and workplace arrangements.
Does Argentina recognize Jewish and Muslim religious holidays?
Yes. Law No. 27,399 recognizes specified Jewish and Muslim religious observances as non-working days for eligible members of those communities. They are separate from the general nationwide public holiday calendar.
Are public holidays the same in every Argentine province?
Nationwide public holidays generally apply throughout Argentina, but provinces and other jurisdictions may have additional holidays. In 2026, special regional holidays were established for Córdoba Province, Buenos Aires City and Buenos Aires Province in connection with the papal visit.
Where can I find Argentina's official public holiday calendar?
The Argentine government publishes its national holiday calendar on Argentina.gob.ar. Law No. 27,399 establishes the general legal framework, while official resolutions and decrees confirm additional non-working days and special holidays.
Official Sources for Public Holidays in Argentina
- Argentine Congress – Law No. 27,399 – Establishes nationwide statutory holidays, transferable holidays, religious non-working days and rules for extended weekends.
- Argentine Consulate General in Santiago – 2026 Holiday Calendar – Confirms major national public holiday dates and transferred observances for 2026.
- Argentine Executive – Decree 1103/2026 – Establishes the special nationwide holiday on November 9 and regional holidays on November 10 and November 11.
- Cabinet Chief's Office – Resolution 164/2025 – Designates the three tourism-purpose non-working days for 2026.
- Central Bank of Argentina – Banking Holiday Calendar – Provides official banking closure dates and guidance on financial services during holidays.
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