Colombia has 19 nationwide public holidays in 2026, including religious celebrations, national commemorations and a newly established holiday honouring Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá. The country's holiday calendar follows Law 51 of 1983, commonly known as Ley Emiliani, which moves certain celebrations to the following Monday to create longer weekends.
On this pageTable of Content
This guide covers Colombia's official public holiday calendar for 2026, the new national holiday, Monday-transfer rules, paid holiday entitlements and practical information about long weekends. The schedule includes nationwide statutory holidays rather than regional festivals or optional observances.
Also Explore: Public Holiday in Comoros
Next Public Holiday in Colombia
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 2, 2026 | Monday | All Saints' Day | Officially Scheduled |
Public Holidays in Colombia 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year's Day | Officially Scheduled |
| January 12, 2026 | Monday | Epiphany (Three Kings' Day) | Officially Scheduled |
| March 23, 2026 | Monday | Saint Joseph's Day | Officially Scheduled |
| April 2, 2026 | Thursday | Maundy Thursday | Officially Scheduled |
| April 3, 2026 | Friday | Good Friday | Officially Scheduled |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | Labour Day | Officially Scheduled |
| May 18, 2026 | Monday | Ascension Day | Officially Scheduled |
| June 8, 2026 | Monday | Corpus Christi | Officially Scheduled |
| June 15, 2026 | Monday | Sacred Heart of Jesus | Officially Scheduled |
| June 29, 2026 | Monday | Saints Peter and Paul Day | Officially Scheduled |
| July 13, 2026 | Monday | Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá | Confirmed |
| July 20, 2026 | Monday | Independence Day | Officially Scheduled |
| August 7, 2026 | Friday | Battle of Boyacá Day | Officially Scheduled |
| August 17, 2026 | Monday | Assumption of Mary | Officially Scheduled |
| October 12, 2026 | Monday | Columbus Day (Día de la Raza) | Officially Scheduled |
| November 2, 2026 | Monday | All Saints' Day | Officially Scheduled |
| November 16, 2026 | Monday | Independence of Cartagena | Officially Scheduled |
| December 8, 2026 | Tuesday | Immaculate Conception Day | Officially Scheduled |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Officially Scheduled |
Colombia's 2026 calendar contains 19 confirmed nationwide public-holiday dates. These include 18 holidays established under the country's longstanding statutory framework and one additional holiday introduced by Law 2578 of 2026.
The calendar includes both fixed-date holidays and observances transferred to Mondays. All 19 official holiday dates fall on weekdays in 2026, with 12 falling on Mondays.
How Public Holidays Work in Colombia
Colombia's public holidays are governed primarily by the Colombian Labour Code, Law 51 of 1983 and subsequent legislation. The system recognizes civil and religious holidays as statutory paid days of rest for employees in the public and private sectors.
Under Article 177 of the Colombian Labour Code, employees are entitled to paid rest on designated public holidays. Some celebrations retain their traditional calendar dates, while others move to the next Monday.
What Is Ley Emiliani?
Ley Emiliani is the commonly used name for Law 51 of 1983, which established Colombia's Monday-transfer system for specified public holidays. Instead of observing every holiday on its traditional date, the law moves qualifying holidays to the following Monday.
This system creates regular three-day weekends, locally known as puentes festivos. It helps workers plan time off while keeping the legally recognized holiday schedule consistent.
The Monday-transfer rule does not apply to every public holiday. New Year's Day, Labour Day, Independence Day, Battle of Boyacá Day, Immaculate Conception Day and Christmas Day remain on their fixed dates. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday follow the Christian liturgical calendar.
New Public Holiday in Colombia in 2026
Colombia introduced an additional nationwide public holiday through Law 2578 of June 1, 2026. The legislation officially recognizes the Day of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá as a national public holiday.
The religious commemoration takes place on July 9 each year. However, the legislation applies the Monday-transfer provisions of Law 51 of 1983, meaning the actual paid day off can fall on a different date.
For 2026, the holiday was observed on Monday, July 13, rather than Thursday, July 9. The Ministry of Information and Communications Technologies Circular 23 of 2026 expressly confirmed the transferred date.
The new holiday applies nationwide and establishes a paid day of rest for eligible workers in both the public and private sectors. It is not restricted to the municipality of Chiquinquirá or the department of Boyacá.
National and Civic Holidays in Colombia
Colombia's civic holidays commemorate its independence, national history and important public events. These observances are established under national legislation and form part of the country's official holiday calendar.
Colombia Independence Day
Colombia celebrates Independence Day on July 20 each year. The date commemorates the events of July 20, 1810, in Bogotá, which became a defining milestone in the country's independence movement.
Independence Day is a fixed-date nationwide public holiday. It is not transferred to another Monday under Ley Emiliani.
Battle of Boyacá Day
Battle of Boyacá Day is observed annually on August 7. It commemorates the decisive victory of the independence forces in the Battle of Boyacá in 1819, an important event in Colombia's struggle for independence from Spanish rule.
The holiday remains on August 7 regardless of the weekday.
Independence of Cartagena
The Independence of Cartagena holiday commemorates Cartagena's declaration of independence from Spanish rule on November 11, 1811.
Although its historical anniversary falls on November 11, the legally observed public holiday is transferred under the applicable Monday-rest rules. In 2026, the nationwide holiday falls on Monday, November 16.
Religious Public Holidays in Colombia
Religious observances make up a substantial part of Colombia's public holiday calendar. Several are associated with Catholic traditions and Christian celebrations, including Holy Week, the Ascension of Jesus, Corpus Christi and Christmas.
Some religious holidays have fixed commemorative dates, while others depend on the date of Easter or are transferred to a Monday under Colombian legislation.
Holy Week in Colombia
Holy Week, known locally as Semana Santa, is one of Colombia's most significant religious observances.
In 2026, Maundy Thursday falls on April 2 and Good Friday on April 3. Both are nationwide statutory public holidays.
Easter Sunday falls on April 5, 2026. Although Easter Sunday is an important religious observance, it is not an additional weekday public holiday under the national statutory schedule.
The combination of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the regular weekend creates a four-day break for employees whose normal working days run from Monday to Friday.
Other Major Christian Holidays
Ascension Day, Corpus Christi and the Sacred Heart of Jesus are moveable Christian celebrations recognized as public holidays in Colombia. Their traditional religious dates depend on Easter, and their statutory days of rest are transferred to Mondays.
Other recognized religious holidays include Epiphany, Saint Joseph's Day, Saints Peter and Paul Day, the Assumption of Mary, All Saints' Day, the Immaculate Conception and Christmas Day.
The Day of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá also became a nationwide religious public holiday in 2026 following the enactment of Law 2578.
Long Weekends in Colombia in 2026
Long weekends are a distinctive feature of Colombia's public holiday system. Many public holidays fall on Mondays, allowing employees with a standard Monday-to-Friday schedule to enjoy three consecutive days away from work.
Colombia has 12 Monday public holidays in 2026. Other official holidays falling on Fridays also create opportunities for long weekends.
Three-Day Holiday Weekends
Several long weekends in 2026 arise from Monday public holidays, including Epiphany, Saint Joseph's Day, Ascension Day, Corpus Christi, Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Assumption of Mary.
Additional three-day breaks are associated with the new Chiquinquirá holiday, Independence Day, the October civic holiday, All Saints' Day and the Independence of Cartagena.
Good Friday is part of the longer Holy Week break, while Labour Day, Battle of Boyacá Day and Christmas Day also fall on Fridays in 2026.
Planning Annual Leave Around Public Holidays
Employees can use Colombia's public holiday calendar to plan annual leave around long weekends. For example, taking approved leave immediately before or after a Monday holiday may extend a three-day weekend.
Such extensions are personal leave arrangements rather than additional government-declared holidays. Approval and eligibility depend on the employee's working arrangements and applicable employment rules.
Are Public Holidays Paid in Colombia?
Yes. Colombia recognizes statutory public holidays as paid days of rest for workers in the public and private sectors, subject to applicable labour legislation.
Article 177 of the Colombian Labour Code establishes the framework for paid rest on designated civic and religious public holidays.
Employees who are required to work on an official public holiday may qualify for additional compensation or compensatory rest under applicable employment legislation. The precise entitlement depends on current labour rules and the circumstances of the employment arrangement.
Employers should also distinguish the original commemorative date from the statutory observed date when a holiday is transferred under Ley Emiliani.
Are Banks and Government Offices Closed on Public Holidays?
Government offices and many conventional banking branches generally suspend normal public-facing operations on nationwide public holidays in Colombia. However, the availability of particular services depends on the institution and its operating arrangements.
The Banco de la República may issue operational notices affecting payment systems and financial-market infrastructure. Individual commercial banks may also communicate separate branch schedules and digital-service arrangements.
For example, the Banco de la República issued Circular GE-0203-2026 addressing the newly introduced Chiquinquirá public holiday and its effect on banking operations.
People arranging banking transactions, official appointments or time-sensitive payments should confirm the relevant institution's service schedule before a holiday.
Are Schools and Businesses Open During Public Holidays?
Many schools, public institutions and office-based businesses close on Colombia's nationwide public holidays. However, a public holiday does not mean that every commercial establishment must stop operating.
Restaurants, hotels, transport providers, tourist attractions, healthcare services and certain retail businesses may continue operating, depending on their schedules and operational requirements.
School calendars can also contain academic breaks and institution-specific non-teaching days that are separate from national statutory holidays. Parents and students should consult the relevant educational institution for its official academic calendar.
Do All Regions of Colombia Observe the Same Public Holidays?
The 19 nationwide statutory public holidays in Colombia for 2026 apply throughout the country. Their legal status is not limited to individual departments or municipalities.
Individual cities and regions may also hold local celebrations, cultural festivals or administrative observances. Such occasions should not automatically be treated as additional nationwide public holidays.
The new Chiquinquirá holiday illustrates this distinction. Although it honours a religious figure associated with Chiquinquirá in Boyacá, Law 2578 of 2026 expressly establishes the celebration as a nationwide public holiday.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the next public holiday in Colombia?
The next public holiday depends on the current date. The Next Public Holiday in Colombia section near the top of this page displays the upcoming official holiday using the VisaBoards public holiday database.
How many public holidays are there in Colombia in 2026?
Colombia has 19 nationwide statutory public holiday dates in 2026. The total includes 18 traditional public holidays and one new holiday introduced by Law 2578 of 2026. It excludes regional celebrations and optional observances.
What is Colombia's country code?
Colombia's ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code is CO. This code is used for standardized international identification and holiday database records.
What is the new public holiday in Colombia in 2026?
The new public holiday is the Day of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá, established by Law 2578 of June 1, 2026. Although the religious anniversary is July 9, the statutory paid holiday was observed on Monday, July 13, 2026.
Why are so many Colombian public holidays observed on Mondays?
Law 51 of 1983, commonly called Ley Emiliani, transfers certain religious and civic public holidays to the following Monday. The rule creates longer weekends while preserving the legal recognition of the celebrations.
Is Holy Week a public holiday in Colombia?
Yes. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are official nationwide public holidays in Colombia. In 2026, they fall on April 2 and April 3, respectively. Easter Sunday is a religious observance but does not add another statutory weekday holiday.
Is Independence Day a public holiday in Colombia?
Yes. Colombian Independence Day is a nationwide public holiday observed on July 20 each year. The date commemorates the independence movement associated with the events of July 20, 1810, in Bogotá.
Are public holidays paid in Colombia?
Yes. Statutory public holidays are recognized as paid days of rest under Colombia's labour legislation. Workers required to work on these dates may qualify for additional compensation or compensatory rest under the applicable rules.
Are banks closed on public holidays in Colombia?
Conventional bank branches generally suspend normal services on nationwide public holidays. Digital banking services and selected operations may remain available. Customers should confirm arrangements with their financial institution.
Can Colombia announce additional public holidays?
Yes. Additional public holidays can be established through legally authorized measures. Law 2578 of 2026 is an example, introducing a new nationwide public holiday in honour of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá.
Official Sources for Public Holidays in Colombia
Colombia's national public holiday system is supported by labour legislation, official laws and government communications. The following primary sources establish the legal framework and confirm the new 2026 holiday.
- Law 51 of 1983 – Departamento Administrativo de la Función Pública: Establishes the traditional public holiday framework and Monday-transfer provisions.
- Colombian Labour Code, Article 177: Establishes statutory paid rest on designated civil and religious public holidays.
- Law 2578 of 2026: Establishes the Day of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá as an additional nationwide public holiday.
- Colombian Ministry of the Interior: Announces the legislation creating the new nationwide religious holiday.
- Ministry of ICT – Circular 23 of 2026: Confirms the transfer of the Chiquinquirá holiday to Monday, July 13, 2026.
Join the conversation
Have thoughts on this topic? Share them with others.
Ask questions, share experience, and learn from the Visaboards Community.