Public holidays in Gabon in 2026 include national commemorations, Christian feast days and Islamic holidays. Gabon’s Labour Code provides the legal basis for regulating public holidays, while Ministry of Labour communiqués confirm many individual dates each year. Movable Islamic holidays should be based on the applicable government announcement rather than an independently calculated religious calendar.
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Also Explore: Public Holiday in Gambia
Next Public Holiday in Gabon
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 1, 2026 | Sunday | All Saints’ Day | Officially Scheduled |
Public Holidays in Gabon 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year’s Day | Officially Scheduled |
| March 20, 2026 | Friday | Eid al-Fitr | Confirmed |
| April 5, 2026 | Sunday | Easter Sunday | Officially Scheduled |
| April 6, 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday | Officially Scheduled |
| April 17, 2026 | Friday | National Women’s Day | Officially Scheduled |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | Labour Day | Officially Scheduled |
| May 14, 2026 | Thursday | Ascension Day | Officially Scheduled |
| May 24, 2026 | Sunday | Pentecost | Confirmed |
| May 25, 2026 | Monday | Whit Monday | Confirmed |
| May 27, 2026 | Wednesday | Eid al-Adha (Aïd El Kébir) | Confirmed |
| August 15, 2026 | Saturday | Assumption Day | Confirmed |
| August 16, 2026 | Sunday | National Independence Holiday | Confirmed |
| August 17, 2026 | Monday | Independence Day | Confirmed |
| August 30, 2026 | Sunday | National Liberation Day | Confirmed |
| November 1, 2026 | Sunday | All Saints’ Day | Officially Scheduled |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Officially Scheduled |
How Public Holidays Work in Gabon
Article 184 of the Gabonese Labour Code provides that a decree issued on the proposal of the Minister responsible for Labour determines the list of public holidays and the rules governing remuneration or recovery of working hours performed on those days.
The holiday framework repeatedly cited in official government communiqués is Decree No. 00727/PR/MTEFP of 29 June 1998 regulating public holidays in Gabon, as amended by Decree No. 000484/PR/MTE of 26 May 2004.
Ministry announcements commonly describe qualifying nationwide holidays as fériées, chômées et payées, meaning public, non-working and paid throughout the national territory.
Eid al-Fitr in Gabon in 2026
The Ministry of Labour declared Friday, 20 March 2026 a public, non-working and paid holiday throughout Gabon for Aïd El Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan.
The exact Gregorian date of Eid al-Fitr changes between years. For 2026, the Ministry’s specific declaration provides the authoritative date rather than a predicted Islamic-calendar estimate.
Easter Holidays in Gabon in 2026
Gabon’s public-holiday framework recognises Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. In 2026, Easter Sunday falls on 5 April and Easter Monday falls on 6 April.
Official Ministry of Labour communiqués issued under the same holiday decree have consistently treated Easter and Easter Monday as public, non-working and paid holidays throughout the country.
National Women’s Day in Gabon
Gabon celebrates National Women’s Day on 17 April. Ministry announcements in recent years have designated the date as a nationwide public and non-working day, while specifying that it is recoverable.
The distinction is important: a recoverable public holiday may be subject to different working-time arrangements from holidays expressly described simply as paid and non-working. Employers should follow the applicable Ministry instructions for the year concerned.
Labour Day
Labour Day is observed on 1 May and forms part of Gabon’s national public-holiday framework.
In 2026, 1 May falls on a Friday, creating a three-day weekend for employees whose normal rest days are Saturday and Sunday.
Ascension Day in Gabon
Ascension Day falls on Thursday, 14 May 2026. The religious feast is observed forty days after Easter and is part of Gabon’s established Christian holiday calendar.
Because it falls on Thursday in 2026, employees who independently use annual leave on Friday may create a four-day break. Friday itself should not be treated as an official holiday unless separately declared.
Pentecost and Whit Monday in 2026
The Ministry of Labour expressly declared Sunday, 24 May and Monday, 25 May 2026 public, non-working and paid holidays throughout Gabon for Pentecost and Whit Monday.
The Ministry based the declaration on Decree No. 00727/PR/MTEFP of 29 June 1998, as amended by the 2004 decree governing the country’s holiday regime.
Eid al-Adha in Gabon in 2026
The Ministry of Labour declared Wednesday, 27 May 2026 a nationwide public, non-working and paid holiday for Aïd El Kébir, also known as Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice.
Because Eid al-Adha is determined according to the Islamic calendar, future dates should not be copied automatically from the 2026 schedule. The relevant government announcement should be checked each year.
Assumption and Independence Holidays in August 2026
Gabon had a three-day nationwide public-holiday period from 15 to 17 August 2026.
- 15 August: Assumption Day.
- 16 August: part of the national Independence holiday period.
- 17 August: Independence Day.
The Ministry of Labour announced that all three days were public, non-working and paid throughout Gabon. The declaration was made under the national public-holiday decree.
Gabon celebrated the 66th anniversary of its independence on 17 August 2026. The Presidency of the Republic marked the anniversary with official national ceremonies and commemorations.
National Liberation Day in Gabon
National Liberation Day is observed on 30 August. In 2026, the Ministry of Labour expressly declared Sunday, 30 August a public, non-working and paid holiday throughout the country.
The holiday is based on Decree No. 0096/PR/MCJSA of 15 February 2024, which instituted National Liberation Day. It commemorates the events of 30 August 2023.
National Liberation Day is a relatively recent addition to Gabon’s national calendar, so older holiday lists may not contain it.
All Saints’ Day and Christmas
All Saints’ Day is observed on 1 November as part of Gabon’s Christian holiday calendar. In 2026, 1 November falls on a Sunday.
Christmas Day is observed on 25 December. In 2026, Christmas falls on a Friday.
Are Public Holidays Paid in Gabon?
Government communiqués for major statutory holidays frequently describe them as fériées, chômées et payées. This means the announced day is a public holiday, is non-working and remains paid under the applicable holiday regulations.
For example, the Ministry used this classification for Pentecost, Whit Monday, Eid al-Adha, the August Independence period and National Liberation Day in 2026.
Some dates can have a different classification. National Women’s Day has previously been declared public and non-working but recoverable, which means employers should check the wording of the applicable annual Ministry communiqué.
Does Gabon Automatically Move Weekend Holidays to Monday?
The sources supporting the 2026 schedule do not establish a universal rule that every statutory holiday falling on Saturday or Sunday automatically moves to Monday.
This matters because Pentecost falls on Sunday, 24 May, Assumption Day falls on Saturday, 15 August, National Liberation Day falls on Sunday, 30 August and All Saints’ Day falls on Sunday, 1 November in 2026.
An additional weekday should therefore not be inserted into the holiday database unless an applicable government declaration specifically provides for it.
Long Weekends in Gabon in 2026
Several confirmed or established public holidays create longer breaks in 2026.
- Eid al-Fitr: Friday, 20 March creates a three-day weekend for people with Saturday and Sunday off.
- Easter: Easter Sunday on 5 April and Easter Monday on 6 April extend the Easter period.
- Labour Day: Friday, 1 May creates a three-day weekend.
- Ascension: Thursday, 14 May can be combined with annual leave on Friday, although Friday is not itself a public holiday.
- Pentecost: Sunday, 24 May and Monday, 25 May create an extended weekend.
- Independence period: 15, 16 and 17 August were all formally declared nationwide holidays.
- Christmas: Friday, 25 December creates a three-day weekend for employees with a Saturday-Sunday weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the next public holiday in Gabon?
The next public holiday changes throughout the year. The live VisaBoards section near the top of this page displays the next upcoming holiday from the Gabon public-holiday database.
What is Gabon’s country code?
Gabon’s ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code is GA.
Who determines public holidays in Gabon?
Article 184 of the Labour Code provides that the public-holiday list and relevant working-time rules are established by decree on the proposal of the Minister responsible for Labour. The Ministry of Labour also issues year-specific holiday communiqués.
When was Eid al-Fitr in Gabon in 2026?
The Ministry of Labour declared Friday, 20 March 2026 a public, non-working and paid holiday nationwide for Eid al-Fitr.
When was Eid al-Adha in Gabon in 2026?
Wednesday, 27 May 2026 was declared a nationwide public, non-working and paid holiday for Aïd El Kébir, or Eid al-Adha.
When was Pentecost in Gabon in 2026?
Pentecost fell on Sunday, 24 May 2026 and Whit Monday on 25 May. The Ministry of Labour declared both dates public, non-working and paid throughout Gabon.
How many Independence holidays did Gabon have in August 2026?
The Ministry declared 15, 16 and 17 August 2026 public, non-working and paid nationwide, covering the Assumption and the country’s 66th Independence celebrations.
Is 30 August a public holiday in Gabon?
Yes. National Liberation Day on 30 August is an official national observance. The Ministry expressly declared 30 August 2026 a public, non-working and paid holiday throughout Gabon.
Is National Women’s Day a public holiday in Gabon?
National Women’s Day is celebrated on 17 April and has been formally declared a nationwide public and non-working, recoverable day in government announcements. The precise annual employment arrangements should be checked against the applicable Ministry communiqué.
Does a Sunday public holiday automatically move to Monday in Gabon?
The verified sources do not establish a general automatic Monday-substitution rule for every holiday. An observed or substitute weekday should therefore be added only when a government declaration supports it.
Official Sources for Public Holidays in Gabon
- Journal Officiel de la République Gabonaise – Labour Code: Article 184 provides the statutory basis for establishing public holidays and rules governing work performed on them.
- Gabon Ministry responsible for Labour – Public Holiday Communiqué: confirms the use of Decree No. 00727/PR/MTEFP of 29 June 1998, as amended, as the operative public-holiday framework.
- Agence Gabonaise de Presse – Pentecost 2026 Declaration: reports the Ministry declaration confirming 24 and 25 May 2026 as nationwide paid holidays.
- Agence Gabonaise de Presse – Aïd El Kébir 2026 Declaration: confirms 27 May 2026 as a nationwide public, non-working and paid holiday.
- Agence Gabonaise de Presse – Assumption and Independence Holidays 2026: confirms 15, 16 and 17 August as nationwide public, non-working and paid holidays.
- Presidency of the Gabonese Republic – 66th Independence Anniversary: confirms the national celebration on 17 August 2026.
- Agence Gabonaise de Presse – National Liberation Day 2026: confirms 30 August as a nationwide paid public holiday under the 2024 decree.
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