Public holidays in Mauritius in 2026 include national commemorations and religious festivals recognised under the country's public holiday framework. The official 2026 schedule was amended during the year to change the date of Ganesh Chaturthi, while the date published for Eid-Ul-Fitr remained subject to confirmation based on the visibility of the moon.
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Next Public Holiday in Mauritius
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 2, 2026 | Monday | Arrival of Indentured Labourers | Confirmed |
Public Holidays in Mauritius 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year | Confirmed |
| January 2, 2026 | Friday | New Year | Confirmed |
| February 1, 2026 | Sunday | Abolition of Slavery | Confirmed |
| February 1, 2026 | Sunday | Thaipoosam Cavadee | Confirmed |
| February 15, 2026 | Sunday | Maha Shivaratree | Confirmed |
| February 17, 2026 | Tuesday | Chinese Spring Festival | Confirmed |
| March 12, 2026 | Thursday | Independence Day and Republic Day | Confirmed |
| March 19, 2026 | Thursday | Ugaadi | Confirmed |
| March 21, 2026 | Saturday | Eid-Ul-Fitr | Subject to Confirmation |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | Labour Day | Confirmed |
| August 15, 2026 | Saturday | Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Confirmed |
| September 15, 2026 | Tuesday | Ganesh Chaturthi | Confirmed |
| November 2, 2026 | Monday | Arrival of Indentured Labourers | Confirmed |
| November 8, 2026 | Sunday | Divali | Confirmed |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas | Confirmed |
The official annual schedule is issued by the Prime Minister's Office. Mauritius published its original 2026 holiday list under General Notice No. 1195 of 2025 and later amended the schedule through General Notice No. 611 of 2026.
How Public Holidays Work in Mauritius
Mauritius has a statutory public holiday system that includes fixed national dates as well as religious festivals whose calendar dates may vary from year to year. The country's legal framework recognises New Year, Abolition of Slavery, Independence Day and Republic Day, Labour Day, Arrival of Indentured Labourers and Christmas alongside several religious celebrations.
The Public Holidays Act also identifies Sundays as public holidays within the legal framework. The annual government holiday notice separately publishes the named holidays and dates applicable for the particular year.
Religious Public Holidays in Mauritius
Religious festivals form an important part of the Mauritius public holiday calendar. Recognised public holidays include Thaipoosam Cavadee, Maha Shivaratree, Chinese Spring Festival, Ugaadi, Eid-Ul-Fitr, Ganesh Chaturthi and Divali.
These dates do not necessarily fall on the same Gregorian calendar date each year. The government therefore publishes the applicable dates as part of its annual public holiday notice.
How Is the Date of Eid-Ul-Fitr Determined?
The Prime Minister's Office scheduled Eid-Ul-Fitr for 21 March in the 2026 public holiday notice but stated that the exact date was subject to confirmation because the celebration depends on the visibility of the moon. This distinction is important when using advance holiday calendars: a published date should not be treated as finally confirmed when the official notice itself retains a moon-sighting condition.
Ganesh Chaturthi Date Change in 2026
Ganesh Chaturthi was originally listed for Wednesday, 16 September 2026. The Government subsequently amended the public holiday calendar and moved the holiday to Tuesday, 15 September 2026.
The change was formalised in General Notice No. 611 of 2026, issued by the Prime Minister's Office on 25 May 2026. The amended notice therefore supersedes the earlier date for this holiday.
National and Commemorative Holidays in Mauritius
Mauritius observes several fixed-date public holidays connected with the country's history and national life. These include Abolition of Slavery, Independence Day and Republic Day, Labour Day and Arrival of Indentured Labourers.
Independence Day and Republic Day are jointly observed on 12 March. Abolition of Slavery is commemorated on 1 February, Labour Day on 1 May and Arrival of Indentured Labourers on 2 November.
Do Mauritius Public Holiday Dates Stay the Same Every Year?
No. Some Mauritius public holidays have fixed calendar dates, while religious holidays can change from year to year. Fixed holidays such as New Year, Labour Day and Christmas retain their calendar dates, while festivals such as Maha Shivaratree, Ugaadi, Eid-Ul-Fitr, Ganesh Chaturthi and Divali are scheduled according to their respective religious calendars or confirmation procedures.
Who Announces Public Holidays in Mauritius?
The Government of Mauritius publishes the annual list of public holidays through official notices. For the 2026 calendar, the Prime Minister's Office issued the original schedule and subsequently published an amended notice changing the date of Ganesh Chaturthi.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many named public holiday entries are listed for Mauritius in 2026?
The amended 2026 government schedule contains 15 named holiday entries. Because Abolition of Slavery and Thaipoosam Cavadee both fall on 1 February, those 15 entries occupy 14 distinct calendar dates. This count refers to the named annual schedule and does not count every Sunday separately.
What is the next public holiday in Mauritius?
The next public holiday changes as the year progresses. The live VisaBoards holiday section above shows the upcoming public holiday using the current holiday database rather than a hardcoded date.
Is Eid-Ul-Fitr a public holiday in Mauritius?
Yes. Eid-Ul-Fitr is recognised as a public holiday in Mauritius. The 2026 government schedule published 21 March, while stating that the exact date was subject to confirmation because the celebration depends on moon visibility.
When is Ganesh Chaturthi in Mauritius in 2026?
The official amended date for Ganesh Chaturthi in Mauritius is 15 September 2026. The original annual notice listed 16 September, but the Prime Minister's Office subsequently changed the date through General Notice No. 611 of 2026.
Are Abolition of Slavery and Thaipoosam Cavadee on the same date in 2026?
Yes. Both Abolition of Slavery and Thaipoosam Cavadee fall on 1 February 2026. They remain separate recognised holiday events even though they occur on the same calendar date.
Is Independence Day separate from Republic Day in the Mauritius 2026 holiday calendar?
No separate dates are listed. The official schedule uses the combined name "Independence Day and Republic Day" for the public holiday observed on 12 March.
Are all religious festivals in Mauritius public holidays?
No. Mauritius has many religious observances, but only certain festivals are designated as public holidays under the national public holiday framework. A religious event should not be treated as a nationwide public holiday unless it is supported by the applicable law or official government schedule.
Official Sources for Public Holidays in Mauritius
- Prime Minister's Office – General Notice No. 611 of 2026: the amended official 2026 public holiday schedule, including the revised Ganesh Chaturthi date and the moon-sighting condition for Eid-Ul-Fitr.
- Government of Mauritius – Public Holidays 2026: the original schedule issued under General Notice No. 1195 of 2025.
- Mauritius National Assembly – Public Holidays Act: the statutory framework identifying public holidays recognised in Mauritius.
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