Public Holidays in Mozambique 2026 – National & Public Holidays

Mozambique has nine statutory nationwide public holidays, with an additional day off applying when a holiday falls on a Sunday. In 2026, this rule affects Peace and National Reconciliation Day, creating an observed public holiday on Monday, 5 October. The calendar below covers the nationwide public holidays used in the VisaBoards holiday database.

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Next Public Holiday in Mozambique

[next_public_holiday country="Mozambique"]

Public Holidays in Mozambique 2026

[public_holidays country="Mozambique" year="2026"]

How Public Holidays Work in Mozambique

Mozambique's Labour Law treats national public holidays as days on which work is suspended for workers throughout the country, subject to exceptions for activities that cannot normally be interrupted.

The statutory holiday calendar includes New Year's Day, Mozambican Heroes' Day, Mozambican Women's Day, International Workers' Day, National Independence Day, Victory Day, Armed Forces Day, Peace and National Reconciliation Day, and Family Day.

Mozambique's national holiday calendar is largely based on fixed dates. This means the underlying statutory dates do not change from year to year, although the weekday changes.

What Happens When a Public Holiday Falls on a Sunday in Mozambique?

When a national public holiday falls on a Sunday, Mozambique's Labour Law defers the suspension of work to the following day. The rule does not apply in the same way to specified activities that must continue operating.

This rule is relevant in 2026 because Peace and National Reconciliation Day falls on Sunday, 4 October. Monday, 5 October 2026 therefore becomes the corresponding observed day off for workers covered by the statutory suspension.

Is Good Friday a Public Holiday in Mozambique?

Good Friday is not one of the nationwide mandatory public holidays listed in Mozambique's current Labour Law. Some calendars, organizations or individual workplaces may observe the day, but it should not be added to the primary nationwide public holiday database without separate legal authority establishing it as a national holiday.

Religious Holidays in Mozambique

Mozambique's statutory nationwide holiday list does not contain a separate general calendar of movable Christian or Islamic public holidays. Family Day on 25 December is the statutory national holiday associated with that date.

This distinction is important when comparing Mozambique holiday calendars from different sources. Religious observances, organizational closures and government permissions not to attend work should not automatically be classified as permanent nationwide public holidays.

Public Holidays and Tolerância de Ponto

Mozambican law distinguishes statutory public holidays from a tolerância de ponto, or officially authorized suspension of work. The minister responsible for labour may grant a tolerância de ponto, generally with advance notice.

A one-off tolerância de ponto should therefore not be treated as a permanent annual public holiday unless an official announcement makes it applicable to the relevant date and workers.

Long Weekends in Mozambique in 2026

Several 2026 public holidays fall on a Friday or Monday and naturally create longer breaks for workers following a standard Monday-to-Friday working schedule.

• International Workers' Day: Friday, 1 May 2026.
• Victory Day: Monday, 7 September 2026.
• Armed Forces Day: Friday, 25 September 2026.
• Peace and National Reconciliation Day observed: Monday, 5 October 2026, following the statutory holiday on Sunday.
• Family Day: Friday, 25 December 2026.

Actual time away from work can depend on working schedules and whether an employee works in an activity that is legally permitted to continue operating on public holidays.

Are Government Offices Closed on Public Holidays in Mozambique?

National public holidays generally suspend normal work across Mozambique, so government offices and many administrative services are normally closed. Essential and continuous services may operate under separate arrangements.

Are Shops and Businesses Open on Public Holidays?

Opening arrangements can vary by business and sector. Mozambique's Labour Law provides exceptions for several activities whose operations may continue on public holidays, so a national holiday does not mean every commercial establishment or service will necessarily be closed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many public holiday dates are there in Mozambique in 2026?

The VisaBoards 2026 nationwide dataset contains 10 public-holiday dates. This consists of nine statutory national holiday dates plus Monday, 5 October, which is observed because Peace and National Reconciliation Day falls on Sunday, 4 October.

What is the next public holiday in Mozambique?

The next holiday changes during the year. The live Next Public Holiday section near the top of this page displays the upcoming holiday using the VisaBoards public holiday database.

Does Mozambique move Sunday public holidays to Monday?

Yes. Under Mozambique's Labour Law, when a public holiday coincides with Sunday, the suspension of work is deferred to the following day, subject to statutory exceptions for certain activities.

Is 5 October 2026 a public holiday in Mozambique?

Yes. Peace and National Reconciliation Day falls on Sunday, 4 October 2026, so the statutory suspension of work is deferred to Monday, 5 October 2026 for workers covered by the rule.

Is Good Friday a nationwide public holiday in Mozambique?

Good Friday is not included among the mandatory nationwide holidays listed in Mozambique's current Labour Law and is therefore excluded from the primary nationwide VisaBoards holiday dataset.

Are Mozambique's public holiday dates the same every year?

The nine statutory national holidays are fixed to calendar dates. Their weekdays change each year, and an additional observed day can arise when one of those holidays falls on Sunday.

What is Family Day in Mozambique?

Family Day is the statutory national public holiday observed on 25 December. Mozambique's official national holiday calendar uses the name Family Day for this date.

Can Mozambique announce additional days off?

Yes. The minister responsible for labour can grant a tolerância de ponto under the Labour Law. Such one-off measures should be distinguished from the country's permanent statutory public holidays.

Official Sources for Public Holidays in Mozambique

The principal official references for Mozambique's public holiday system are the Government of Mozambique's national holiday information, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation's national holiday list, and Labour Law No. 13/2023 of 25 August, which defines mandatory holidays and the rule applying when a holiday falls on Sunday.