Public Holidays in Samoa 2026

Samoa has 11 confirmed nationwide public-holiday dates in 2026. The dates are published by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (MCIL) as gazetted public holidays under the Public Holidays Act 2008. Samoa’s calendar includes fixed-date holidays, Easter holidays and several public holidays that are legally observed on a Monday following a Sunday observance.

Next Public Holiday in Samoa

Date	Day	Holiday	Status
October 12, 2026	Monday	White Sunday (Lotu-a-Tamaiti)	Confirmed

Date	Day	Holiday	Status
January 1, 2026	Thursday	New Year's Day	Confirmed
January 2, 2026	Friday	Day after New Year's Day	Confirmed
April 3, 2026	Friday	Good Friday	Confirmed
April 4, 2026	Saturday	Day after Good Friday	Confirmed
April 6, 2026	Monday	Easter Monday	Confirmed
May 11, 2026	Monday	Mother's Day	Confirmed
June 1, 2026	Monday	Independence Day (Aso Tuto'atasi)	Confirmed
August 10, 2026	Monday	Father's Day	Confirmed
October 12, 2026	Monday	White Sunday (Lotu-a-Tamaiti)	Confirmed
December 25, 2026	Friday	Christmas Day	Confirmed
December 26, 2026	Saturday	Boxing Day	Confirmed

How Public Holidays Work in Samoa

Samoa’s statutory public-holiday system is governed principally by the Public Holidays Act 2008. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour public-holiday calendar publishes the gazetted dates used for the annual holiday schedule.

The law recognizes fixed holidays such as New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, together with movable Easter holidays and Samoa-specific Monday observances including Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Lotu a Tamaiti.

Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and White Sunday in Samoa

Some Samoan public holidays are defined by their position in the calendar rather than by a fixed date.

Mother’s Day is the Monday after the second Sunday in May. In 2026, the public holiday falls on Monday, May 11.
Father’s Day is the Monday after the second Sunday in August. In 2026, it falls on Monday, August 10.
Lotu a Tamaiti Holiday, associated with White Sunday, is the Monday after the second Sunday in October. The 2026 public holiday is Monday, October 12.

This distinction is useful because the religious or family observance may take place on Sunday, while the statutory public holiday is the following Monday.

Easter Public Holidays in Samoa

Samoa’s statutory Easter holiday period includes Good Friday, the Saturday after Good Friday and Easter Monday. For 2026, these create an extended Easter break from Friday, April 3 through Monday, April 6 when combined with Easter Sunday.

Easter Sunday itself is not separately listed as a public holiday in MCIL’s 2026 public-holiday calendar. The statutory public holidays surrounding Easter are Good Friday, the following Saturday and Easter Monday.

What Happens When a Public Holiday Falls on a Sunday?

Samoan law provides observed-day rules for specified public holidays when the relevant date falls on a Sunday. MCIL’s annual calendar identifies an additional Monday observance when one applies.

No additional Sunday substitute date is listed in the official 2026 holiday calendar. Readers checking other years should use the current MCIL calendar because observed dates can change according to the weekday on which a holiday falls.

Are Public Holidays Paid in Samoa?

Yes, subject to Samoa’s employment law. Under section 39 of the Labour and Employment Relations Act 2013, when a public holiday falls on a day an employee would ordinarily work, the employee is entitled to the day off and the ordinary wages that would otherwise have been earned.

If an employer requires an employee to work on a public holiday in circumstances covered by the Act, additional pay or a substitute working day may apply. Employees and employers should refer to the current Labour and Employment Relations Act 2013 for the applicable statutory requirements.

Are Schools and Workplaces Closed on Public Holidays in Samoa?

The Public Holidays Act generally requires schools and places of employment to close for operations on a public holiday, subject to statutory exemptions and ministerial powers provided by the Act.

Exempt services include hospitals, pharmacies, police, fire and emergency services, public transport, shipping, civil aviation, hotels and hospitality, communications and certain other specified services. Their operations may therefore continue during a public holiday.

Can Shops Open on Public Holidays in Samoa?

Yes. The Public Holidays Act states that a shop may open for operations during a public holiday. This means a public holiday does not automatically require every retail business to close, although individual businesses may choose different opening hours.

Special and One-Off Public Holidays in Samoa

Samoa’s statutory holiday list is not necessarily limited permanently to the recurring annual dates. The Public Holidays Act allows the Head of State, acting on the advice of Cabinet, to declare another day a public holiday.

The Act also treats polling day and the day immediately before polling day in a general election as public holidays. These special dates should be added to a holiday calendar only when they apply to the relevant year and are supported by an authoritative announcement or gazette.

Long Weekends in Samoa in 2026

Several 2026 public holidays create useful extended breaks for people whose normal working week is Monday to Friday.

New Year: Thursday, January 1 and Friday, January 2 create a four-day break when combined with Saturday and Sunday.
Easter: Good Friday on April 3 through Easter Monday on April 6 creates a four-day holiday period.
Mother’s Day: Monday, May 11 creates a three-day weekend for standard Monday-to-Friday workers.
Independence Day: Monday, June 1 creates a three-day weekend.
Father’s Day: Monday, August 10 creates a three-day weekend.
Lotu a Tamaiti: Monday, October 12 creates a three-day weekend.
Christmas: Christmas Day falls on Friday, December 25, followed by Boxing Day on Saturday, December 26.

Actual time off can differ for shift workers, essential services, hospitality employees and other workplaces that operate on weekends or public holidays.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many public holidays are there in Samoa in 2026?

The official MCIL calendar contains 11 nationwide public-holiday dates for Samoa in 2026. This count does not add ordinary Sundays or unannounced special holidays.

What is the next public holiday in Samoa?

The next public holiday changes during the year. Use the live Next Public Holiday section near the top of this page for the current holiday, date and status.

Is Independence Day a public holiday in Samoa?

Yes. Independence Day, known as Aso Tuto’atasi, is an official public holiday. In 2026 it falls on Monday, June 1.

Is White Sunday a public holiday in Samoa?

Samoa recognizes the Lotu a Tamaiti Holiday associated with White Sunday. Under the Public Holidays Act, the statutory holiday is the Monday after the second Sunday in October. In 2026 that Monday is October 12.

Is the Saturday after Good Friday a public holiday in Samoa?

Yes. The Public Holidays Act includes the Saturday after Good Friday as a public holiday. MCIL lists Saturday, April 4, 2026 as Day after Good Friday.

Is Easter Sunday a separate public holiday in Samoa?

No separate Easter Sunday entry appears in Samoa’s official 2026 public-holiday calendar. The statutory Easter public holidays listed for 2026 are Good Friday, the Saturday after Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Are public holidays paid in Samoa?

Employees covered by Samoa’s employment legislation may be entitled to paid public holidays. Section 39 of the Labour and Employment Relations Act provides a paid day off when a public holiday falls on a day the employee would ordinarily work, subject to the Act’s conditions.

Can businesses open on public holidays in Samoa?

Some can. The Public Holidays Act expressly permits shops to open, while it contains separate closure requirements and exemptions for schools, places of employment and specified services.

Can Samoa declare extra public holidays?

Yes. The Head of State, acting on Cabinet advice, may declare another day to be a public holiday under the Public Holidays Act. General-election provisions can also create additional public holidays when applicable.

Official Sources for Public Holidays in Samoa

Samoa Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour Public Holidays Calendar — official gazetted annual public-holiday dates.
Attorney General of Samoa Public Holidays Act 2008 statutory definitions, closure rules, exemptions and provisions for additional public holidays.
Attorney General of Samoa Labour and Employment Relations Act 2013 employment entitlements relating to public holidays and public-holiday pay.

Next Public Holiday in Samoa