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Public Holidays in Seychelles 2026 – National & Public Holidays

ByUzair ul haq
Public Holidays in Seychelles

Seychelles has 17 nationwide public-holiday calendar dates in 2026 when officially declared additional days and statutory Sunday substitute holidays are included. The 2026 calendar includes national, Christian and civic holidays, as well as a newly recognised Abolition of Slavery Day and an additional public holiday for the 50th anniversary of Independence.

Also Explore: Public Holiday in Singapore

Next Public Holiday in Seychelles

Date Day Holiday Status
November 1, 2026 Sunday All Saints Day Confirmed

Public Holidays in Seychelles 2026

Date Day Holiday Status
January 1, 2026 Thursday New Year’s Day Confirmed
January 2, 2026 Friday New Year Holiday Confirmed
February 1, 2026 Sunday Abolition of Slavery Day Confirmed
February 2, 2026 Monday Abolition of Slavery Day – Substitute Holiday Confirmed
April 3, 2026 Friday Good Friday Confirmed
April 4, 2026 Saturday Easter Saturday Confirmed
April 6, 2026 Monday Easter Monday Confirmed
May 1, 2026 Friday Labour Day Confirmed
June 4, 2026 Thursday The Fete Dieu (Corpus Christi) Confirmed
June 18, 2026 Thursday Constitution Day Confirmed
June 29, 2026 Monday Independence (National) Day Confirmed
June 30, 2026 Tuesday Independence (National) Day – Additional Public Holiday Confirmed
August 15, 2026 Saturday Assumption Day Confirmed
November 1, 2026 Sunday All Saints Day Confirmed
November 2, 2026 Monday All Saints Day – Substitute Holiday Confirmed
December 8, 2026 Tuesday The Feast of the Immaculate Conception Confirmed
December 25, 2026 Friday Christmas Day Confirmed

The Seychelles holiday calendar is governed by the Public Holidays Act and supplemented by presidential orders published in the Official Gazette. The Public Service Bureau, under the Office of the President, publishes the main government calendar for 2026.

How Public Holidays Work in Seychelles

Under the Public Holidays Act, public holidays are legal holidays throughout Seychelles. The Act provides for the closure of courts, government offices and banks on public holidays and also gives the President authority to declare additional public holidays by Order published in the Gazette.

This power is relevant in 2026 because two dates require particular attention. The Government declared 1 February 2026 a public holiday, recognised as Abolition of Slavery Day, while 30 June 2026 was separately declared an additional public holiday during Seychelles’ 50th anniversary of Independence celebrations.

Substitute Public Holidays When a Holiday Falls on Sunday

Seychelles has a specific statutory Sunday-substitution rule. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora states that when a public holiday falls on Sunday, the next following day that is not itself a public holiday becomes a public holiday.

This rule creates two additional nationwide holiday dates in 2026. Abolition of Slavery Day falls on Sunday, 1 February, so Monday, 2 February is also a public holiday. All Saints Day falls on Sunday, 1 November, making Monday, 2 November a public holiday as well.

Does a Saturday public holiday move to Monday in Seychelles?

No. The automatic substitution rule specifically applies when a public holiday falls on Sunday. A holiday that falls on Saturday does not automatically create a Monday public holiday under this rule. Therefore, Assumption Day on Saturday, 15 August 2026 does not automatically move to Monday.

Special Public Holidays in Seychelles in 2026

Abolition of Slavery Day

The President declared 1 February 2026 a public holiday through S.I. 2 of 2026, Public Holiday Order, 2026. Government announcements identify the observance as Abolition of Slavery Day, commemorating the abolition of slavery and recognising its historical importance to Seychelles.

Because 1 February 2026 falls on Sunday, the statutory Sunday rule also makes Monday, 2 February a public holiday.

Additional Independence Anniversary Holiday on 30 June

Tuesday, 30 June 2026 was declared an additional nationwide public holiday through S.I. 50 of 2026, Public Holiday (No. 2) Order, 2026.

The Office of the President explained that the additional holiday formed part of the celebrations marking 50 years since Seychelles gained independence on 29 June 1976. This produces consecutive public holidays on 29 and 30 June in 2026.

Religious Public Holidays in Seychelles

Christian observances form a significant part of the Seychelles public-holiday calendar. They include Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Monday, Corpus Christi, Assumption Day, All Saints Day, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and Christmas Day.

Some religious holiday dates change from year to year because they depend on the Christian liturgical calendar. Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Monday and Corpus Christi therefore do not remain on the same Gregorian date every year.

When is Easter Monday in Seychelles in 2026?

Easter Monday is Monday, 6 April 2026. The Public Service Bureau’s 2026 calendar and the Central Bank of Seychelles holiday calendar both give 6 April. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs public-holiday page currently displays 5 April, but the dedicated 2026 calendars from the Public Service Bureau and Central Bank support 6 April for the 2026 database.

Are Banks and Government Offices Closed on Public Holidays?

Yes. The Public Holidays Act provides that public holidays are close holidays in banks, government offices and courts in Seychelles. Government services that operate continuously or provide essential or emergency functions may have separate arrangements.

For ordinary public-service offices, the normal working pattern is Monday to Friday. This makes Friday and Monday public holidays particularly relevant when planning longer weekend breaks.

Long Weekends in Seychelles in 2026

For people following a standard Monday-to-Friday working week, several 2026 holidays create extended breaks without requiring an additional weekday of annual leave.

  • 1–4 January: New Year’s Day on Thursday and New Year Holiday on Friday lead directly into the weekend.
  • 3–6 April: Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday create an extended Easter break.
  • 1–3 May: Labour Day falls on Friday.
  • 27–30 June: the weekend is followed by Independence Day on Monday and the exceptional additional public holiday on Tuesday.
  • 31 October–2 November: All Saints Day falls on Sunday and is followed by the statutory Monday substitute holiday.
  • 25–27 December: Christmas Day falls on Friday.

Individual employers, shift-based services and essential services may use different work schedules, so employees should confirm their own workplace arrangements before making travel plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many public holidays are there in Seychelles in 2026?

There are 17 nationwide public-holiday calendar dates in the verified 2026 dataset. This count includes the Sunday substitute holidays on 2 February and 2 November and the exceptional additional public holiday on 30 June.

What is the next public holiday in Seychelles?

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

Does Seychelles give a Monday holiday when a public holiday falls on Sunday?

Yes. When a public holiday falls on Sunday, the next following day that is not already a public holiday becomes a public holiday under the Public Holidays Act.

Does a public holiday falling on Saturday move to Monday?

No. Seychelles’ statutory automatic substitution rule applies to public holidays falling on Sunday, not Saturday.

Is Abolition of Slavery Day a public holiday in Seychelles?

Yes. The Government designated 1 February as Abolition of Slavery Day, and 1 February 2026 was formally declared a public holiday through S.I. 2 of 2026. Because the date falls on Sunday in 2026, Monday, 2 February is also a public holiday.

Why is 30 June 2026 a public holiday in Seychelles?

The President declared 30 June 2026 an additional public holiday as part of Seychelles’ celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Independence. The declaration was formally gazetted through S.I. 50 of 2026.

Is Easter Monday on 5 or 6 April in Seychelles in 2026?

The verified date is Monday, 6 April 2026. The Public Service Bureau and Central Bank of Seychelles both list 6 April in their 2026 calendars.

Are banks closed on public holidays in Seychelles?

Yes. The Public Holidays Act classifies public holidays as close holidays for banks, as well as courts and government offices in Seychelles.

Official Sources for Public Holidays in Seychelles

Uzair ul haq

CEO Visaboards & IT Consultant

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