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Public Holidays in Suriname 2026 – National & Multi-Ethnic Holidays

ByUzair ul haq
Public Holidays in Suriname

Public holidays in Suriname in 2026 include national, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, and cultural holidays recognized under the country’s national free-day system. Suriname’s 2021 Besluit Rustdagen identifies fifteen National Free Days that apply throughout the country and are legally equated with Sunday. Most 2026 dates are fixed or officially confirmed, while the exact 2026 date of Divali remains subject to an official date announcement.

Also Explore: Public Holiday in Sweden

Next Public Holiday in Suriname

Date Day Holiday Status
October 10, 2026 Saturday Day of the Maroons Confirmed

Public Holidays in Suriname 2026

Date Day Holiday Status
January 1, 2026 Thursday New Year’s Day Confirmed
February 17, 2026 Tuesday Chinese New Year Confirmed
March 3, 2026 Tuesday Holi Day Confirmed
March 20, 2026 Friday Eid al-Fitr Confirmed
April 3, 2026 Friday Good Friday Confirmed
April 6, 2026 Monday Easter Monday Confirmed
May 1, 2026 Friday Labour Day Confirmed
May 27, 2026 Wednesday Eid al-Adha Confirmed
July 1, 2026 Wednesday Keti Koti Dey Confirmed
August 9, 2026 Sunday Day of the Indigenous People Confirmed
October 10, 2026 Saturday Day of the Maroons Confirmed
November 25, 2026 Wednesday Independence Day Confirmed
December 25, 2026 Friday Christmas Day Confirmed
December 26, 2026 Saturday Second Christmas Day Confirmed

How Are Public Holidays Defined in Suriname?

Suriname formally uses the concept of National Free Days. Under the 2021 amendment to the Besluit Rustdagen 1971, fifteen days are designated throughout Suriname as national free days and are treated as equivalent to Sunday for the purposes of the country’s Sunday-rest rules.

The official list includes Christian, Hindu and Muslim religious holidays as well as nationally recognized cultural and historical dates. The legal framework can be found in Staatsblad 2021 No. 26.

Religious and Variable-Date Holidays in Suriname

Several Suriname public holidays do not fall on the same Gregorian calendar date every year. These include Chinese New Year, Holi Day, Divali, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. For these holidays, the relevant 2026 date should be based on an official calendar or a later government announcement rather than a long-range holiday estimate.

Holi Day in 2026

An earlier Ministry of Education calendar listed Holi Phagwa on March 4, 2026. The Ministry of Home Affairs subsequently issued a specific announcement establishing Tuesday, March 3, 2026 as Holi Day and stating that the day was equivalent to Sunday. The later official announcement therefore provides the applicable date.

Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha

Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are national free days under the Besluit Rustdagen, but their calendar dates can require later confirmation. For 2026, Eid al-Fitr was confirmed for March 20, while the Ministry of Home Affairs formally established Eid al-Adha on May 27.

The Suriname Court of Justice notice records March 20, 2026 as a national free day for Eid al-Fitr. The Ministry of Home Affairs Eid al-Adha announcement establishes May 27, 2026 and states that the day is equated with Sunday.

Divali in 2026

Divali is legally included among Suriname’s fifteen National Free Days. However, its date varies from year to year. An exact 2026 date should not be treated as officially confirmed until the competent Surinamese authority publishes the applicable date. The VisaBoards holiday database can therefore be updated once an authoritative 2026 announcement is available.

Is Easter Sunday a Public Holiday in Suriname?

Easter Sunday is not one of the fifteen National Free Days specifically listed in Suriname’s 2021 Besluit Rustdagen. The decree identifies Good Friday and Easter Monday as Christian National Free Days, but does not separately designate Easter Sunday.

This distinction matters when comparing statutory public-holiday lists with general calendars, because Easter Sunday may appear as a religious observance even though it is not an additional National Free Day under the decree.

Is Javanese New Year a Public Holiday in Suriname?

No. Javanese New Year is not included among the fifteen National Free Days established by the 2021 Besluit Rustdagen.

For 2026, an earlier school calendar provisionally included a June date for Javanese New Year. The Ministry of Home Affairs later announced that Javanese New Year would be recognized on June 18, 2026 as a national commemoration day and specifically stated that it would not be equated with Sunday. It is therefore excluded from the nationwide public-holiday database.

Why Can Official Holiday Dates Change?

Fixed public holidays such as New Year’s Day, Labour Day, Keti Koti Dey, the Day of the Indigenous People, the Day of the Maroons and Independence Day have dates established by law. Other holidays depend on religious, lunar or cultural calendars and may require a separate annual announcement.

This can create differences between preliminary school calendars and later government notices. Where that happens, the more recent and directly applicable official announcement should be used for the final holiday date.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many national free days does Suriname have?

Suriname’s 2021 Besluit Rustdagen identifies fifteen National Free Days that apply throughout the country. Some have fixed dates, while others have dates that vary each year.

What is the next public holiday in Suriname?

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

Is Divali a public holiday in Suriname?

Yes. Divali is one of the Hindu religious holidays legally designated as a National Free Day in Suriname. Its calendar date varies and should be entered into the 2026 schedule once officially confirmed.

Is Holi a public holiday in Suriname?

Yes. Holi Day is a statutory National Free Day. For 2026, the Ministry of Home Affairs officially established Holi Day on March 3.

Are Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha public holidays in Suriname?

Yes. Both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are included among Suriname’s statutory National Free Days. Their exact dates may require annual confirmation.

Is Easter Sunday included in Suriname’s statutory holiday list?

No. The 2021 Besluit Rustdagen lists Good Friday and Easter Monday as National Free Days but does not separately include Easter Sunday among the fifteen statutory days.

Is Javanese New Year a national free day?

No. In 2026, Javanese New Year was designated a national commemoration day rather than a day equivalent to Sunday, so it does not qualify for the main nationwide public-holiday schedule.

Who is responsible for official public holiday announcements in Suriname?

The Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for implementing the Besluit Rustdagen and publishes important announcements concerning variable national free days. Other official institutions may also issue notices reflecting confirmed national free-day dates.

Official Sources for Public Holidays in Suriname

Uzair ul haq

CEO Visaboards & IT Consultant

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