Public Holidays in Uruguay 2026 – National & Public Celebrations
Uruguay’s public holiday calendar for 2026 includes fixed national commemorations, two days of Carnival and two public holiday dates during Tourism Week. Uruguayan labour law also makes an important distinction between paid holidays and ordinary or laborable public holidays, so a public holiday does not automatically mean that every employee receives a non-working day.
Next Public Holiday in Uruguay
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2026 | Tuesday | Independence Day | Confirmed |
Public Holidays in Uruguay 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year's Day | Confirmed |
| January 6, 2026 | Tuesday | Three Kings' Day | Confirmed |
| February 16, 2026 | Monday | Carnival | Confirmed |
| February 17, 2026 | Tuesday | Carnival | Confirmed |
| April 2, 2026 | Thursday | Tourism Week | Confirmed |
| April 3, 2026 | Friday | Tourism Week | Confirmed |
| April 19, 2026 | Sunday | Landing of the Thirty-Three Orientals | Confirmed |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | Workers' Day | Confirmed |
| May 18, 2026 | Monday | Battle of Las Piedras | Confirmed |
| June 19, 2026 | Friday | Birth of Artigas | Confirmed |
| July 18, 2026 | Saturday | Constitution Day | Confirmed |
| August 25, 2026 | Tuesday | Independence Day | Confirmed |
| October 12, 2026 | Monday | Day of the Race | Confirmed |
| November 2, 2026 | Monday | All Souls' Day | Confirmed |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Family Day | Confirmed |
How Public Holidays Work in Uruguay
Uruguay recognizes a wider set of national public holidays than the five holidays classified as paid holidays under general labour law. This distinction is important because some statutory holidays are treated as ordinary or laborable holidays rather than automatic paid days off for every employee.
The Uruguay Ministry of Labour and Social Security identifies January 1, May 1, July 18, August 25 and December 25 as paid holidays. Employees covered by the general rule receive remuneration for those dates even when they do not work, while special compensation rules apply when they work on a paid holiday.
Other national holidays can be laborable. Their practical effect may therefore depend on the employee’s work arrangement, sector and any applicable collective agreement.
Paid Public Holidays in Uruguay
Uruguay has five generally applicable paid public holidays under Article 18 of Law No. 12,590:
- January 1
- May 1
- July 18
- August 25
- December 25
The Ministry of Labour explains that employees receive remuneration for these holidays as if they had worked. Employees who actually work on a paid holiday are subject to the additional payment rules established by Uruguayan labour law.
This paid-holiday classification should not be confused with the complete national holiday calendar. Dates such as Carnival, Tourism Week and several historical commemorations remain recognized holidays even though their employment treatment differs from the five paid holidays.
Carnival Holidays in Uruguay in 2026
Carnival is officially recognized within Uruguay’s holiday system. In 2026, the Carnival holidays fall on Monday, February 16 and Tuesday, February 17.
An official Montevideo government Carnival notice confirms both dates and describes them as Carnival holidays. Carnival is also specifically exempt from Uruguay’s general rules that can move certain holidays to a Monday.
Tourism Week in Uruguay
Uruguay uses the secular name Tourism Week, or Semana de Turismo, for the period corresponding to Holy Week. For the national holiday dataset, the relevant 2026 public holiday dates are Thursday, April 2 and Friday, April 3.
The official Tourism Week 2026 notice identifies April 2 and April 3 as laborable holidays. This terminology is significant: the dates are holidays, but they are not equivalent to Uruguay’s five generally paid non-working holidays.
When Are Public Holidays Moved in Uruguay?
Uruguay has statutory rules for shifting certain holidays depending on the weekday on which they occur. Under Law No. 16,805, a holiday covered by the movement rule remains on its date when it falls on Saturday, Sunday or Monday. When it falls on Tuesday or Wednesday, it is observed on the preceding Monday, and when it falls on Thursday or Friday, it is observed on the following Monday.
Several holidays are expressly excluded from this movement system. Carnival, Tourism Week, January 1, January 6, May 1, June 19, July 18, August 25, November 2 and December 25 remain on the weekday on which their calendar dates occur.
This means readers should not assume that every fixed-date Uruguayan holiday is celebrated on its nominal calendar date. The applicable statutory movement rule should be checked for holidays that are not specifically exempt.
Public Holidays That Stay on Their Calendar Date
Uruguayan law specifically protects several holidays from the general Monday-observance system. These include Carnival and Tourism Week as well as January 1, January 6, May 1, June 19, July 18, August 25, November 2 and December 25.
For example, Independence Day remains August 25 regardless of whether August 25 falls on a Tuesday, Wednesday or another weekday. The same principle applies to Constitution Day on July 18 and Family Day on December 25.
Are Businesses Closed on Public Holidays in Uruguay?
Not necessarily. Uruguay distinguishes between paid holidays and ordinary or laborable holidays. January 1, May 1, July 18, August 25 and December 25 receive special paid-holiday treatment under general labour law, while other public holidays may remain working days.
Opening arrangements can also vary by industry, employer and collective agreement. A holiday appearing in Uruguay’s national calendar should therefore not automatically be interpreted as a universal business closure.
Are Public Holidays Paid in Uruguay?
Five national holidays receive the general statutory paid-holiday treatment: January 1, May 1, July 18, August 25 and December 25.
Other public holidays are generally treated differently for employment purposes. Collective agreements can establish additional paid holidays for particular industries or groups of workers, so sector-specific conditions may be more generous than the general national rule.
Long Weekends in Uruguay in 2026
For employees who normally have Saturday and Sunday off and who are also off on Uruguay’s paid public holidays, Workers’ Day on Friday, May 1 and Family Day on Friday, December 25 create straightforward three-day weekends in 2026.
Other dates should be assessed more carefully because several Uruguayan public holidays are laborable. A Monday holiday shown in the national calendar does not necessarily guarantee a day off for every private-sector employee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the next public holiday in Uruguay?
The next holiday changes throughout the year. Check the Next Public Holiday section above for the current VisaBoards database-generated result.
How many nationwide public holiday dates does Uruguay have in 2026?
The verified VisaBoards dataset contains 15 nationwide public holiday dates for Uruguay in 2026. Carnival accounts for two dates and Tourism Week contributes two public holiday dates. The total should not be interpreted as 15 universal paid days off because Uruguay distinguishes paid holidays from ordinary or laborable holidays.
How many paid public holidays does Uruguay have?
Under Uruguay’s general national labour rules, five holidays receive statutory paid-holiday treatment: January 1, May 1, July 18, August 25 and December 25.
Is Carnival a public holiday in Uruguay?
Yes. Carnival is part of Uruguay’s statutory holiday system. In 2026, the Carnival holidays fall on February 16 and February 17.
What is Tourism Week in Uruguay?
Tourism Week, known locally as Semana de Turismo, is Uruguay’s secular designation for the period corresponding to Holy Week. In 2026, April 2 and April 3 are the relevant nationwide laborable public holiday dates in the VisaBoards dataset.
Does Uruguay move public holidays to Monday?
Some holidays are moved. Under Law No. 16,805, holidays covered by the movement system can be observed on a Monday depending on the weekday on which their calendar date falls. Several specified holidays, including Carnival, Tourism Week and major fixed-date holidays, are exempt and remain on their calendar dates.
Is Independence Day moved when August 25 falls during the week?
No. August 25 is expressly exempt from Uruguay’s general holiday movement system, so Independence Day remains on August 25 regardless of the weekday.
Does a public holiday in Uruguay always mean a day off work?
No. Uruguay distinguishes between paid holidays and ordinary or laborable holidays. Some employees may work on holidays that are nationally recognized, and collective agreements can create different rules for particular sectors.
Official Sources for Public Holidays in Uruguay
- Ministry of Labour and Social Security Feriados: explains Uruguay’s paid-holiday system, ordinary holidays and statutory holiday-movement rules.
- IMPO Law No. 16,805: provides the legal rules governing when statutory holidays are moved and identifies holidays exempt from those rules.
- Intendencia de Montevideo 2026 Holiday Calendar: provides an official government calendar identifying the relevant 2026 holiday dates.
- Intendencia de Montevideo Carnival 2026 Notice: confirms the Carnival holidays on February 16 and February 17, 2026.
- Intendencia de Montevideo Tourism Week 2026 Notice: confirms April 2 and April 3, 2026 as laborable holidays during Tourism Week.
