Public holidays
Barbados: 12 public holiday dates in 2026 (12 days off) and 14 in 2027 (14 days off), with 251 working days in 2026 and 251 in 2027. National holidays only: regional ones are not included.
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday 1 January 2026 | 2026-W01 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 21 January 2026 | 2026-W04 | Errol Barrow Day | Yes |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Monday 6 April 2026 | 2026-W15 | Easter Monday | Yes |
| Tuesday 28 April 2026 | 2026-W18 | National Heroes Day | Yes |
| Friday 1 May 2026 | 2026-W18 | May Day | Yes |
| Monday 25 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Whit Monday | Yes |
| Saturday 1 August 2026 | 2026-W31 | Emancipation Day | Yes |
| Monday 3 August 2026 | 2026-W32 | Kadooment Day | Yes |
| Monday 30 November 2026 | 2026-W49 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Saturday 26 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Boxing Day | Yes |
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 1 January 2027 | 2026-W53 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Thursday 21 January 2027 | 2027-W03 | Errol Barrow Day | Yes |
| Friday 26 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Monday 29 March 2027 | 2027-W13 | Easter Monday | Yes |
| Wednesday 28 April 2027 | 2027-W17 | National Heroes Day | Yes |
| Saturday 1 May 2027 | 2027-W17 | May Day | Yes |
| Monday 17 May 2027 | 2027-W20 | Whit Monday | Yes |
| Sunday 1 August 2027 | 2027-W30 | Emancipation Day | Yes |
| Monday 2 August 2027 | 2027-W31 | Kadooment Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 3 August 2027 | 2027-W31 | Emancipation Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 30 November 2027 | 2027-W48 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Saturday 25 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Sunday 26 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Boxing Day | Yes |
| Monday 27 December 2027 | 2027-W52 | Boxing Day | Yes |
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April 2026 | Friday 26 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
| Easter Monday | Monday 6 April 2026 | Monday 29 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
| Whit Monday | Monday 25 May 2026 | Monday 17 May 2027 | −8 days |
| Kadooment Day | Monday 3 August 2026 | Monday 2 August 2027 | −1 day |
A shift ignores the year: +19 days means 19 days later in the calendar.
| Month | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20 | 19 | −1 |
| February | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| March | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| April | 19 | 21 | +2 |
| May | 19 | 20 | +1 |
| June | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| July | 23 | 22 | −1 |
| August | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| September | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| October | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| November | 20 | 21 | +1 |
| December | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| Q1 | 62 | 60 | −2 |
| Q2 | 60 | 63 | +3 |
| Q3 | 65 | 64 | −1 |
| Q4 | 64 | 64 | 0 |
| Year | 251 | 251 | 0 |
Weekdays by the local weekend (Sunday and Saturday), minus the public holidays most people have off.
The first day of the calendar year in the Gregorian calendar, 1 January. Cultures and religions that follow a lunisolar or lunar calendar celebrate their New Year at other points of the year. Japan celebrates New Year on 1 January, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, instead of with the Chinese calendar that was in use until 1873.
At work: Fine to mention, and a natural moment to wish colleagues well.
21 January is a day of recognition for Errol Barrow, the Father of the Nation of Barbados.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off.
A solemn Christian holy day commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus, observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum. It falls on the Friday immediately before Easter Sunday.
At work: Fine to mention the long weekend. It is a sombre day for those who observe it, so avoid "Happy Good Friday". Its date moves every year with Easter, so check the calendar when planning spring deadlines.
Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and is the most important feast of the Christian year. Families go to church and share a festive meal, and in many places Easter eggs are decorated and broken together as a symbol of the empty tomb. Easter is a moveable feast, with its date set by a lunisolar calendar. Easter Monday, the day after, is a public holiday in more than 50 predominantly Christian countries.
At work: Widely welcome to mention. Colleagues may be away for the whole long weekend.
National Heroes' Day, 28 April, honours the eleven national heroes of Barbados. It was first celebrated in 1998, the centenary of the birth of national hero Grantley Adams.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off.
International Workers' Day, on 1 May, honours workers and the labour movement. The date was chosen to commemorate the 1886 general strike in the United States that culminated in the Haymarket affair, and the day was adopted in support of a "great international demonstration" for the eight-hour day.
At work: Fine to mention the day off. In some countries it has a political side, so keep it about the break.
Whit Monday is the day after Pentecost, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus's followers on the 50th day after Easter. Pentecost is a Sunday, so the holiday is the Monday that follows.
At work: A long weekend. Plan around slower replies.
Marks the end of slavery for people of African descent. In many former British Caribbean territories it commemorates the British Slavery Abolition Act of 1833, which came into force on 1 August 1834, with full emancipation reached in 1838 after an apprenticeship period. Some places keep 1 August and others the first Monday of August. Celebrations include parades, cultural performances, vigils and readings of the emancipation proclamation.
At work: Fine to mention with respect: it is both a celebration of freedom and a remembrance of slavery. A day off where it is a holiday; the card shows the date.
The first Monday in August is the climax of the Crop Over festival.
At work: Very welcome to mention. Expect parties and quiet offices.
Marks 30 November 1966, when Barbados became independent from the United Kingdom.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on 25 December. Eastern Christian Churches that follow the older Julian calendar celebrate it on 25 December of that calendar, which currently corresponds to 7 January. It is a public holiday in many countries, and many non-Christians celebrate it culturally too.
At work: Widely welcome to mention. Plan important meetings before the break. If you're unsure whether someone celebrates it, "Happy holidays" is a safe choice.
Boxing Day is celebrated on 26 December, the day after Christmas. It was once a day to donate gifts to those in need and has become part of the Christmas festivities. It originated in the United Kingdom and is celebrated in several Commonwealth nations. It is usually concurrent with Saint Stephen's Day, which in parts of Europe is the second day of Christmas.
At work: Fine to mention. It is part of the Christmas break.
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