Public holidays
Botswana: 16 public holiday dates in 2026 (16 days off) and 16 in 2027 (16 days off), with 247 working days in 2026 and 250 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 |
| Friday 2 January 2026 | 2026-W01 | New Year's Day Holiday | Yes |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Saturday 4 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Holy Saturday | Yes |
| Monday 6 April 2026 | 2026-W15 | Easter Monday | Yes |
| Friday 1 May 2026 | 2026-W18 | Labour Day | Yes |
| Thursday 14 May 2026 | 2026-W20 | Ascension Day | Yes |
| Friday 15 May 2026 | 2026-W20 | Public Holiday | Yes |
| Wednesday 1 July 2026 | 2026-W27 | Sir Seretse Khama Day | Yes |
| Monday 20 July 2026 | 2026-W30 | President's Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 21 July 2026 | 2026-W30 | President's Day Holiday | Yes |
| Wednesday 30 September 2026 | 2026-W40 | Botswana Day | Yes |
| Thursday 1 October 2026 | 2026-W40 | Botswana Day Holiday | Yes |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Saturday 26 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Boxing Day | Yes |
| Monday 28 December 2026 | 2026-W53 | Boxing Day Holiday | Yes |
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 1 January 2027 | 2026-W53 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Saturday 2 January 2027 | 2026-W53 | New Year's Day Holiday | Yes |
| Friday 26 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Saturday 27 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Holy Saturday | Yes |
| Monday 29 March 2027 | 2027-W13 | Easter Monday | Yes |
| Saturday 1 May 2027 | 2027-W17 | Labour Day | Yes |
| Monday 3 May 2027 | 2027-W18 | Labour Day Holiday | Yes |
| Thursday 6 May 2027 | 2027-W18 | Ascension Day | Yes |
| Thursday 1 July 2027 | 2027-W26 | Sir Seretse Khama Day | Yes |
| Monday 19 July 2027 | 2027-W29 | President's Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 20 July 2027 | 2027-W29 | President's Day Holiday | Yes |
| Thursday 30 September 2027 | 2027-W39 | Botswana Day | Yes |
| Friday 1 October 2027 | 2027-W39 | Botswana Day Holiday | 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 |
| Holy Saturday | Saturday 4 April 2026 | Saturday 27 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
| Easter Monday | Monday 6 April 2026 | Monday 29 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
| Ascension Day | Thursday 14 May 2026 | Thursday 6 May 2027 | −8 days |
| President's Day | Monday 20 July 2026 | Monday 19 July 2027 | −1 day |
| President's Day Holiday | Tuesday 21 July 2026 | Tuesday 20 July 2027 | −1 day |
A shift ignores the year: +19 days means 19 days later in the calendar.
| Month | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| February | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| March | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| April | 20 | 22 | +2 |
| May | 18 | 19 | +1 |
| June | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| July | 20 | 19 | −1 |
| August | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| September | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| October | 21 | 20 | −1 |
| November | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| December | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| Q1 | 62 | 61 | −1 |
| Q2 | 60 | 63 | +3 |
| Q3 | 62 | 62 | 0 |
| Q4 | 63 | 64 | +1 |
| Year | 247 | 250 | +3 |
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.
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.
The last day of Holy Week, between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, when Christians prepare for Easter. It commemorates the time Jesus lay in the tomb. Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican churches begin the Easter Vigil service on this day.
At work: Fine to mention with care: a quiet day before Easter. A day off in the places that list it; the card shows the official days off.
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.
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.
Ascension Day is a Christian feast commemorating Jesus's ascension into heaven. It is held 39 days after Easter Sunday, which is the 40th day of Easter, so it always falls on a Thursday.
At work: Where it is a holiday, everyone is off on Thursday.
1 July celebrates the birth of Botswana's first president, Sir Seretse Khama.
At work: Fine to mention with respect. A day off.
Presidents' Day is held on the third Monday and Tuesday in July.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off.
Presidents' Day is held on the third Monday and Tuesday in July.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off.
30 September marks Botswana's declaration of independence from the United Kingdom on 30 September 1966.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
1 October is the day off that goes with Botswana Day, on 30 September, which marks Botswana's declaration of independence from the United Kingdom in 1966.
At work: 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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