Public holidays
Cook Islands: 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 |
| Friday 2 January 2026 | 2026-W01 | Day after New Year's Day | Yes |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Monday 6 April 2026 | 2026-W15 | Easter Monday | Yes |
| Saturday 25 April 2026 | 2026-W17 | ANZAC Day | Yes |
| Monday 1 June 2026 | 2026-W23 | Sovereign's Birthday | Yes |
| Friday 3 July 2026 | 2026-W27 | Day of the House of Ariki | Yes |
| Tuesday 4 August 2026 | 2026-W32 | Constitution Day | Yes |
| Monday 26 October 2026 | 2026-W44 | Cook Islands Gospel Day | 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 | Yes |
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 1 January 2027 | 2026-W53 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Saturday 2 January 2027 | 2026-W53 | Day after New Year's Day | Yes |
| Monday 4 January 2027 | 2027-W01 | Day after New Year's Day | Yes |
| Friday 26 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Monday 29 March 2027 | 2027-W13 | Easter Monday | Yes |
| Sunday 25 April 2027 | 2027-W16 | ANZAC Day | Yes |
| Monday 7 June 2027 | 2027-W23 | Sovereign's Birthday | Yes |
| Friday 2 July 2027 | 2027-W26 | Day of the House of Ariki | Yes |
| Wednesday 4 August 2027 | 2027-W31 | Constitution Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 26 October 2027 | 2027-W43 | Cook Islands Gospel 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 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 28 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 |
| Sovereign's Birthday | Monday 1 June 2026 | Monday 7 June 2027 | +6 days |
| Day of the House of Ariki | Friday 3 July 2026 | Friday 2 July 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 | 20 | 22 | +2 |
| May | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| June | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| July | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| August | 20 | 21 | +1 |
| September | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| October | 21 | 20 | −1 |
| November | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| December | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| Q1 | 62 | 60 | −2 |
| Q2 | 62 | 64 | +2 |
| Q3 | 64 | 64 | 0 |
| Q4 | 63 | 63 | 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.
New Year's Day in the Cook Islands is a two-day public holiday, 1–2 January.
At work: Welcome 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.
Marks 25 April 1915, the first engagement of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps in the Gallipoli campaign. It honours everyone who has served. There are dawn services, marches, memorial services and two minutes of silence.
At work: Fine to mention, with respect. It is a solemn day, so "Happy ANZAC Day" doesn't fit.
The King's Birthday is held on the first Monday in June, the same day as New Zealand celebrates the holiday.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off.
Ra o te Ui Ariki, on the first Friday in July, is a public holiday under the Public Holidays Act 1999. The Ariki are the paramount chiefs of the Cook Islands.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off.
Marks 4 August 1965, when the Cook Islands' constitution was promulgated and the islands became self-governing in free association with New Zealand. It is celebrated with the week-long Te Maeva Nui festival.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off.
26 October marks the arrival of Christianity in the Cook Islands in the 1820s, brought by John Williams of the London Missionary Society. Most of the populated islands also celebrate their own Gospel Days.
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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