Public holidays
Cape Verde: 12 public holiday dates in 2026 (12 days off) and 12 in 2027 (12 days off), with 253 working days in 2026 and 253 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 |
| Tuesday 13 January 2026 | 2026-W03 | Democracy and Freedom Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 20 January 2026 | 2026-W04 | National Heroes Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 18 February 2026 | 2026-W08 | Ash Wednesday | Yes |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Sunday 5 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Easter Sunday | Yes |
| Friday 1 May 2026 | 2026-W18 | Worker's Day | Yes |
| Monday 1 June 2026 | 2026-W23 | International Children's Day | Yes |
| Sunday 5 July 2026 | 2026-W27 | National Independence Day | Yes |
| Saturday 15 August 2026 | 2026-W33 | Assumption Day | Yes |
| Sunday 1 November 2026 | 2026-W44 | All Saints' Day | Yes |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 1 January 2027 | 2026-W53 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 13 January 2027 | 2027-W02 | Democracy and Freedom Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 20 January 2027 | 2027-W03 | National Heroes Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 10 February 2027 | 2027-W06 | Ash Wednesday | Yes |
| Friday 26 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Sunday 28 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Easter Sunday | Yes |
| Saturday 1 May 2027 | 2027-W17 | Worker's Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 1 June 2027 | 2027-W22 | International Children's Day | Yes |
| Monday 5 July 2027 | 2027-W27 | National Independence Day | Yes |
| Sunday 15 August 2027 | 2027-W32 | Assumption Day | Yes |
| Monday 1 November 2027 | 2027-W44 | All Saints' Day | Yes |
| Saturday 25 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ash Wednesday | Wednesday 18 February 2026 | Wednesday 10 February 2027 | −8 days |
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April 2026 | Friday 26 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
| Easter Sunday | Sunday 5 April 2026 | Sunday 28 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
A shift ignores the year: +19 days means 19 days later in the calendar.
| Month | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19 | 18 | −1 |
| February | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| March | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| April | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| May | 20 | 21 | +1 |
| June | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| July | 23 | 21 | −2 |
| August | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| September | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| October | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| November | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| December | 22 | 23 | +1 |
| Q1 | 60 | 59 | −1 |
| Q2 | 62 | 64 | +2 |
| Q3 | 66 | 65 | −1 |
| Q4 | 65 | 65 | 0 |
| Year | 253 | 253 | 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.
13 January celebrates the first democratic elections in Cape Verde, held in 1991.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off.
Heroes Day, 20 January, commemorates the 1973 assassination of Amílcar Cabral, remembered as a hero for fighting colonialism.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off.
The first day of Lent, the seven weeks of prayer, fasting and almsgiving before Easter. It falls 46 days before Easter Sunday. Worshippers have ashes marked on their foreheads, usually in a cross.
At work: Fine to mention with respect. Colleagues may fast or abstain from meat.
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.
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.
1 June is International Children's Day (Dia Mundial da Criança), a public holiday in Cape Verde.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off.
5 July marks Cape Verde's independence from Portugal in 1975.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
The Assumption of Mary is the Catholic dogma that Mary, at the end of her earthly life, was taken body and soul into heaven. It is celebrated on 15 August. The Eastern Churches have an equivalent belief, the Dormition.
At work: Fine to mention. A public holiday in many Catholic countries.
A Christian holy day celebrated in honour of all the saints of the Church, on 1 November in the Catholic Church. It is followed by All Souls' Day on 2 November. Where it is a public holiday, cemetery rituals such as offerings of flowers, candles and prayers for the graves of loved ones often take place. The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates it on the first Sunday after Pentecost.
At work: Fine to mention, but it is a reflective day about remembering loved ones, not a festive one, so avoid "Happy All Saints' Day".
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.
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