Public holidays
Guyana: 17 public holiday dates in 2026 (17 days off) and 19 in 2027 (19 days off), with 247 working days in 2026 and 247 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 |
| Monday 23 February 2026 | 2026-W09 | Republic Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 3 March 2026 | 2026-W10 | Holi | Yes |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Monday 6 April 2026 | 2026-W15 | Easter Monday | Yes |
| Friday 1 May 2026 | 2026-W18 | Labor Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 5 May 2026 | 2026-W19 | Arrival Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 26 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Thursday 28 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Monday 6 July 2026 | 2026-W28 | CARICOM Day | Yes |
| Saturday 1 August 2026 | 2026-W31 | Emancipation Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 26 August 2026 | 2026-W35 | Prophet's Birthday | Yes |
| Sunday 8 November 2026 | 2026-W45 | Diwali | Yes |
| Monday 9 November 2026 | 2026-W46 | Diwali | Yes |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Saturday 26 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Day After Christmas | Yes |
| Monday 28 December 2026 | 2026-W53 | Day After Christmas | Yes |
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 1 January 2027 | 2026-W53 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 23 February 2027 | 2027-W08 | Republic Day | Yes |
| Monday 22 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Holi | Yes |
| Friday 26 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Monday 29 March 2027 | 2027-W13 | Easter Monday | Yes |
| Saturday 1 May 2027 | 2027-W17 | Labor Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 5 May 2027 | 2027-W18 | Arrival Day | Yes |
| Monday 17 May 2027 | 2027-W20 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Wednesday 26 May 2027 | 2027-W21 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Monday 5 July 2027 | 2027-W27 | CARICOM Day | Yes |
| Sunday 1 August 2027 | 2027-W30 | Emancipation Day | Yes |
| Monday 2 August 2027 | 2027-W31 | Emancipation Day | Yes |
| Sunday 15 August 2027 | 2027-W32 | Prophet's Birthday | Yes |
| Monday 16 August 2027 | 2027-W33 | Prophet's Birthday | Yes |
| Friday 29 October 2027 | 2027-W43 | Diwali | Yes |
| Saturday 25 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Sunday 26 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Day After Christmas | Yes |
| Monday 27 December 2027 | 2027-W52 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 28 December 2027 | 2027-W52 | Day After Christmas | Yes |
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holi | Tuesday 3 March 2026 | Monday 22 March 2027 | +19 days |
| Eid al-Adha | Thursday 28 May 2026 | Monday 17 May 2027 | −11 days |
| 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 |
| CARICOM Day | Monday 6 July 2026 | Monday 5 July 2027 | −1 day |
A shift ignores the year: +19 days means 19 days later in the calendar.
| Month | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21 | 20 | −1 |
| February | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| March | 21 | 20 | −1 |
| April | 20 | 22 | +2 |
| May | 17 | 18 | +1 |
| June | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| July | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| August | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| September | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| October | 22 | 20 | −2 |
| November | 20 | 22 | +2 |
| December | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| Q1 | 61 | 59 | −2 |
| Q2 | 59 | 62 | +3 |
| Q3 | 64 | 63 | −1 |
| Q4 | 63 | 63 | 0 |
| Year | 247 | 247 | 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.
23 February marks Guyana becoming a republic in 1970. It is celebrated as Mashramani, from an Amerindian word meaning a celebration after cooperative work, with a parade, music, games and food.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off, with parades and music.
Holi is a major Hindu festival of colours, love and spring. It celebrates the love between Radha and Krishna and the triumph of good over evil, and marks the arrival of spring. In the Caribbean, in Guyana, Suriname and elsewhere, it is known as Phagwah.
At work: Very welcome to mention, and a cheerful one.
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.
5 May is Indian Arrival Day, which commemorates the arrival of people from India as indentured labourers brought by colonial authorities. It is celebrated in various Caribbean nations, Fiji, South Africa and Mauritius.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
Marks 26 May 1966, when Guyana became independent from the United Kingdom.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
Eid al-Adha, the "festival of the sacrifice", is the second of the two main festivals in Islam. It falls on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijja, the last month of the Islamic calendar. It honours the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son at God's command. The Eid prayer is held in the morning, followed by the ritual sacrifice of a livestock animal, and celebrations carry on for the three following days.
At work: Very welcome to mention. As with Eid al-Fitr, the date follows the lunar calendar, so keep plans flexible.
The first Monday in July is CARICOM Day, which commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas on 4 July 1973, the agreement that established the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off.
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.
Mawlid is an annual festival commemorating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, on 12 Rabi' al-awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar. It was first publicly celebrated by Gökböri, a deputy of Saladin, and the Ottomans declared it an official holiday. Celebrants recite religious poetry in praise of Muhammad.
At work: Respectful to mention. Not every colleague marks it in the same way.
Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, with variations celebrated by Jains and Sikhs. It symbolises the victory of light over darkness and good over evil. Celebrants light their homes, temples and workplaces with oil lamps, candles and lanterns, and the festival is marked with fireworks. It is connected to Rama's return to his kingdom after defeating the demon king Ravana, and to Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity.
At work: Very welcome to mention, especially among Hindus. The celebrations generally last five or six days, so some colleagues may be away.
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.
Open Guyana in TimeBento, next to the other places you work with.