Public holidays
Kiribati: 17 public holiday dates in 2026 (17 days off) and 15 in 2027 (15 days off), with 249 working days in 2026 and 249 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 |
| Sunday 8 March 2026 | 2026-W10 | International Women's Day | Yes |
| Monday 9 March 2026 | 2026-W11 | International Women's Day | Yes |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Monday 6 April 2026 | 2026-W15 | Easter Monday | Yes |
| Sunday 19 April 2026 | 2026-W16 | National Health Day | Yes |
| Monday 20 April 2026 | 2026-W17 | National Health Day | Yes |
| Saturday 11 July 2026 | 2026-W28 | Gospel Day | Yes |
| Sunday 12 July 2026 | 2026-W28 | National Day - Independence Anniversary | Yes |
| Monday 13 July 2026 | 2026-W29 | National Day - Independence Anniversary | Yes |
| Wednesday 15 July 2026 | 2026-W29 | National Day (in honor of Unimwane) | Yes |
| Thursday 16 July 2026 | 2026-W29 | National Day (in honor of Unaine) | Yes |
| Wednesday 5 August 2026 | 2026-W32 | Youth Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 9 December 2026 | 2026-W50 | Human Rights and Peace 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 |
| Monday 8 March 2027 | 2027-W10 | International Women's Day | Yes |
| Friday 26 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Monday 29 March 2027 | 2027-W13 | Easter Monday | Yes |
| Monday 19 April 2027 | 2027-W16 | National Health Day | Yes |
| Sunday 11 July 2027 | 2027-W27 | Gospel Day | Yes |
| Monday 12 July 2027 | 2027-W28 | National Day - Independence Anniversary | Yes |
| Thursday 15 July 2027 | 2027-W28 | National Day (in honor of Unimwane) | Yes |
| Friday 16 July 2027 | 2027-W28 | National Day (in honor of Unaine) | Yes |
| Thursday 5 August 2027 | 2027-W31 | Youth Day | Yes |
| Thursday 9 December 2027 | 2027-W49 | Human Rights and Peace 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 |
A shift ignores the year: +19 days means 19 days later in the calendar.
| Month | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 21 | 20 | −1 |
| February | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| March | 21 | 20 | −1 |
| April | 19 | 21 | +2 |
| May | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| June | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| July | 20 | 19 | −1 |
| August | 20 | 21 | +1 |
| September | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| October | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| November | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| December | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| Q1 | 62 | 60 | −2 |
| Q2 | 62 | 64 | +2 |
| Q3 | 62 | 62 | 0 |
| Q4 | 63 | 63 | 0 |
| Year | 249 | 249 | 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.
Celebrated on 8 March, it commemorates women's fight for equality and the women's rights movement, and gives focus to gender equality, reproductive rights and violence against women. It grew out of labour movements in Europe and North America in the early 20th century, and is a public holiday in the countries listed.
At work: Welcome to mention. In several countries it is a day off; the card shows the official days 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 Health Day is a public holiday in April in Kiribati.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off.
Gospel Day is the first of three holidays around Kiribati's National Day, flanked by Gospel Day and National Culture and Senior Citizens Day.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off.
12 July marks Kiribati's independence from the United Kingdom on 12 July 1979. It is the main holiday of a three-day break flanked by Gospel Day and National Culture and Senior Citizens Day. The specific dates depend on the day of the week on which 12 July falls.
At work: Very welcome to mention. Expect a long break and quiet offices.
The first Friday in August is Kiribati's National Youth Day.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off.
10 December is Human Rights and Peace Day, a public holiday in Kiribati.
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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