Public holidays
Namibia: 13 public holiday dates in 2026 (13 days off) and 15 in 2027 (15 days off), with 250 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 |
| Saturday 21 March 2026 | 2026-W12 | Independence Day | 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 | Workers' Day | Yes |
| Monday 4 May 2026 | 2026-W19 | Cassinga Day | Yes |
| Thursday 14 May 2026 | 2026-W20 | Ascension Day | Yes |
| Monday 25 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Africa Day | Yes |
| Thursday 28 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Genocide Remembrance Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 26 August 2026 | 2026-W35 | Heroes' Day | Yes |
| Thursday 10 September 2026 | 2026-W37 | Day of the Namibian Women and International Human Rights Day | Yes |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Saturday 26 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Family Day | Yes |
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 1 January 2027 | 2026-W53 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Sunday 21 March 2027 | 2027-W11 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Monday 22 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Independence Day | 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 | Workers' Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 4 May 2027 | 2027-W18 | Cassinga Day | Yes |
| Thursday 6 May 2027 | 2027-W18 | Ascension Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 25 May 2027 | 2027-W21 | Africa Day | Yes |
| Friday 28 May 2027 | 2027-W21 | Genocide Remembrance Day | Yes |
| Thursday 26 August 2027 | 2027-W34 | Heroes' Day | Yes |
| Friday 10 September 2027 | 2027-W36 | Day of the Namibian Women and International Human Rights Day | Yes |
| Saturday 25 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Sunday 26 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Family Day | Yes |
| Monday 27 December 2027 | 2027-W52 | Family 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 |
| Ascension Day | Thursday 14 May 2026 | Thursday 6 May 2027 | −8 days |
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 | 22 | 20 | −2 |
| April | 20 | 22 | +2 |
| May | 16 | 17 | +1 |
| June | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| July | 23 | 22 | −1 |
| August | 20 | 21 | +1 |
| September | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| October | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| November | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| December | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| Q1 | 63 | 60 | −3 |
| Q2 | 58 | 61 | +3 |
| Q3 | 64 | 64 | 0 |
| Q4 | 65 | 65 | 0 |
| Year | 250 | 250 | 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.
Marks 21 March 1990, when Namibia became independent from South Africa.
At work: Very 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.
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.
4 May remembers the South African air assault on a SWAPO military camp at Cassinga, Angola, on 4 May 1978, during the South African Border War.
At work: A solemn day; mention it only with respect. A day off.
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.
Marks 25 May 1963, when representatives of thirty African nations met in Addis Ababa and founded the Organisation of African Unity. When the African Union replaced it in 2002 the date stayed.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off where it is a holiday; the card shows the official days off.
26 August marks the beginning of the armed struggle during the Namibian War of Independence.
At work: Fine to mention with respect. 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.
Family Day on 26 December is the day after Christmas, set aside for spending time with family. In Namibia it is kept separate from Christmas so that Christmas can be celebrated the day before. In Vanuatu it falls on the day that is Boxing Day elsewhere.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off in the middle of the Christmas break.
Open Namibia in TimeBento, next to the other places you work with.