Public holidays
Nigeria: 14 public holiday dates in 2026 (14 days off) and 19 in 2027 (19 days off), with 248 working days in 2026 and 248 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 |
| Thursday 19 March 2026 | 2026-W12 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Friday 20 March 2026 | 2026-W12 | Eid al-Fitr Holiday | 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 |
| Thursday 28 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Friday 29 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Eid al-Adha Holiday | Yes |
| Friday 12 June 2026 | 2026-W24 | Democracy Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 26 August 2026 | 2026-W35 | Prophet's Birthday | Yes |
| Thursday 1 October 2026 | 2026-W40 | National 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 |
| Wednesday 10 March 2027 | 2027-W10 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Thursday 11 March 2027 | 2027-W10 | Eid al-Fitr Holiday | 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 |
| Monday 3 May 2027 | 2027-W18 | Workers' Day | Yes |
| Monday 17 May 2027 | 2027-W20 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Tuesday 18 May 2027 | 2027-W20 | Eid al-Adha Holiday | Yes |
| Saturday 29 May 2027 | 2027-W21 | Presidential Inauguration Day | Yes |
| Saturday 12 June 2027 | 2027-W23 | Democracy Day | Yes |
| Monday 14 June 2027 | 2027-W24 | Democracy Day | Yes |
| Sunday 15 August 2027 | 2027-W32 | Prophet's Birthday | Yes |
| Monday 16 August 2027 | 2027-W33 | Prophet's Birthday | Yes |
| Friday 1 October 2027 | 2027-W39 | National 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eid al-Adha | Thursday 28 May 2026 | Monday 17 May 2027 | −11 days |
| Eid al-Adha Holiday | Friday 29 May 2026 | Tuesday 18 May 2027 | −11 days |
| Eid al-Fitr | Thursday 19 March 2026 | Wednesday 10 March 2027 | −9 days |
| Eid al-Fitr Holiday | Friday 20 March 2026 | Thursday 11 March 2027 | −9 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 |
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 | 20 | 19 | −1 |
| April | 20 | 22 | +2 |
| May | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| June | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| July | 23 | 22 | −1 |
| August | 20 | 21 | +1 |
| September | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| October | 21 | 20 | −1 |
| November | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| December | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| Q1 | 61 | 59 | −2 |
| Q2 | 59 | 61 | +2 |
| Q3 | 65 | 65 | 0 |
| Q4 | 63 | 63 | 0 |
| Year | 248 | 248 | 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.
Eid al-Fitr, the "festival of breaking the fast", is the first of the two main festivals in Islam. It falls on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, and marks the end of the month-long, dawn-to-dusk fasting of Ramadan. It begins with a communal prayer and is followed by visits to relatives, giving gifts and sharing meals.
At work: Very welcome to mention. Its date follows the lunar calendar and shifts every year, so keep plans flexible. During Ramadan itself, colleagues who fast may prefer meetings earlier in the day and not over lunch.
Eid al-Fitr, the "festival of breaking the fast", is the first of the two main festivals in Islam. It falls on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar, and marks the end of the month-long, dawn-to-dusk fasting of Ramadan. It begins with a communal prayer and is followed by visits to relatives, giving gifts and sharing meals.
At work: Very welcome to mention. Its date follows the lunar calendar and shifts every year, so keep plans flexible. During Ramadan itself, colleagues who fast may prefer meetings earlier in the day and not over lunch.
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.
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.
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.
Celebrated on 12 June. It honours the democratic election of Moshood Abiola on 12 June 1993, which was cancelled, and commemorates the restoration of democracy in 1999. It replaced 29 May as Democracy Day in 2018.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
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.
Marks 1 October 1960, when Nigeria became independent from the United Kingdom. The President gives a national broadcast, and there are official ceremonies, military parades and cultural displays.
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.
29 May marks the day in 1999 when the newly elected Olusegun Obasanjo took office as president. It was Nigeria's Democracy Day until 2018, when that title moved to 12 June.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off in Nigeria; do not confuse it with Democracy Day on 12 June.
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