Public holidays
Panama: 13 public holiday dates in 2026 (13 days off) and 13 in 2027 (13 days off), with 250 working days in 2026 and 252 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 |
| Friday 9 January 2026 | 2026-W02 | Martyrs' Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 17 February 2026 | 2026-W08 | Carnival Tuesday | Yes |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Friday 1 May 2026 | 2026-W18 | Labor Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 3 November 2026 | 2026-W45 | Separation Day | Yes |
| Thursday 5 November 2026 | 2026-W45 | Colon Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 10 November 2026 | 2026-W46 | Los Santos Uprising Day | Yes |
| Saturday 28 November 2026 | 2026-W48 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 8 December 2026 | 2026-W50 | Mother's Day | Yes |
| Sunday 20 December 2026 | 2026-W51 | National Mourning Day | Yes |
| Monday 21 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | National Mourning 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 |
| Saturday 9 January 2027 | 2027-W01 | Martyrs' Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 9 February 2027 | 2027-W06 | Carnival Tuesday | Yes |
| Friday 26 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Saturday 1 May 2027 | 2027-W17 | Labor Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 3 November 2027 | 2027-W44 | Separation Day | Yes |
| Friday 5 November 2027 | 2027-W44 | Colon Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 10 November 2027 | 2027-W45 | Los Santos Uprising Day | Yes |
| Sunday 28 November 2027 | 2027-W47 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Monday 29 November 2027 | 2027-W48 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 8 December 2027 | 2027-W49 | Mother's Day | Yes |
| Monday 20 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | National Mourning Day | Yes |
| Saturday 25 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carnival Tuesday | Tuesday 17 February 2026 | Tuesday 9 February 2027 | −8 days |
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April 2026 | Friday 26 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 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| February | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| March | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| April | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| May | 20 | 21 | +1 |
| June | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| July | 23 | 22 | −1 |
| August | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| September | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| October | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| November | 18 | 18 | 0 |
| December | 20 | 21 | +1 |
| Q1 | 61 | 61 | 0 |
| Q2 | 63 | 65 | +2 |
| Q3 | 66 | 66 | 0 |
| Q4 | 60 | 60 | 0 |
| Year | 250 | 252 | +2 |
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.
9 January commemorates the 1964 riots over sovereignty of the Panama Canal Zone.
At work: A solemn day, so avoid "enjoy" wishes.
The last day of Carnival, also called Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras, before Lent begins. It falls 47 days before Easter, so its date moves each year.
At work: Check the card. It is a holiday in some places and a normal working day in others.
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.
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.
3 November celebrates Panama's separation from Colombia in 1903. It is the first of the Fiestas Patrias, the November national holidays.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
5 November is a public holiday and one of the Fiestas Patrias, the November national holidays in Panama.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off.
10 November is the "Primer Grito de Independencia de la Villa de Los Santos", the first cry of independence in Los Santos, celebrating the gesture of Rufina Alfaro and the uprising against Spain.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
Marks 28 November 1821, when Panama declared independence from Spain (the Independence Act of Panama).
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
A day to honour mothers. The date differs by country: in the United States it is the second Sunday of May, in Lithuania the first Sunday of May, in Latvia and Samoa the second Sunday of May, and in Madagascar the last Sunday of May. Other countries tie it to another day: Costa Rica to 15 August (the Assumption of Mary), Panama to 8 December (the Immaculate Conception), Syria to the spring equinox, and Georgia to 3 March. Tajikistan celebrates it on 8 March, with International Women's Day.
At work: Very welcome to mention. Check which day the colleague celebrates, since it is not the same everywhere; the card shows the date.
20 December is National Mourning Day, a public holiday in Panama.
At work: A solemn day; mention it only 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.
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