Public holidays
Palau: 13 public holiday dates in 2026 (13 days off) and 14 in 2027 (14 days off), with 250 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 15 March 2026 | 2026-W11 | Youth Day | Yes |
| Monday 16 March 2026 | 2026-W12 | Youth Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 5 May 2026 | 2026-W19 | Senior Citizens Day | Yes |
| Monday 1 June 2026 | 2026-W23 | President's Day | Yes |
| Thursday 9 July 2026 | 2026-W28 | Constitution Day | Yes |
| Monday 7 September 2026 | 2026-W37 | Labor Day | Yes |
| Thursday 1 October 2026 | 2026-W40 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Friday 23 October 2026 | 2026-W43 | United Nations Day | Yes |
| Saturday 24 October 2026 | 2026-W43 | United Nations Day | Yes |
| Thursday 26 November 2026 | 2026-W48 | Thanksgiving Day | Yes |
| Friday 27 November 2026 | 2026-W48 | Family 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 |
| Monday 15 March 2027 | 2027-W11 | Youth Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 5 May 2027 | 2027-W18 | Senior Citizens Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 1 June 2027 | 2027-W22 | President's Day | Yes |
| Friday 9 July 2027 | 2027-W27 | Constitution Day | Yes |
| Monday 6 September 2027 | 2027-W36 | Labor Day | Yes |
| Friday 1 October 2027 | 2027-W39 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Sunday 24 October 2027 | 2027-W42 | United Nations Day | Yes |
| Monday 25 October 2027 | 2027-W43 | United Nations Day | Yes |
| Thursday 25 November 2027 | 2027-W47 | Thanksgiving Day | Yes |
| Friday 26 November 2027 | 2027-W47 | Family Day | Yes |
| Friday 24 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Saturday 25 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Friday 31 December 2027 | 2027-W52 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | Monday 7 September 2026 | Monday 6 September 2027 | −1 day |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday 26 November 2026 | Thursday 25 November 2027 | −1 day |
| Family Day | Friday 27 November 2026 | Friday 26 November 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 | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| March | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| April | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| May | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| June | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| July | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| August | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| September | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| October | 20 | 19 | −1 |
| November | 19 | 20 | +1 |
| December | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| Q1 | 62 | 62 | 0 |
| Q2 | 63 | 63 | 0 |
| Q3 | 64 | 64 | 0 |
| Q4 | 61 | 60 | −1 |
| Year | 250 | 249 | −1 |
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.
15 March is Youth Day, a public holiday in Palau.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off.
5 May is Senior Citizens Day, a public holiday in Palau.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off.
1 June is President's Day, a public holiday in Palau.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off.
Marks 9 July 1980, when Palau's constitution was approved in a referendum. It took effect on 1 January 1981.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off.
Labor Day is held on the first Monday of September in the United States and Canada. The date was suggested as sitting midway between the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving. It is called the "unofficial end of summer" because it marks the end of the nominal summer season in the US.
At work: Fine to mention. It is a long weekend, and work tends to pick up afterwards.
Marks 1 October 1994, the day Palau became independent, when its Compact of Free Association with the United States took effect.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off.
United Nations Day, on 24 October, marks the official creation of the United Nations on 24 October 1945. In 1947 the UN General Assembly declared the date to be devoted to making known the aims and achievements of the UN.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off.
Thanksgiving Day is on the fourth Thursday in November in Palau, followed by Family Day on the Friday.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off, with Family Day the day after.
The fourth Friday in November is Family Day, a public holiday in Palau, the day after Thanksgiving.
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.
Open Palau in TimeBento, next to the other places you work with.