Public holidays
Sierra Leone: 14 public holiday dates in 2026 (14 days off) and 17 in 2027 (17 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 |
| Wednesday 18 February 2026 | 2026-W08 | Armed Forces 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 20 March 2026 | 2026-W12 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Monday 6 April 2026 | 2026-W15 | Easter Monday | Yes |
| Monday 27 April 2026 | 2026-W18 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Friday 1 May 2026 | 2026-W18 | International Worker's Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 27 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Tuesday 25 August 2026 | 2026-W35 | Prophet's Birthday | 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 |
| Thursday 18 February 2027 | 2027-W07 | Armed Forces Day | Yes |
| Monday 8 March 2027 | 2027-W10 | International Women's Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 9 March 2027 | 2027-W10 | Eid al-Fitr | Yes |
| Friday 26 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Monday 29 March 2027 | 2027-W13 | Easter Monday | Yes |
| Tuesday 27 April 2027 | 2027-W17 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Saturday 1 May 2027 | 2027-W17 | International Worker's Day | Yes |
| Monday 3 May 2027 | 2027-W18 | International Worker's Day | Yes |
| Sunday 16 May 2027 | 2027-W19 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Monday 17 May 2027 | 2027-W20 | Eid al-Adha | Yes |
| Saturday 14 August 2027 | 2027-W32 | Prophet's Birthday | Yes |
| Monday 16 August 2027 | 2027-W33 | Prophet's Birthday | 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-Fitr | Friday 20 March 2026 | Tuesday 9 March 2027 | −11 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 | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| March | 20 | 19 | −1 |
| April | 19 | 21 | +2 |
| May | 19 | 19 | 0 |
| June | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| July | 23 | 22 | −1 |
| August | 20 | 21 | +1 |
| September | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| October | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| November | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| December | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| Q1 | 60 | 58 | −2 |
| Q2 | 60 | 62 | +2 |
| Q3 | 65 | 65 | 0 |
| Q4 | 64 | 64 | 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.
18 February marks 2002, when President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah officially declared the end of the Sierra Leone Civil War.
At work: Fine to mention with respect. A day off.
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.
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.
Marks 27 April 1961, when Sierra Leone became independent from the United Kingdom.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
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.
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.
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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