Public holidays
Vanuatu: 15 public holiday dates in 2026 (15 days off) and 17 in 2027 (17 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 February 2026 | 2026-W08 | Father Lini Day | Yes |
| Thursday 5 March 2026 | 2026-W10 | Custom Chief's 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 | Labour Day | Yes |
| Thursday 14 May 2026 | 2026-W20 | Ascension Day | Yes |
| Friday 24 July 2026 | 2026-W30 | Children's Day | Yes |
| Thursday 30 July 2026 | 2026-W31 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Saturday 15 August 2026 | 2026-W33 | Assumption Day | Yes |
| Monday 5 October 2026 | 2026-W41 | Constitution Day | Yes |
| Sunday 29 November 2026 | 2026-W48 | Unity Day | Yes |
| Monday 30 November 2026 | 2026-W49 | Unity 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 February 2027 | 2027-W07 | Father Lini Day | Yes |
| Monday 22 February 2027 | 2027-W08 | Father Lini Day | Yes |
| Friday 5 March 2027 | 2027-W09 | Custom Chief's 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 | Labour Day | Yes |
| Thursday 6 May 2027 | 2027-W18 | Ascension Day | Yes |
| Saturday 24 July 2027 | 2027-W29 | Children's Day | Yes |
| Friday 30 July 2027 | 2027-W30 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Sunday 15 August 2027 | 2027-W32 | Assumption Day | Yes |
| Monday 16 August 2027 | 2027-W33 | Assumption Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 5 October 2027 | 2027-W40 | Constitution Day | Yes |
| Monday 29 November 2027 | 2027-W48 | Unity 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 | 19 | −1 |
| March | 21 | 20 | −1 |
| April | 20 | 22 | +2 |
| May | 19 | 20 | +1 |
| June | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| July | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| August | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| September | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| October | 21 | 20 | −1 |
| November | 20 | 21 | +1 |
| December | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| Q1 | 62 | 59 | −3 |
| Q2 | 61 | 64 | +3 |
| Q3 | 64 | 64 | 0 |
| Q4 | 63 | 63 | 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.
21 February is Father Walter Lini Day. Lini was the first Prime Minister of Vanuatu, from independence in 1980 to 1991, a key figure in the country's struggle for independence.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
5 March is Custom Chief's Day, a public holiday in Vanuatu.
At work: 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.
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.
24 July is Children's Day, a public holiday in Vanuatu, a few days before Independence Day.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off.
Marks 30 July 1980, when the New Hebrides became independent as Vanuatu, from the United Kingdom and France.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
The Assumption of Mary is the Catholic dogma that Mary, at the end of her earthly life, was taken body and soul into heaven. It is celebrated on 15 August. The Eastern Churches have an equivalent belief, the Dormition.
At work: Fine to mention. A public holiday in many Catholic countries.
Marks 5 October 1979, when Vanuatu's constitution was signed. It came into force at independence on 30 July 1980.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off.
29 November is National Unity Day, a public holiday in Vanuatu.
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.
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.
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