Public holidays
Samoa: 11 public holiday dates in 2026 (11 days off) and 11 in 2027 (11 days off), with 252 working days in 2026 and 254 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 2 January 2026 | 2026-W01 | The Day After New Year's Day | Yes |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Saturday 4 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Day After Good Friday | Yes |
| Monday 6 April 2026 | 2026-W15 | Easter Monday | Yes |
| Monday 11 May 2026 | 2026-W20 | Mother's Day | Yes |
| Monday 1 June 2026 | 2026-W23 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Monday 10 August 2026 | 2026-W33 | Father's Day | Yes |
| Monday 12 October 2026 | 2026-W42 | White Sunday (Lotu a Tamaiti) | Yes |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Saturday 26 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Boxing Day | Yes |
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 1 January 2027 | 2026-W53 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Saturday 2 January 2027 | 2026-W53 | The Day After New Year's Day | Yes |
| Friday 26 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Saturday 27 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Day After Good Friday | Yes |
| Monday 29 March 2027 | 2027-W13 | Easter Monday | Yes |
| Monday 10 May 2027 | 2027-W19 | Mother's Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 1 June 2027 | 2027-W22 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Monday 9 August 2027 | 2027-W32 | Father's Day | Yes |
| Monday 11 October 2027 | 2027-W41 | White Sunday (Lotu a Tamaiti) | Yes |
| Saturday 25 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Sunday 26 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Boxing Day | Yes |
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April 2026 | Friday 26 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
| Day After Good Friday | Saturday 4 April 2026 | Saturday 27 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
| Easter Monday | Monday 6 April 2026 | Monday 29 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
| Mother's Day | Monday 11 May 2026 | Monday 10 May 2027 | −1 day |
| Father's Day | Monday 10 August 2026 | Monday 9 August 2027 | −1 day |
| White Sunday (Lotu a Tamaiti) | Monday 12 October 2026 | Monday 11 October 2027 | −1 day |
A shift ignores the year: +19 days means 19 days later in the calendar.
| Month | 2026 | 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| February | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| March | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| April | 20 | 22 | +2 |
| May | 20 | 20 | 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 | 22 | 23 | +1 |
| Q1 | 62 | 61 | −1 |
| Q2 | 61 | 63 | +2 |
| Q3 | 65 | 65 | 0 |
| Q4 | 64 | 65 | +1 |
| Year | 252 | 254 | +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.
New Year's Day in Samoa is a two-day public holiday, 1–2 January.
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.
Holy Saturday, the day after Good Friday, is a public holiday in Samoa.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off.
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.
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.
Marks 1 June 1962, when Samoa became independent from New Zealand, the first Polynesian nation recognised as a sovereign state in the 20th century.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off.
A day to honour fathers. Dates differ: June in Lithuania, Madagascar and El Salvador, and the second Sunday of August in Samoa. The modern day began in the United States, where Sonora Smart Dodd campaigned for it from 1909 and it became a national holiday in 1972. In some Catholic countries fathers are celebrated on Saint Joseph's Day instead.
At work: Very welcome to mention. A day off where it is a holiday; the card shows the date.
White Sunday (Lotu Tamaiti, "Children's Service") falls on the second Sunday of October, with the Monday following a public holiday. Parents and communities celebrate childhood with special programmes during church services, including scriptural recitations, Bible-story reenactments and dances. Children receive gifts, often new clothes or school supplies.
At work: Very welcome to mention. Expect church services on Sunday and a day off on Monday.
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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