Public holidays
Zambia: 18 public holiday dates in 2026 (18 days off) and 17 in 2027 (17 days off), with 247 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 8 March 2026 | 2026-W10 | International Women's Day | Yes |
| Monday 9 March 2026 | 2026-W11 | International Women's Day | Yes |
| Thursday 12 March 2026 | 2026-W11 | Youth Day | Yes |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Saturday 4 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Holy Saturday | Yes |
| Sunday 5 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Easter Sunday | Yes |
| Monday 6 April 2026 | 2026-W15 | Easter Monday | Yes |
| Tuesday 28 April 2026 | 2026-W18 | Kenneth Kaunda Day | Yes |
| Friday 1 May 2026 | 2026-W18 | Labour Day | Yes |
| Monday 25 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Africa Freedom Day | Yes |
| Monday 6 July 2026 | 2026-W28 | Heroes' Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 7 July 2026 | 2026-W28 | Unity Day | Yes |
| Monday 3 August 2026 | 2026-W32 | Farmers' Day | Yes |
| Thursday 13 August 2026 | 2026-W33 | General Election Day | Yes |
| Saturday 24 October 2026 | 2026-W43 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 29 December 2026 | 2026-W53 | National Day of Prayer and Christian Heritage | Yes |
| Date | ISO week | Holiday | Day off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 1 January 2027 | 2026-W53 | New Year's Day | Yes |
| Monday 8 March 2027 | 2027-W10 | International Women's Day | Yes |
| Friday 12 March 2027 | 2027-W10 | Youth Day | Yes |
| Friday 26 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Saturday 27 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Holy Saturday | Yes |
| Sunday 28 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Easter Sunday | Yes |
| Monday 29 March 2027 | 2027-W13 | Easter Monday | Yes |
| Wednesday 28 April 2027 | 2027-W17 | Kenneth Kaunda Day | Yes |
| Saturday 1 May 2027 | 2027-W17 | Labour Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 25 May 2027 | 2027-W21 | Africa Freedom Day | Yes |
| Monday 5 July 2027 | 2027-W27 | Heroes' Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 6 July 2027 | 2027-W27 | Unity Day | Yes |
| Monday 2 August 2027 | 2027-W31 | Farmers' Day | Yes |
| Sunday 24 October 2027 | 2027-W42 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Monday 25 October 2027 | 2027-W43 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Saturday 25 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Christmas Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 29 December 2027 | 2027-W52 | National Day of Prayer and Christian Heritage | Yes |
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April 2026 | Friday 26 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
| Holy Saturday | Saturday 4 April 2026 | Saturday 27 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
| Easter Sunday | Sunday 5 April 2026 | Sunday 28 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
| Easter Monday | Monday 6 April 2026 | Monday 29 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
| Heroes' Day | Monday 6 July 2026 | Monday 5 July 2027 | −1 day |
| Unity Day | Tuesday 7 July 2026 | Tuesday 6 July 2027 | −1 day |
| Farmers' Day | Monday 3 August 2026 | Monday 2 August 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 | 20 | 19 | −1 |
| April | 19 | 21 | +2 |
| May | 19 | 20 | +1 |
| June | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| July | 21 | 20 | −1 |
| August | 19 | 21 | +2 |
| September | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| October | 22 | 20 | −2 |
| November | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| December | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| Q1 | 61 | 59 | −2 |
| Q2 | 60 | 63 | +3 |
| Q3 | 62 | 63 | +1 |
| Q4 | 64 | 64 | 0 |
| Year | 247 | 249 | +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.
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.
12 March is Youth Day, a public holiday in Zambia.
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.
The last day of Holy Week, between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, when Christians prepare for Easter. It commemorates the time Jesus lay in the tomb. Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican churches begin the Easter Vigil service on this day.
At work: Fine to mention with care: a quiet day before Easter. A day off in the places that list it; the card shows the official days 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.
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.
28 April is the birthday of Kenneth Kaunda (born 1924), the first president of Zambia.
At work: Fine to mention with respect. 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.
25 May is African Freedom Day, a public holiday in Zambia.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off.
The first Monday in July is Heroes' Day, a public holiday in Zambia, followed by Unity Day on the Tuesday.
At work: Fine to mention with respect. A day off.
The Tuesday after Heroes' Day, in July, is Unity Day in Zambia.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off.
The first Monday in August is Farmers' Day, a public holiday in Zambia.
At work: Welcome to mention. A day off.
Marks 24 October 1964, when Zambia became independent from the United Kingdom.
At work: Very 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.
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