Public holidays
Zimbabwe: 13 public holiday dates in 2026 (13 days off) and 16 in 2027 (16 days off), with 252 working days in 2026 and 251 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 | Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day | Yes |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Saturday 4 April 2026 | 2026-W14 | Easter Saturday | Yes |
| Monday 6 April 2026 | 2026-W15 | Easter Monday | Yes |
| Saturday 18 April 2026 | 2026-W16 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Friday 1 May 2026 | 2026-W18 | Workers' Day | Yes |
| Monday 25 May 2026 | 2026-W22 | Africa Day | Yes |
| Monday 10 August 2026 | 2026-W33 | Zimbabwe Heroes' Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 11 August 2026 | 2026-W33 | Defense Forces Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 22 December 2026 | 2026-W52 | Unity Day | 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 |
| Sunday 21 February 2027 | 2027-W07 | Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day | Yes |
| Monday 22 February 2027 | 2027-W08 | Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day | Yes |
| Friday 26 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Good Friday | Yes |
| Saturday 27 March 2027 | 2027-W12 | Easter Saturday | Yes |
| Monday 29 March 2027 | 2027-W13 | Easter Monday | Yes |
| Sunday 18 April 2027 | 2027-W15 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Monday 19 April 2027 | 2027-W16 | Independence Day | Yes |
| Saturday 1 May 2027 | 2027-W17 | Workers' Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 25 May 2027 | 2027-W21 | Africa Day | Yes |
| Monday 9 August 2027 | 2027-W32 | Zimbabwe Heroes' Day | Yes |
| Tuesday 10 August 2027 | 2027-W32 | Defense Forces Day | Yes |
| Wednesday 22 December 2027 | 2027-W51 | Unity Day | 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 | Boxing Day | Yes |
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good Friday | Friday 3 April 2026 | Friday 26 March 2027 | −8 days, changes month |
| Easter Saturday | 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 |
| Zimbabwe Heroes' Day | Monday 10 August 2026 | Monday 9 August 2027 | −1 day |
| Defense Forces Day | Tuesday 11 August 2026 | Tuesday 10 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 | 19 | −1 |
| March | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| April | 20 | 21 | +1 |
| May | 19 | 20 | +1 |
| June | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| July | 23 | 22 | −1 |
| August | 19 | 20 | +1 |
| September | 22 | 22 | 0 |
| October | 22 | 21 | −1 |
| November | 21 | 22 | +1 |
| December | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| Q1 | 63 | 60 | −3 |
| Q2 | 61 | 63 | +2 |
| Q3 | 64 | 64 | 0 |
| Q4 | 64 | 64 | 0 |
| Year | 252 | 251 | −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.
21 February is National Youth Day in Zimbabwe.
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.
Marks 18 April 1980, when Zimbabwe became independent from the United Kingdom. The main celebrations are held at a stadium in Harare.
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.
Marks 25 May 1963, when representatives of thirty African nations met in Addis Ababa and founded the Organisation of African Unity. When the African Union replaced it in 2002 the date stayed.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off where it is a holiday; the card shows the official days off.
The second Monday in August is Heroes' Day, a public holiday in Zimbabwe, followed by Defence Forces Day on the Tuesday.
At work: Fine to mention with respect. A day off.
The second Tuesday in August is Defence Forces Day, a public holiday in Zimbabwe, the day after Heroes' Day.
At work: Fine to mention. A day off.
22 December is National Unity Day, a public holiday in Zimbabwe.
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.
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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