Sri Lanka Public Holidays 2026
Sri Lanka observes 26 public holidays in 2026. The table below lists every nationwide holiday with its date and weekday. Regional holidays and non-official observances are marked separately.
2026 at a glance
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
All holidays in 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Thursday | New Year's Day | Public |
| Jan 3 | Saturday | Duruthu Full Moon Poya Day | Public |
| Jan 15 | Thursday | Tamil Thai Pongal Day | Public |
| Feb 1 | Sunday | Navam Full Moon Poya Day | Public |
| Feb 4 | Wednesday | National Day | Public |
| Feb 15 | Sunday | Mahasivarathri Day | Public |
| Mar 2 | Monday | Madin Full Moon Poya Day | Public |
| Mar 21 | Saturday | Id-Ul-Fitr (Ramazan Festival Day) | Public |
| Apr 1 | Wednesday | Bak Full Moon Poya Day | Public |
| Apr 3 | Friday | Good Friday | Public |
| Apr 13 | Monday | Day before Sinhala and Tamil New Year | Public |
| Apr 14 | Tuesday | Sinhala and Tamil New Year | Public |
| May 1 | Friday | Labour Day and Vesak Full Moon Poya Day | Public |
| May 2 | Saturday | Day following Vesak Full Moon Poya Day | Public |
| May 28 | Thursday | Id-Ul-Alha (Hadji Festival Day) | Public |
| May 30 | Saturday | Adhi Poson Full Moon Poya Day | Public |
| Jun 29 | Monday | Poson Full Moon Poya Day | Public |
| Jul 29 | Wednesday | Esala Full Moon Poya Day | Public |
| Aug 26 | Wednesday | Milad-Un-Nabi (Holy Prophet's Birthday) | Public |
| Aug 27 | Thursday | Nikini Full Moon Poya Day | Public |
| Sep 26 | Saturday | Binara Full Moon Poya Day | Public |
| Oct 25 | Sunday | Vap Full Moon Poya Day | Public |
| Nov 8 | Sunday | Deepavali Festival Day | Public |
| Nov 24 | Tuesday | Il Full Moon Poya Day | Public |
| Dec 23 | Wednesday | Unduvap Full Moon Poya Day | Public |
| Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day | Public |
Data source: the open-source date-holidays dataset. Verify critical dates with official government sources. · Last updated: July 20, 2026
About public holidays in Sri Lanka
Public holidays in Sri Lanka are days when most schools, banks, government offices and many businesses are closed nationwide. Dates for religious and lunar-calendar holidays can shift from year to year, and governments occasionally move observed dates when a holiday falls on a weekend. Always confirm critical dates with an official source before booking travel or scheduling business.
Frequently asked questions
- How many public holidays does Sri Lanka have in 2026?
- Sri Lanka has 26 nationwide public holidays in 2026, plus additional observances and regional holidays.
- What is the next public holiday in Sri Lanka?
- The next public holiday in Sri Lanka is Esala Full Moon Poya Day on July 29, 2026.
- Are shops and banks closed on public holidays in Sri Lanka?
- On nationwide public holidays most banks, government offices and schools in Sri Lanka close. Shop opening hours vary by region and by holiday — major holidays usually mean reduced hours or full closure.
Other years
Holidays in other countries
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