Ghana Public Holidays 2026
Ghana’s Ministry of the Interior lists 14 statutory public holidays for 2026 under Act 601 (as amended by Act 1142 in 2025). Two Executive Instruments change the calendar: Monday March 23 is an additional public holiday because Shaqq Day falls on a Saturday, and Republic Day is observed on Friday July 3 instead of Wednesday July 1. Boxing Day, also a Saturday, is observed on Monday December 28, and Eid-Ul-Adha is gazetted for Wednesday May 27. The longer breaks are Eid-Ul-Fitr (March 20–23), Easter (April 3–6), Republic Day (July 3–5) and Christmas (December 25–28).
At a glance
Ghana has 14 official public holidays (14 days off) in 2026 and 8 long weekends; the longest break is Eid-Ul-Fitr four-day weekend (Mar 20 – 23, 4 days).
| Public holidays | 14 |
|---|---|
| Total days off | 14 |
| Longest break | Eid-Ul-Fitr four-day weekend · 4 days (Mar 20 – 23) |
| Long weekends | 8 |
Official public holidays
New Year's Day (January 1, 2026), Constitution Day (January 7, 2026), Independence Day (March 6, 2026), Eid-Ul-Fitr (March 20, 2026), Shaqq Day (March 21, 2026), Shaqq Day (Additional Holiday) (March 23, 2026), Good Friday (April 3, 2026), Easter Monday (April 6, 2026), Workers’ Day (May Day) (May 1, 2026), Eid-Ul-Adha (May 27, 2026), Republic Day (Observed) (July 3, 2026), Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day (Founder's Day) (September 21, 2026), National Farmers' Day (December 4, 2026), Christmas Day (December 25, 2026), Boxing Day (December 26, 2026), Boxing Day (Observed) (December 28, 2026)
Statutory public holidays
14 days
Moved or added days off
Mar 23, Jul 3, Dec 28
Gazetted Eid-Ul-Adha
Wed May 27, 2026
Natural 3-day weekends
5 breaks
Ghana public holiday list
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Showing 16 of 16 entries.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year's DayFalls on Thursday in 2026.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| January 7, 2026 | Wednesday | Constitution DayCommemorates the Fourth Republican Constitution of 1993. Falls on Wednesday.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| March 6, 2026 | Friday | Independence DayMarks freedom in 1957. Falls on Friday, delivering an automatic three-day national holiday weekend.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| March 20, 2026 | Friday | Eid-Ul-FitrMarks the end of Ramadan. Announced by the Office of the National Chief Imam.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| March 21, 2026 | Saturday | Shaqq DayStatutory holiday observed the day immediately following Eid-Ul-Fitr.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| March 23, 2026 | Monday | Shaqq Day (Additional Holiday)Shaqq Day (March 21) falls on a Saturday in 2026, so the President declared Monday March 23 an additional public holiday by Executive Instrument under Section 2 of Act 601 (Ministry of the Interior statement of 13 March 2026). With Eid-Ul-Fitr on Friday, March 20–23 is a four-day break.Substitute holiday | Substitute holiday |
| April 3, 2026 | Friday | Good FridayFalls on Friday, opening the four-day nationwide Easter weekend.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| April 6, 2026 | Monday | Easter MondayStatutory holiday concluding the Easter festival break.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | Workers’ Day (May Day)Falls on Friday in 2026, delivering an automatic three-day weekend.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| May 27, 2026 | Wednesday | Eid-Ul-AdhaOfficially declared a statutory public holiday by the Minister for the Interior for Wednesday 27 May 2026.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| July 3, 2026 | Friday | Republic Day (Observed)Republic Day (July 1) falls on a Wednesday in 2026. By Executive Instrument under Section 2 of Act 601, announced by the Ministry of the Interior on 24 June 2026, the holiday is observed on Friday July 3, giving a three-day weekend.Substitute holiday | Substitute holiday |
| September 21, 2026 | Monday | Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day (Founder's Day)Falls on Monday in 2026, delivering an automatic three-day long weekend.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| December 4, 2026 | Friday | National Farmers' DayFirst Friday in December, delivering a three-day celebration of Ghana’s farmers and fishermen.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas DayFalls on Friday in 2026.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| December 26, 2026 | Saturday | Boxing DayFalls on Saturday; observed on Monday December 28 under Ministry of the Interior declaration.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| December 28, 2026 | Monday | Boxing Day (Observed)Official observed public holiday gazetted by the Ministry because December 26 fell on a Saturday.Substitute holiday | Substitute holiday |
2026 Ghana calendar
01January
02February
03March
04April
05May
06June
07July
08August
09September
10October
11November
12December
Ghana long weekends in 2026
Independence Day weekend
3 daysMar 6 – 8
March 6 falls on Friday, creating a three-day national weekend.
Eid-Ul-Fitr four-day weekend
4 daysMar 20 – 23
Eid-Ul-Fitr on Friday and Shaqq Day on Saturday, plus the additional public holiday on Monday March 23, make a four-day break.
Easter long weekend
4 daysApr 3 – 6
Good Friday to Easter Monday creates a four-day national holiday break.
May Day weekend
3 daysMay 1 – 3
May 1 falls on Friday, providing an automatic three-day weekend.
Republic Day weekend
3 daysJul 3 – 5
Republic Day is observed on Friday July 3, creating a three-day weekend.
Founder’s Day weekend
3 daysSep 19 – 21
September 21 falls on Monday, creating a three-day break.
Farmers’ Day weekend
3 daysDec 4 – 6
First Friday in December delivers a three-day agricultural weekend.
Christmas & Boxing Day break
4 daysDec 25 – 28
Friday Christmas Day through Monday Boxing Day (observed) creates a four-day year-end holiday.
Gazetted schedule by the Ministry of the Interior
The Ministry of the Interior of Ghana issues statutory declarations under the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days Act. For 2026 it confirmed Eid-Ul-Adha for Wednesday May 27, declared Monday March 23 an additional public holiday because Shaqq Day fell on a Saturday (statement of 13 March), moved Republic Day to Friday July 3 (statement of 24 June), and lists Saturday Boxing Day as observed on Monday December 28.
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Official sources & data
- Ministry of the Interior, Republic of Ghana — Statutory Public Holidays for 2026Visit sourceMinistry of the Interior, Republic of Ghana
- Graphic Online — March 20 and 23 declared public holidays for Eid-Ul-Fitr and Shaqq Day (quotes the Ministry of the Interior statement of 13 March 2026)Visit sourceGraphic Online
- Ministry of the Interior, Republic of Ghana — Declaration Of Wednesday, 27th May 2026, as a Public HolidayVisit sourceMinistry of the Interior, Republic of Ghana
- Ministry of the Interior, Republic of Ghana — Declaration of Friday, 3rd July 2026 as a Public Holiday (24 June 2026)Visit sourceMinistry of the Interior, Republic of Ghana
- Ministry of the Interior, Republic of Ghana — Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 1142)Visit sourceMinistry of the Interior, Republic of Ghana
Frequently asked questions
How many statutory public holidays are there in Ghana in 2026?
The Ministry of the Interior’s 2026 list names 14 statutory public holidays. Two of them fall on a Saturday, Shaqq Day (March 21) and Boxing Day (December 26); Monday March 23 was added as an additional public holiday and Monday December 28 is the observed day for Boxing Day. Republic Day is observed on Friday July 3 instead of Wednesday July 1.
What is the longest holiday break in Ghana in 2026?
The longest break in Ghana is Eid-Ul-Fitr four-day weekend (Mar 20 – 23, 4 days).
What are the official public holidays in Ghana in 2026?
Ghana has 14 official public holidays in 2026: New Year's Day (January 1, 2026), Constitution Day (January 7, 2026), Independence Day (March 6, 2026), Eid-Ul-Fitr (March 20, 2026), Shaqq Day (March 21, 2026), Shaqq Day (Additional Holiday) (March 23, 2026), Good Friday (April 3, 2026), Easter Monday (April 6, 2026), Workers’ Day (May Day) (May 1, 2026), Eid-Ul-Adha (May 27, 2026), Republic Day (Observed) (July 3, 2026), Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day (Founder's Day) (September 21, 2026), National Farmers' Day (December 4, 2026), Christmas Day (December 25, 2026), Boxing Day (December 26, 2026), Boxing Day (Observed) (December 28, 2026).
Why is Monday December 28 a public holiday in Ghana in 2026?
Because Boxing Day (December 26) falls on a Saturday, the Ministry of the Interior’s 2026 list shows it as observed on Monday December 28.
When is Eid-Ul-Adha celebrated in Ghana in 2026?
The Minister for the Interior officially declared Wednesday May 27, 2026, as the statutory public holiday marking Eid-Ul-Adha.
What are the main long weekends in Ghana in 2026?
Key long weekends include Independence Day (March 6–8), Eid-Ul-Fitr (March 20–23), Easter (April 3–6), Workers’ Day (May 1–3), Republic Day (July 3–5), Founder’s Day (Sept 19–21), Farmers’ Day (Dec 4–6), and Christmas/Boxing Day (Dec 25–28).
Is August 4 celebrated as a public holiday in Ghana in 2026?
No. August 4 was officially removed from the statutory public holiday list by Act 1142 in 2025.
Is Monday March 23, 2026 a public holiday in Ghana?
Yes. Shaqq Day (March 21) fell on a Saturday, so the President declared Monday March 23, 2026 an additional public holiday by Executive Instrument under Section 2 of Act 601, announced by the Ministry of the Interior on March 13. Together with Eid-Ul-Fitr on Friday March 20 it made a four-day break.
When is Republic Day observed in Ghana in 2026?
Friday July 3, 2026. Republic Day (July 1) falls on a Wednesday, so the President moved the holiday to Friday by Executive Instrument under Section 2 of Act 601, announced by the Ministry of the Interior on June 24.
