Kenya Public Holidays 2026
Kenya has 12 public holidays in 2026 under the Public Holidays Act (Cap 110). No fixed-date holiday falls on a Sunday, so no Sunday-substitution is needed. The Islamic dates are fixed by Gazette notices after moon sighting.
At a glance
Kenya has 12 official public holidays (12 days off) in 2026 and 5 long weekends; the longest break is Good Friday & Easter Monday (Apr 3 – 6, 4 days).
| Public holidays | 12 |
|---|---|
| Total days off | 12 |
| Longest break | Good Friday & Easter Monday · 4 days (Apr 3 – 6) |
| Long weekends | 5 |
Official public holidays
New Year's Day (January 1, 2026), Idd-ul-Fitr (March 20, 2026), Good Friday (April 3, 2026), Easter Monday (April 6, 2026), Labour Day (May 1, 2026), Idd-ul-Azha (May 27, 2026), Madaraka Day (June 1, 2026), Mazingira Day (October 10, 2026), Mashujaa Day (October 20, 2026), Jamhuri Day (December 12, 2026), Christmas Day (December 25, 2026), Boxing Day (December 26, 2026)
Kenya public holiday list
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year's DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| March 20, 2026 | Friday | Idd-ul-FitrThe Cabinet Secretary declared Friday 20 March 2026 a public holiday to mark Idd-ul-Fitr, following the sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| April 3, 2026 | Friday | Good FridayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| April 6, 2026 | Monday | Easter MondayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| May 1, 2026 | Friday | Labour DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| May 27, 2026 | Wednesday | Idd-ul-AzhaThe Cabinet Secretary declared Wednesday 27 May 2026 a public holiday to mark Idd-ul-Azha (Eid al-Adha), following the sighting of the Dhul Hijjah crescent moon.Public holiday | Public holiday |
| June 1, 2026 | Monday | Madaraka DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| October 10, 2026 | Saturday | Mazingira DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| October 20, 2026 | Tuesday | Mashujaa DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 12, 2026 | Saturday | Jamhuri DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 26, 2026 | Saturday | Boxing DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
Days off in 2026
12 days
Statutory holidays
12
Sunday substitutions
None
Movable Islamic holidays
2
2026 Kenya calendar
01January
02February
03March
04April
05May
06June
07July
08August
09September
10October
11November
12December
How Kenyan public holidays work
Kenya's public holidays are set by the Public Holidays Act (Cap 110). Part I of the Schedule lists 11 fixed or computable holidays: New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day, Madaraka Day, Idd-ul-Fitr, Mazingira Day, Mashujaa Day, Jamhuri Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Part II adds Idd-ul-Azha (Eid al-Adha), which is declared nationally by Gazette notice each year after moon sighting.
Section 4 of the Act provides a Sunday-substitution rule: if a Part I holiday falls on a Sunday, the first following day that is not already a public holiday becomes the public holiday, and the Sunday itself ceases to be one. In 2026 no fixed-date holiday falls on a Sunday, so all holidays are kept on their nominal dates. Saturday holidays are not substituted.
What the national days commemorate
Madaraka Day (1 June) marks the day in 1963 when Kenya attained internal self-government before full independence on 12 December. Jamhuri Day (12 December) celebrates the establishment of the Republic of Kenya in 1964. Mashujaa Day (20 October) honours all who contributed to the struggle for independence; it was formerly known as Kenyatta Day. The 10 October holiday has been renamed several times — Moi Day, then Huduma Day, then Utamaduni Day — and the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2024 made it Mazingira Day, set aside for national environmental conservation activities.
Download & subscribe
The CSV opens directly in Excel and Google Sheets.
Official sources & data
- The Public Holidays Act (Cap. 110), Revised Edition 2024Visit sourceKenya Law — National Council for Law Reporting
- Friday, March 20, 2026, Declared Holiday To Mark Idd-ul-Fitr (reports the special Gazette Notice of 18 March 2026)Visit sourceThe Kenya Times — press report of the Kenya Gazette notice
- Kenya Gazette Vol. CXXVIII-No. 90: Declaration of Eid-ul-Adha public holidayVisit sourceRepublic of Kenya
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does Kenya have in 2026?
Kenya has 12 public holidays in 2026: the 11 listed in Part I of the Public Holidays Act (Cap 110) plus Idd-ul-Azha in Part II. No fixed-date holiday falls on a Sunday, so no substitute Monday is needed.
What is the longest holiday break in Kenya in 2026?
The longest break in Kenya is Good Friday & Easter Monday (Apr 3 – 6, 4 days).
What are the official public holidays in Kenya in 2026?
Kenya has 12 official public holidays in 2026: New Year's Day (January 1, 2026), Idd-ul-Fitr (March 20, 2026), Good Friday (April 3, 2026), Easter Monday (April 6, 2026), Labour Day (May 1, 2026), Idd-ul-Azha (May 27, 2026), Madaraka Day (June 1, 2026), Mazingira Day (October 10, 2026), Mashujaa Day (October 20, 2026), Jamhuri Day (December 12, 2026), Christmas Day (December 25, 2026), Boxing Day (December 26, 2026).
When are the Islamic public holidays in Kenya in 2026?
The Cabinet Secretary declared Friday 20 March 2026 for Idd-ul-Fitr (end of Ramadan) and Wednesday 27 May 2026 for Idd-ul-Azha (Eid al-Adha). Both dates depend on the sighting of the new crescent moon and are confirmed by Gazette notices.
What is the Sunday-substitution rule in Kenya?
Section 4 of the Public Holidays Act says that if a Part I holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed as the public holiday in its place. The rule does not apply to Part II holidays (Idd-ul-Azha) or to Saturday holidays.
What are the long weekends in Kenya in 2026?
Easter creates a four-day break from Good Friday 3 April through Easter Monday 6 April. Labour Day on Friday 1 May and Jamhuri Day on Saturday 12 December also extend weekends. Idd-ul-Fitr on Friday 20 March makes a three-day weekend.
What is Mazingira Day?
Mazingira Day is observed on 10 October. The day had been Huduma Day and then Utamaduni Day before the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2024 renamed it Mazingira Day, dedicated to national environmental conservation activities. "Mazingira" means "environment" in Swahili.
