Nigeria Public Holidays 2026
Nigeria has 13 public holidays in 2026. The Ministry of Interior declared Eid-ul-Fitr for Thursday 19 and Friday 20 March, Eid-ul-Adha for Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 May, and Eid-el-Maulud for Tuesday 25 August. No fixed-date holiday falls on a Sunday in 2026; the only weekend holiday is Boxing Day (Saturday 26 December), which has no substitute under the rules.
At a glance
Nigeria has 13 official public holidays (13 days off) in 2026 and 5 long weekends; the longest break is Eid-ul-Fitr & Eid-ul-Fitr (2nd day) (Mar 19 – 22, 4 days).
| Public holidays | 13 |
|---|---|
| Total days off | 13 |
| Longest break | Eid-ul-Fitr & Eid-ul-Fitr (2nd day) · 4 days (Mar 19 – 22) |
| Long weekends | 5 |
Official public holidays
New Year's Day (January 1, 2026), Eid-ul-Fitr (March 19, 2026), Eid-ul-Fitr (2nd day) (March 20, 2026), Good Friday (April 3, 2026), Easter Monday (April 6, 2026), Workers' Day (May 1, 2026), Eid-ul-Adha (May 27, 2026), Eid-ul-Adha (2nd day) (May 28, 2026), Democracy Day (June 12, 2026), Eid-el-Maulud (August 25, 2026), Independence Day (October 1, 2026), Christmas Day (December 25, 2026), Boxing Day (December 26, 2026)
Nigeria public holiday list
| Date | Day | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Thursday | New Year's DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| March 19, 2026 | Thursday | Eid-ul-FitrThe Federal Government declared Thursday 19 March and Friday 20 March 2026 as public holidays to mark Eid-ul-Fitr (1 Shawwal 1447 AH was Friday 20 March).Public holiday | Public holiday |
| March 20, 2026 | Friday | Eid-ul-Fitr (2nd day)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 | Workers' DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| May 27, 2026 | Wednesday | Eid-ul-AdhaThe Federal Government declared Wednesday 27 May and Thursday 28 May 2026 as public holidays to mark Eid-ul-Adha (10–11 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 AH).Public holiday | Public holiday |
| May 28, 2026 | Thursday | Eid-ul-Adha (2nd day)Public holiday | Public holiday |
| June 12, 2026 | Friday | Democracy DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| August 25, 2026 | Tuesday | Eid-el-MauludThe Federal Government declared Tuesday 25 August 2026 as a public holiday to mark Eid-ul-Mawlid (12 Rabi' al-Awwal 1448 AH).Public holiday | Public holiday |
| October 1, 2026 | Thursday | Independence DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas DayPublic holiday | Public holiday |
| December 26, 2026 | Saturday | Boxing DayBoxing Day falls on a Saturday in 2026. Nigeria has no statutory substitute-day rule, so no Monday (28 December) holiday has been declared — unless the Federal Government announces one ad hoc, the nominal date stands.Public holiday | Public holiday |
Days off in 2026
13 days
Statutory holidays
13
Sunday substitutions
None
Movable Islamic holidays
3
2026 Nigeria calendar
01January
02February
03March
04April
05May
06June
07July
08August
09September
10October
11November
12December
How Nigerian public holidays are declared
Nigeria's public holidays are declared by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Interior. Six are fixed dates: New Year's Day (Jan 1), Workers' Day (May 1), Democracy Day (Jun 12), Independence Day (Oct 1), Christmas Day (Dec 25) and Boxing Day (Dec 26). Good Friday and Easter Monday follow the Christian calendar, and the three Islamic holidays — Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha and Eid-el-Maulud — are set by moon sighting, with the Sultan of Sokoto announcing the start of each Hijri month before the Ministry of Interior confirms the dates.
Declared Islamic holiday days usually number two for Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha and one for Eid-el-Maulud. Nigeria has no statutory rule that moves a holiday falling on a weekend to the next Monday; the Federal Government can add days ad hoc (it declared Monday 2 January 2023 after New Year's Day fell on a Sunday), so holiday calendars are best confirmed against the official announcements each year.
The 2026 Islamic holiday round
The Sultan of Sokoto confirmed 1 Shawwal 1447 AH as Friday 20 March 2026, after which the Ministry of Interior declared Thursday 19 and Friday 20 March for Eid-ul-Fitr. Eid-ul-Adha was declared for Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 May (10–11 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 AH), and Eid-ul-Mawlid for Tuesday 25 August (12 Rabi' al-Awwal 1448 AH). All three announcements came from the ministry directly, so the 2026 Islamic dates are confirmed rather than projected.
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Official sources & data
- Federal Government Declares Thursday 19th And Friday 20th March 2026 As Public Holidays To Mark EID-UL-FITRVisit sourceFederal Ministry of Interior, Nigeria
- Federal Government Declares Wednesday 27th May And Thursday 28th May, 2026 As Public Holidays To Mark Eid Ul Adha CelebrationVisit sourceFederal Ministry of Interior, Nigeria
- FG Declares Tuesday Public Holiday As Nation Marks Eid-Ul-MawlidVisit sourceFederal Ministry of Interior, Nigeria
- Sultan confirms moon sighting, declares Friday Eid-el-FitrVisit sourceTVC News (Sultan of Sokoto announcement)
- Nigeria Public Holidays for 2026Visit sourceHigh Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ottawa
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does Nigeria have in 2026?
Nigeria has 13 public holidays in 2026: the six fixed national days, Good Friday and Easter Monday, and five declared Islamic days (two each for Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, one for Eid-el-Maulud).
What is the longest holiday break in Nigeria in 2026?
The longest break in Nigeria is Eid-ul-Fitr & Eid-ul-Fitr (2nd day) (Mar 19 – 22, 4 days).
What are the official public holidays in Nigeria in 2026?
Nigeria has 13 official public holidays in 2026: New Year's Day (January 1, 2026), Eid-ul-Fitr (March 19, 2026), Eid-ul-Fitr (2nd day) (March 20, 2026), Good Friday (April 3, 2026), Easter Monday (April 6, 2026), Workers' Day (May 1, 2026), Eid-ul-Adha (May 27, 2026), Eid-ul-Adha (2nd day) (May 28, 2026), Democracy Day (June 12, 2026), Eid-el-Maulud (August 25, 2026), Independence Day (October 1, 2026), Christmas Day (December 25, 2026), Boxing Day (December 26, 2026).
When is Eid-ul-Fitr in 2026 in Nigeria?
The Ministry of Interior declared Thursday 19 March and Friday 20 March 2026 as public holidays for Eid-ul-Fitr. The Sultan of Sokoto confirmed 1 Shawwal 1447 AH as Friday 20 March.
When is Eid-ul-Adha in 2026 in Nigeria?
The Ministry of Interior declared Wednesday 27 May and Thursday 28 May 2026 as public holidays for Eid-ul-Adha (10–11 Dhu al-Hijjah 1447 AH).
When is Eid-el-Maulud in 2026 in Nigeria?
The Federal Government declared Tuesday 25 August 2026 as a public holiday for Eid-ul-Mawlid (12 Rabi' al-Awwal 1448 AH), the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.
Is there a substitute holiday when a Nigerian holiday falls on a weekend?
No — Nigeria has no statutory substitute-day rule. In 2026, Boxing Day falls on Saturday 26 December and is observed on that day with no declared Monday off. The Federal Government sometimes adds days ad hoc (it declared Monday 2 January 2023 after New Year's Day fell on a Sunday), but such announcements are made case by case.
