Public Holidays in Timor-Leste
Statutory public holidays in Timor-Leste, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Timor-Leste at a glance
Timor-Leste’s public holidays mark the country’s struggle for independence alongside Catholic feast days. Restoration of Independence Day on 20 May is the central national date.
Good Friday, Corpus Christi and All Souls’ Day are all public holidays, reflecting the country’s overwhelmingly Catholic population.
Timor-Leste public holidays 2026
Timor-Leste has 18 public holidays in 2026 – the statutory days off. The table below lists those public holidays; observances and other non-statutory dates are not part of the total.
| Holiday | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | National |
| Veteran's Day | Mar 3Tue | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 20Fri | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| International Worker's Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Restoration of Independence Day | May 20Wed | National |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 27Wed | National |
| Corpus Christi | Jun 4Thu | National |
| Popular Consultation Day | Aug 30Sun | National |
| All Saints' Day | Nov 1Sun | National |
| All Souls' Day | Nov 2Mon | National |
| National Women's Day | Nov 3Tue | National |
Showing 12 of 18 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Timor-Leste
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Timor-Leste.
Dili
A coastal capital beneath green hills, with a waterfront, markets and diving offshore.
Baucau
A hillside city of Portuguese churches and a long coral coastline.
Maliana
A rice-growing town near the Indonesian border with mountain views.
Suai
A coastal town on the Timor Sea with a long beach and oil infrastructure.
Atauro
An island north of Dili with steep hills and some of the region's best reefs.
Top attractions in Timor-Leste
The places that draw most visitors to Timor-Leste.
Cristo Rei of Dili
A 27-metre statue of Christ on a headland above the bay.
Atauro Island
A rugged island with coral reefs and traditional weaving villages.
Jacó Island
An uninhabited, sacred island with white sand and clear water.
Mount Ramelau
The highest mountain in the country, climbed before dawn for the sunrise.
Santa Cruz Cemetery
The site of the 1991 massacre, central to the independence story.
Com Beach
A long white-sand beach on the south coast near Lospalos.
Festivals, food and getting around Timor-Leste
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
-
🎉
New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
-
🎉
Lunar New Year
Falls on Feb 17
-
🎉
Carnival / Ash Wednesday
Falls on Feb 18
-
🎉
Veteran's Day
Falls on Mar 3
-
🎉
Eid ul Fitr
Falls on Mar 20
-
🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
Food & drink
Getting around
Roads are improving but rough; microlets serve towns and boats link Atauro and the eastern islands.
Travelling around Timor-Leste’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Timor-Leste tighten around major holidays; reserve early for the busiest weeks.
Check opening hours
Museums, banks and government offices usually close on statutory holidays, and often on the nearest Monday.
Carry local currency
Small vendors and rural businesses frequently take cash only, especially on holidays when banks are shut.
Expect crowded transport
Long weekends produce the year's heaviest road, rail and air traffic. Build in extra travel time.
Confirm the official list
Timor-Leste's holiday dates are confirmed by government announcement; check the year page for the final arrangement.
Plan the long weekends
Pairing a holiday with adjacent weekends gives the longest breaks of the year — and the busiest.
Timor-Leste public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Timor-Leste have?
Timor-Leste has 18 public holidays in 2026, counting every date typed National, Substitute or Bank in our calendar. Observances, religious dates and regional holidays are listed separately and left out of the total, because they are not days off across the whole country.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for Timor-Leste is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Timor-Leste's public holidays paid?
Statutory national holidays are generally paid leave for employees. Observances and commemorative days are usually not.
Do holidays move if they fall on a weekend?
Where a holiday falls on a weekend, Timor-Leste typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Timor-Leste?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Timor-Leste?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Timor Leste
School term dates in Timor Leste
School calendar data last updated 10 Sep 2026. Dates come from education ministries and local education authorities; always re-check with the school before booking travel.