Public Holidays in Tanzania
Statutory public holidays in Tanzania, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Tanzania at a glance
Tanzania’s public holidays mark Union Day on 26 April and Independence Day on 9 December, alongside Christian and Islamic dates.
Because the country is religiously diverse, Easter and both Eids are all national holidays, moving each Gregorian year.
Tanzania public holidays 2026
Tanzania has 17 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 |
| Zanzibar Revolution Day | Jan 12Mon | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 21Sat | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 22Sun | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | National |
| The Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume Day | Apr 7Tue | National |
| Union Celebrations | Apr 26Sun | National |
| International Workers' Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 28Thu | National |
| International Trade Fair | Jul 7Tue | National |
| Peasants' Day | Aug 8Sat | National |
Showing 12 of 17 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Tanzania
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Tanzania.
Dodoma
The purpose-built capital in the centre of the country, of government districts.
Dar es Salaam
A sprawling Indian Ocean port and commercial capital with a fish market.
Arusha
The northern safari capital, beneath Mount Meru and near the Ngorongoro.
Mwanza
A city on Lake Victoria of granite outcrops and a ferry port.
Zanzibar City
A stone town of carved doors, spice markets and a seafront.
Mbeya
A southern highland city ringed by tea and coffee country.
Top attractions in Tanzania
The places that draw most visitors to Tanzania.
Serengeti National Park
The annual wildebeest migration across endless plains.
Ngorongoro Crater
A collapsed caldera holding one of the densest concentrations of wildlife.
Mount Kilimanjaro
The highest free-standing mountain on earth, with glaciers near the equator.
Zanzibar Stone Town
A Swahili trading city of coral stone, carved doors and spice markets.
Selous Game Reserve
A vast southern reserve of rivers, lakes and walking safaris.
Ruaha National Park
A remote park of elephants, baobabs and the Great Ruaha river.
Festivals, food and getting around Tanzania
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
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🎉
New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
Zanzibar Revolution Day
Falls on Jan 12
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🎉
Ramadan Start
Falls on Feb 18
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🎉
Eid el Fitri
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
Eid el Fitri Holiday
Falls on Mar 21
Food & drink
Getting around
Coaches link the main towns; the northern safari circuit is best done with a 4×4 and driver-guide.
Travelling around Tanzania’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Tanzania 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
Tanzania'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.
Tanzania public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Tanzania have?
Tanzania has 17 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 Tanzania is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Tanzania'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, Tanzania typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Tanzania?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Tanzania?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Tanzania
School term dates in Tanzania
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.