Public Holidays in Papua New Guinea
Statutory public holidays in Papua New Guinea, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Papua New Guinea at a glance
Papua New Guinea’s public holidays mark Independence Day on 16 September alongside Christian feast days and Remembrance Day.
Several dates move with Easter, and the country’s hundreds of languages and cultures produce many local shows and festivals.
Papua New Guinea public holidays 2026
Papua New Guinea has 11 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 |
| Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare Remembrance Day | Feb 26Thu | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Easter Sunday | Apr 5Sun | National |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | National |
| King's Birthday | Jun 17Wed | National |
| Papua New Guinea Remembrance Day | Jul 23Thu | National |
| National Repentance Day | Aug 26Wed | National |
| Independence Day | Sep 16Wed | National |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25Fri | National |
| Boxing Day | Dec 26Sat | National |
Showing 11 of 11 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Papua New Guinea
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Papua New Guinea.
Port Moresby
A capital of a harbour, government districts and a museum of national art.
Lae
The industrial port on the Huon Gulf, the end of the Highlands Highway.
Mount Hagen
A highland city and the base for the famous cultural show.
Madang
A city on a harbour of volcanic islands and superb reef diving.
Goroka
A highland town of coffee, a show and a strong market culture.
Top attractions in Papua New Guinea
The places that draw most visitors to Papua New Guinea.
Kuk Early Agricultural Site
A swamp where agriculture was independently invented thousands of years ago.
Kokoda Track
A mountain trail across the Owen Stanley range, walked in about a week.
Milne Bay & Tufi
Reef walls, wrecks and fjord-like rias of exceptional marine biodiversity.
Sepik River
A great river of spirit houses, crocodile carving and stilt villages.
Mount Hagen Cultural Show
An annual gathering of highland groups in full traditional dress.
Rabaul & Tavurvur
A town buried by eruption, with an active cone above a harbour.
Festivals, food and getting around Papua New Guinea
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
-
🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 21
-
🎉
Good Friday
Falls on Apr 3
-
🎉
Holy Saturday
Falls on Apr 4
-
🎉
Easter Sunday
Falls on Apr 5
-
🎉
Easter Monday
Falls on Apr 6
Food & drink
Getting around
Domestic flights are essential; roads are limited and boat travel serves the river and coastal communities.
Travelling around Papua New Guinea’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Papua New Guinea 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
Papua New Guinea'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.
Papua New Guinea public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Papua New Guinea have?
Papua New Guinea has 11 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 Papua New Guinea is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Papua New Guinea'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, Papua New Guinea typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Papua New Guinea?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Papua New Guinea?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Papua New Guinea
School term dates in Papua New Guinea
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.