| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-01-01 | New Year's Day | National |
| 2025-01-21 | Errol Barrow Day | National |
| 2025-04-18 | Good Friday | National |
| 2025-04-21 | Easter Monday | National |
| 2025-04-28 | National Heroes Day | National |
| 2025-05-01 | May Day | National |
| 2025-06-09 | Whit Monday | National |
| 2025-08-01 | Emancipation Day | National |
| 2025-08-04 | Kadooment Day | National |
| 2025-11-30 | Independence Day | National |
| 2025-12-01 | Independence Day (observed) | Substitute |
| 2025-12-25 | Christmas Day | National |
| 2025-12-26 | Boxing Day | National |
How many public holidays does Barbados have in 2025?
Barbados has 13 public holidays in 2025: 12 national holidays, 1 substitute day. The dates run from 1 January 2025 to 26 December 2025, and no public holiday falls in February, March, July, September, October. Observances and regional holidays are listed separately and are not counted.
Wondering how that stacks up globally? See how Barbados's public holiday count compares.
Long weekends in Barbados 2025
Barbados's public holidays create 6 long weekends in 2025 - runs of three or more consecutive days off, each built around a holiday that touches a weekend.
- Fri 18 - Mon 21 April: Good Friday (4-day weekend, Friday 18 April to Monday 21 April).
- Sat 26 - Mon 28 April: National Heroes Day (3-day weekend, Saturday 26 April to Monday 28 April).
- Sat 7 - Mon 9 June: Whit Monday (3-day weekend, Saturday 7 June to Monday 9 June).
- Fri 1 - Mon 4 August: Emancipation Day (4-day weekend, Friday 1 August to Monday 4 August).
- Sat 29 November - Mon 1 December: Independence Day (3-day weekend, Saturday 29 November to Monday 1 December).
- Thu 25 - Sun 28 December: Christmas Day (4-day weekend, Thursday 25 December to Sunday 28 December).
Observed and substitute holidays in Barbados 2025
A substitute holiday is a day off moved to a nearby working weekday when a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday. The legal date never changes - only the day most people actually get off.
- 1 December 2025 (Monday) - given as the day off for Independence Day (observed), which falls on a weekend.
Regional variations are common; see public holidays across North America for the wider picture.
Public holidays in Barbados: is your date a holiday in 2025?
Every date in the table above is a public holiday in Barbados in 2025. If the date you are checking appears there, it is a day off; if it does not, it is not a public holiday - however widely it may be marked.
For example, 1 January 2025 is New Year's Day, a public holiday in Barbados.
More to explore: browse public holidays by country.
About these holidays in Barbados (2025)
Our Barbados public holidays guide explains the background of each holiday and how the dates are set.
New Year's Day
New Year's Day falls on 1 January and opens the Gregorian calendar year. Most countries mark it with a public holiday, and celebrations usually begin the night before with countdowns, fireworks and gatherings. The date was fixed in its current position by Julius Caesar's calendar reform, and later preserved by the Gregorian reform of 1582. traditions vary widely, from first-footing in Scotland to writing resolutions for the months ahead.
Good Friday
Good Friday is the Friday before Easter and commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. It is a public holiday in most countries with Christian traditions, and businesses, banks and schools often close. Observance is typically solemn, with church services, processions and in some places Passion plays. The date moves each year because Easter is calculated from the first full moon following the March equinox.
Easter Monday
Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and forms the final day of the Easter octave in Western Christianity. It is a public holiday in many European, Commonwealth and Latin American countries, effectively extending the Easter weekend. Because it is tied to the movable date of Easter, it falls between late March and late April. Traditional customs include egg rolling, picnics and family outings.
May Day
May Day on 1 May is both an ancient spring festival and, in most countries, International Workers' Day. The labour observance grew from the campaign for an eight hour working day and the events surrounding the Haymarket affair in Chicago in 1886. Older customs, especially in Northern Europe, include maypole dancing, bonfires and the crowning of a May queen. In the United Kingdom the first Monday in May is a separate bank holiday.
Emancipation Day
Emancipation Day commemorates the ending of slavery or of colonial rule. The date and the event vary: the United Kingdom and much of the Caribbean mark 1 August 1834, when slavery ended in the British Empire, while the United States observes Juneteenth on 19 June and Washington DC on 16 April. Observances include ceremonies, educational events and reflection on the history and legacy of enslavement.