Public Holidays in Bahamas
Statutory public holidays in Bahamas, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Bahamas at a glance
The Bahamas’ public holidays mark Independence Day on 10 July and Emancipation Day in August, alongside Christian feast days.
Several dates move with Easter, and Junkanoo celebrations fill the days after Christmas and at New Year.
Bahamas public holidays 2026
Bahamas has 13 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 |
| Majority Rule Day | Jan 10Sat | National |
| Majority Rule Day (observed) | Jan 12Mon | Substitute |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | National |
| Whit Monday | May 25Mon | National |
| Randol Fawkes Labour Day | Jun 5Fri | National |
| Independence Day | Jul 10Fri | National |
| Emancipation Day | Aug 3Mon | National |
| National Heroes Day | Oct 12Mon | National |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25Fri | National |
| Boxing Day | Dec 26Sat | National |
Showing 12 of 13 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Bahamas
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Bahamas.
Nassau
A capital on New Providence with colonial buildings, a straw market and a harbour.
Freeport
A planned city on Grand Bahama with a port, gardens and beaches.
Marsh Harbour
The main town of the Abacos, a boating and fishing centre.
George Town
A small town on Great Exuma, a base for the cays and swimming pigs.
Alice Town
A small town on Bimini, famous for big-game fishing and a clear sea.
Top attractions in Bahamas
The places that draw most visitors to Bahamas.
Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park
A protected cays chain of coral reefs, iguanas and clear shallows.
Blue Holes of Andros
Submarine sinkholes cutting through the limestone of the world's third-largest reef.
Harbour Island
An island of a pastel colonial town and a famous pink-sand beach.
Pig Beach, Big Major Cay
A cay where swimming pigs wade out to greet visiting boats.
Thunderball Grotto
A submerged cave of coral and fish, a James Bond filming location.
Atlantis Paradise Island
A vast resort of water parks, marine habitats and a casino.
Festivals, food and getting around Bahamas
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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🎉
Majority Rule Day
Falls on Jan 10
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🎉
Majority Rule Day observed
Falls on Jan 12
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🎉
Valentine's Day
Falls on Feb 14
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🎉
Daylight Saving Time starts
Falls on Mar 8
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
Food & drink
Getting around
Inter-island ferries and small planes link the islands; on New Providence, jitney buses and taxis are the norm.
Travelling around Bahamas’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Bahamas 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
Bahamas'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.
Bahamas public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Bahamas have?
Bahamas has 13 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 Bahamas is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Bahamas'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, Bahamas typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Bahamas?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Bahamas?
Calendars are published for 2027, 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Bahamas
School term dates in Bahamas
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.