Public Holidays in Belize
Statutory public holidays in Belize, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Belize at a glance
Belize’s public holidays mark Independence Day on 21 September alongside Christian feast days and Baron Bliss Day in March.
Several dates move with Easter, and the Garifuna Settlement Day in November is a distinctive national celebration.
Belize public holidays 2026
Belize has 14 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 |
| George Price Day | Jan 15Thu | National |
| National Heroes and Benefactors Day | Mar 9Mon | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Holy Saturday | Apr 4Sat | National |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | National |
| Labour Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Emancipation Day | Aug 1Sat | National |
| Saint George's Caye Day | Sep 10Thu | National |
| Independence Day | Sep 21Mon | National |
| Indigenous Peoples' Resistance Day | Oct 12Mon | National |
| Garifuna Settlement Day | Nov 19Thu | National |
Showing 12 of 14 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Belize
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Belize.
Belmopan
A small planned capital of government buildings in the interior.
Belize City
The old colonial capital and main port, with a Caribbean waterfront.
San Ignacio
A town in the Maya Mountains, the base for caves and ruins.
Placencia
A beach village on a narrow peninsula with a walkable main street.
San Pedro
A town on Ambergris Caye, the diving and beach capital.
Top attractions in Belize
The places that draw most visitors to Belize.
Belize Barrier Reef
The second-largest barrier reef in the world, with atolls and cayes.
Great Blue Hole
A vast submarine sinkhole ringed by reef, visible from the air.
Caracol
The largest Maya site in Belize, of pyramids rising above the forest.
Actun Tunichil Muknal
A cave of Maya ceramics and calcite skeletons, reached by swimming.
Cockscomb Basin
A jaguar reserve of rainforest, waterfalls and hiking trails.
Ambergris Caye
The country's main island, with reef diving and a long beach strip.
Festivals, food and getting around Belize
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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George Price Day
Falls on Jan 15
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🎉
National Heroes and Benefactors Day
Falls on Mar 9
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
Good Friday
Falls on Apr 3
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🎉
Holy Saturday
Falls on Apr 4
Food & drink
Getting around
Buses and water taxis link the cayes and towns; the main highways are the backbone of overland travel.
Travelling around Belize’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Belize 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
Belize'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.
Belize public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Belize have?
Belize has 14 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 Belize is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Belize'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, Belize typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Belize?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Belize?
Calendars are published for 2027, 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Belize
School term dates in Belize
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.