Public Holidays in Bolivia
Statutory public holidays in Bolivia, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Bolivia at a glance
Bolivia’s public holidays mark Independence Day on 6 August alongside Catholic feast days and the commemoration of the founding of the state.
Several dates move with Easter, and the Alasitas festival and Carnival of Oruro are the biggest celebrations.
Bolivia public holidays 2026
Bolivia 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 |
| Plurinational State Foundation Day | Jan 22Thu | National |
| Carnival | Feb 16Mon | National |
| Carnival | Feb 17Tue | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Labor Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Corpus Christi | Jun 4Thu | National |
| Aymara New Year | Jun 21Sun | National |
| Aymara New Year (observed) | Jun 22Mon | Substitute |
| Independence Day | Aug 6Thu | National |
| National Dignity Day | Oct 17Sat | National |
| All Souls' Day | Nov 2Mon | National |
Showing 12 of 13 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Bolivia
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Bolivia.
Sucre
A white colonial city of courtyards, a bell tower and a slow pace.
La Paz
A city in a canyon beneath the Altiplano, with the world's highest cable cars.
Santa Cruz
A fast-growing lowland city of business, plazas and a tropical climate.
Cochabamba
A city of eternal spring in a fertile valley, with a giant Christ statue.
Potosí
A high city of silver wealth, of baroque churches and a mint.
Top attractions in Bolivia
The places that draw most visitors to Bolivia.
Salar de Uyuni
The largest salt flat on earth, a mirror of sky in the wet season.
Lake Titicaca
The highest navigable lake in the world, shared with Peru.
Sucre Historic City
A whitewashed colonial city of convents and a liberty bell tower.
Potosí & Cerro Rico
A colonial mining city beneath a mountain of silver veins.
Tiwanaku
A pre-Columbian ceremonial centre of monoliths and a sunken temple.
Madidi National Park
A park from Andean peaks down to Amazon rainforest, rich in wildlife.
Festivals, food and getting around Bolivia
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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Epiphany
Falls on Jan 6
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Plurinational State Foundation Day
Falls on Jan 22
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🎉
Feast of Candelaria
Falls on Feb 2
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🎉
Carnival / Shrove Monday
Falls on Feb 16
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🎉
Carnival / Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Day
Falls on Feb 17
Food & drink
Getting around
Buses are the main transport and roads can be rough; the salt flat and Altiplano need a 4×4 tour.
Travelling around Bolivia’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Bolivia 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
Bolivia'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.
Bolivia public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Bolivia have?
Bolivia 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 Bolivia is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Bolivia'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, Bolivia typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Bolivia?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Bolivia?
Calendars are published for 2027, 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Bolivia
School term dates in Bolivia
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.