Public Holidays in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Statutory public holidays in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Bosnia and Herzegovina at a glance
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s public holidays differ between its two entities, with Statehood Day in November and Independence Day on 1 March the main national dates, alongside Catholic, Orthodox and Muslim observances.
Because three religious traditions are represented, the calendar includes Christmas, Orthodox Christmas, both Eids and the Jewish and Catholic feast days.
Bosnia and Herzegovina public holidays 2026
The dates below come from Bosnia and Herzegovina’s published calendar for 2026. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | 2026 |
| New Year's (Day 2) | Jan 2Fri | 2026 |
| Orthodox Christmas Eve | Jan 6Tue | 2026 |
| Orthodox Christmas Day | Jan 7Wed | 2026 |
| Day of the Republika Srpska | Jan 9Fri | 2026 |
| Orthodox New Year | Jan 14Wed | 2026 |
| Valentine's Day | Feb 14Sat | 2026 |
| Ramadan Start | Feb 18Wed | 2026 |
| Independence Day | Mar 1Sun | 2026 |
| Mothers' Day | Mar 8Sun | 2026 |
| Brčko District Establishment Day | Mar 8Sun | 2026 |
| End of Ramadan | Mar 20Fri | 2026 |
Showing 12 of 36 dates recorded for 2026.
Major cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sarajevo
A valley capital where Ottoman bazaars, Austro-Hungarian blocks and minarets meet.
Mostar
A city rebuilt around its famous stone bridge over the emerald Neretva.
Banja Luka
The second city, on the Vrbas river, with a fortress and rafting nearby.
Tuzla
A salt-mining city with a large salt lake in the middle of town.
Bihac
A city on the Una river, gateway to the waterfalls and rapids of Una National Park.
Top attractions in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The places that draw most visitors to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Old Bridge, Mostar
A rebuilt 16th-century stone bridge, the symbol of reconciliation in the city.
Latin Bridge
The Ottoman bridge where the 1914 assassination triggered the First World War.
Una National Park
A river of tufa barriers, waterfalls and kayaking rapids along the Croatian border.
Kravice Waterfalls
A wide curtain of falls plunging into a green pool near Mostar.
Blagaj Tekija
A Dervish monastery built into a cliff beside a powerful karst spring.
Sutjeska National Park
Primeval forest and a deep canyon holding the country's highest peak.
Festivals, food and getting around Bosnia and Herzegovina
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
-
🎉
New Year's (Day 2)
Falls on Jan 2
-
🎉
Orthodox Christmas Eve
Falls on Jan 6
-
🎉
Orthodox Christmas Day
Falls on Jan 7
-
🎉
Day of the Republika Srpska
Falls on Jan 9
-
🎉
Orthodox New Year
Falls on Jan 14
Food & drink
Getting around
Buses are the main public transport; mountain roads are slow and a car helps for the national parks.
Travelling around Bosnia and Herzegovina’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Bosnia and Herzegovina 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
Bosnia and Herzegovina'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.
Bosnia and Herzegovina public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Bosnia and Herzegovina have?
Bosnia and Herzegovina has 36 dates recorded on its 2026 calendar, ranging from national statutory holidays to widely marked observances that are not days off work.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for Bosnia and Herzegovina is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Bosnia and Herzegovina'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, Bosnia and Herzegovina typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Calendars are published for 2027, 2026, 2025.