Public Holidays in Brazil
Statutory public holidays in Brazil, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Brazil at a glance
Brazil’s public holidays are set at federal, state and municipal levels, so the calendar varies by city. Independence Day on 7 September is nationwide.
Several dates move with Easter, and Carnival, although not a public holiday, effectively closes the country for a week.
Brazil public holidays 2026
The dates below come from Brazil’s published calendar for 2026. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | 2026 |
| Carnival Friday | Feb 13Fri | 2026 |
| Carnival Saturday | Feb 14Sat | 2026 |
| Carnival Sunday | Feb 15Sun | 2026 |
| Carnival Monday | Feb 16Mon | 2026 |
| Carnival Tuesday | Feb 17Tue | 2026 |
| Carnival end (until 2pm) | Feb 18Wed | 2026 |
| March Equinox | Mar 20Fri | 2026 |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | 2026 |
| Easter Sunday | Apr 5Sun | 2026 |
| Tiradentes Day | Apr 21Tue | 2026 |
| Labor Day / May Day | May 1Fri | 2026 |
Showing 12 of 29 dates recorded for 2026.
Major cities in Brazil
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Brazil.
Brasilia
A planned capital of monumental modernist architecture on the central plateau.
Sao Paulo
A vast city of business, gastronomy and a famously dense skyline.
Rio de Janeiro
A city of beaches beneath granite peaks, with a harbour and samba.
Salvador
A city of a UNESCO pelourinho, Afro-Brazilian culture and a bay.
Belo Horizonte
A planned city ringed by mountains, known for bars and the Serra do Cipo.
Manaus
A city on the Rio Negro, the gateway to the Amazon rainforest.
Top attractions in Brazil
The places that draw most visitors to Brazil.
Christ the Redeemer
An Art Deco statue of Christ on a peak above Rio.
Iguazu Falls
One of the largest waterfall systems on earth, on the Argentine border.
Amazon Rainforest
The largest rainforest on earth, navigated from Manaus.
Lençóis Maranhenses
White dune fields holding rainwater lagoons between the sands.
Salvador Historic Centre
A colonial centre of pastel houses, churches and capoeira.
Pantanal Wetlands
The world's largest tropical wetland, the best place in South America to see jaguar.
Festivals, food and getting around Brazil
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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🎉
Carnival Friday
Falls on Feb 13
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🎉
Carnival Saturday
Falls on Feb 14
-
🎉
Carnival Sunday
Falls on Feb 15
-
🎉
Carnival Monday
Falls on Feb 16
-
🎉
Carnival Tuesday
Falls on Feb 17
Food & drink
Getting around
Domestic flights cover the huge distances; long-distance buses are comfortable and the overnight services are popular.
Travelling around Brazil’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Brazil 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
Brazil'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.
Brazil public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Brazil have?
Brazil has 29 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 Brazil is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Brazil'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, Brazil typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Brazil?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Brazil?
Calendars are published for 2027, 2026, 2025.