Public Holidays in Burkina Faso
Statutory public holidays in Burkina Faso, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Burkina Faso at a glance
Burkina Faso’s public holidays mark the nation’s independence and revolution anniversaries alongside Islamic and Christian dates.
Because religious dates follow the lunar and moveable calendars, the timing of several holidays changes each Gregorian year.
Burkina Faso public holidays 2026
The dates below come from Burkina Faso’s published calendar for 2026. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year | Jan 1Thu | 2026 |
| Burkina Faso Popular Uprising Day | Jan 3Sat | 2026 |
| Ramadan Start | Feb 18Wed | 2026 |
| International Women's Day | Mar 8Sun | 2026 |
| Day off for International Women's Day | Mar 9Mon | 2026 |
| Eid al-Fitr | Mar 20Fri | 2026 |
| March Equinox | Mar 20Fri | 2026 |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | 2026 |
| Labour Day | May 1Fri | 2026 |
| Ascension Day | May 14Thu | 2026 |
| Day of Customs and Traditions | May 15Fri | 2026 |
| Eid al-Adha | May 27Wed | 2026 |
Showing 12 of 23 dates recorded for 2026.
Major cities in Burkina Faso
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Burkina Faso.
Ouagadougou
A Sahel capital of government compounds, markets and a film festival each spring.
Bobo-Dioulasso
A relaxed southwestern city of mud-brick mosques and a music scene.
Koudougou
A city west of the capital with a strong agricultural and craft economy.
Banfora
A green town of waterfalls, sugar cane and the karst cliffs of Sindou.
Fada N'Gourma
A crossroads city on the road toward Niger and Benin.
Top attractions in Burkina Faso
The places that draw most visitors to Burkina Faso.
Sindou Peaks
A ridge of eroded sandstone spires above the southwestern plain.
Karfiguela Falls
A stepped waterfall in green country outside Banfora.
Ruins of Loropeni
The stone walls of a pre-colonial gold-trading settlement.
Nazinga Game Ranch
A community-run reserve with elephants and antelope in the south.
Bangr-Weogo Park
A large forest park inside the capital with walking trails.
Grand Mosque of Bobo-Dioulasso
A distinctive mud-brick mosque with protruding wooden beams.
Festivals, food and getting around Burkina Faso
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
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
Burkina Faso Popular Uprising Day
Falls on Jan 3
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🎉
Ramadan Start
Falls on Feb 18
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🎉
International Women's Day
Falls on Mar 8
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🎉
Day off for International Women's Day
Falls on Mar 9
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🎉
Eid al-Fitr
Falls on Mar 20
Food & drink
Getting around
Buses link the main towns; travel to remote areas is constrained and official guidance should be checked.
Travelling around Burkina Faso’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Burkina Faso 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
Burkina Faso'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.
Burkina Faso public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Burkina Faso have?
Burkina Faso has 23 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 Burkina Faso is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Burkina Faso'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, Burkina Faso typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Burkina Faso?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Burkina Faso?
Calendars are published for 2027, 2026, 2025.