Public Holidays in Cameroon
Statutory public holidays in Cameroon, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Cameroon at a glance
Cameroon’s public holidays combine Christian and Islamic dates with national commemorations such as National Day on 20 May, also known as Unity Day.
Because the country is religiously mixed, both Easter and the Eid holidays are nationally recognised, and dates move each year.
Cameroon public holidays 2026
Cameroon has 11 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 |
| Youth Day | Feb 11Wed | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 20Fri | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Labour Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Ascension Day | May 14Thu | National |
| National Day | May 20Wed | National |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 27Wed | National |
| Assumption Day | Aug 15Sat | National |
| Mawlid (estimated) | Aug 25Tue | National |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25Fri | National |
Showing 11 of 11 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Cameroon
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Cameroon.
Yaounde
A hill capital of government ministries, markets and a reunification monument.
Douala
The economic capital and main port, with a working waterfront and music scene.
Garoua
A city on the Benue river and the gateway to the northern parks.
Bamenda
A cool highland city in the Anglophone northwest, ringed by hills.
Buea
A town on the slopes of Mount Cameroon, once the colonial capital.
Kribi
A seaside town of beaches and the Lobé waterfalls falling into the sea.
Top attractions in Cameroon
The places that draw most visitors to Cameroon.
Mount Cameroon
West Africa's highest peak, an active volcano climbed in two days.
Waza National Park
Floodplain savanna of elephants, giraffe and lions in the far north.
Dja Faunal Reserve
A vast rainforest reserve bounded by a river loop, rich in primates.
Lobé Falls
Waterfalls that tumble directly into the Atlantic at Kribi.
Boumandjong Palace
A Bamileke chiefdom palace of carved pillars and a forested compound.
Korup National Park
One of the oldest rainforests in Africa, with exceptional biodiversity.
Festivals, food and getting around Cameroon
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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Youth Day
Falls on Feb 11
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🎉
Ramadan Start
Falls on Feb 18
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🎉
Eid al-Fitr
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
Good Friday
Falls on Apr 3
Food & drink
Getting around
Bush taxis and buses connect the regions; road conditions vary and the north is remote.
Travelling around Cameroon’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Cameroon 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
Cameroon'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.
Cameroon public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Cameroon have?
Cameroon has 11 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 Cameroon is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Cameroon'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, Cameroon typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Cameroon?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Cameroon?
Calendars are published for 2027, 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Cameroon
School term dates in Cameroon
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.