Public Holidays in Chad
Statutory public holidays in Chad, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Chad at a glance
Chad’s public holidays mark independence in August, with Freedom and Democracy Day on 1 December, alongside Islamic and Christian dates.
Religious dates follow the lunar and moveable calendars, so several holidays shift each Gregorian year.
Chad public holidays 2026
The dates below come from Chad’s published calendar for 2026. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year | Jan 1Thu | 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 |
| May Day | May 1Fri | 2026 |
| Mother's Day | May 10Sun | 2026 |
| Eid al-Adha | May 27Wed | 2026 |
| Father's Day | Jun 21Sun | 2026 |
| June Solstice | Jun 21Sun | 2026 |
Showing 12 of 20 dates recorded for 2026.
Major cities in Chad
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Chad.
N'Djamena
A Sahel capital on the Chari river, facing Cameroon across the water.
Moundou
The second city and a cotton and brewing centre in the southwest.
Sarh
A city on the Chari, a centre of the cotton belt and Sara culture.
Abeche
A desert-edge city and old caravan capital in the east.
Faya-Largeau
The main oasis town of the Sahara, an old caravan and date centre.
Top attractions in Chad
The places that draw most visitors to Chad.
Zakouma National Park
A recovering park of elephant, giraffe and Kordofan giraffe in the southeast.
Ennedi Plateau
A sandstone desert of arches, canyons and rock art in the northeast.
Ounianga Lakes
A chain of desert lakes, some salt and some fresh, in the far north.
Guelta d'Archei
A desert waterhole holding crocodiles in a sandstone canyon.
Lake Chad
A shrinking shallow lake on the western border, shared with three neighbours.
Gaoui
A village of painted pottery and an ancient Sao settlement near the capital.
Festivals, food and getting around Chad
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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🎉
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
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
Food & drink
Getting around
Travel is dangerous in much of the country; check official guidance, and expect very limited transport outside the capital.
Travelling around Chad’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Chad 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
Chad'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.
Chad public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Chad have?
Chad has 20 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 Chad is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Chad'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, Chad typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Chad?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Chad?
Calendars are published for 2027, 2026, 2025.