Public Holidays in Chile
Statutory public holidays in Chile, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Chile at a glance
Chile’s public holidays mark Independence Day on 18 September and Navy Day on 21 May, alongside Catholic feast days.
Several dates are moveable, and the September holidays often combine into a week-long national celebration.
Chile public holidays 2026
Chile has 16 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 |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Holy Saturday | Apr 4Sat | National |
| Labor Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Navy Day | May 21Thu | National |
| National Indigenous Peoples Day | Jun 21Sun | National |
| Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Day | Jun 29Mon | National |
| Our Lady of Mount Carmel | Jul 16Thu | National |
| Assumption Day | Aug 15Sat | National |
| Independence Day | Sep 18Fri | National |
| Army Day | Sep 19Sat | National |
| Meeting of Two Worlds' Day | Oct 12Mon | National |
Showing 12 of 16 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Chile
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Chile.
Santiago
A capital beneath the Andes, of colonial blocks, hills and a modern skyline.
Valparaiso
A hillside port of funiculars, murals and colourful wooden houses.
Concepcion
A university and industrial city in the south-central valleys.
La Serena
A coastal city of colonial churches and clear skies for astronomy.
Punta Arenas
A city on the Strait of Magellan, the gateway to Patagonia.
Top attractions in Chile
The places that draw most visitors to Chile.
Torres del Paine
Granite towers, glaciers and turquoise lakes in Patagonia.
Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
A remote island of monumental moai statues on stone platforms.
Atacama Desert
The driest desert on earth, of salt flats, geysers and geoglyphs.
Historic Quarter of Valparaiso
A port of steep hills, funiculars and brightly painted houses.
Chiloe Churches
Wooden churches built entirely of timber on a rainy archipelago.
Lake District
A region of volcanoes, forests and glacial lakes around Puerto Varas.
Festivals, food and getting around Chile
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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March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
Maundy Thursday
Falls on Apr 2
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🎉
Good Friday
Falls on Apr 3
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🎉
Holy Saturday
Falls on Apr 4
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🎉
Easter Sunday
Falls on Apr 5
Food & drink
Getting around
Buses are excellent and comfortable; flights are essential for Patagonia and the far north.
Travelling around Chile’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Chile 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
Chile'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.
Chile public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Chile have?
Chile has 16 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 Chile is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Chile'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, Chile typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Chile?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Chile?
Calendars are published for 2027, 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Chile
School term dates in Chile
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.