Public Holidays in Colombia
Statutory public holidays in Colombia, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Colombia at a glance
Colombia’s public holidays mark Independence Day on 20 July and the Battle of Boyaca on 7 August, alongside Catholic feast days.
Several dates move with Easter, and the government shifts some holidays to Mondays to create long weekends.
Colombia public holidays 2026
The dates below come from Colombia’s published calendar for 2026. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | 2026 |
| Epiphany | Jan 6Tue | 2026 |
| Epiphany | Jan 12Mon | 2026 |
| Women's Day | Mar 8Sun | 2026 |
| Saint Joseph's Day | Mar 19Thu | 2026 |
| March Equinox | Mar 20Fri | 2026 |
| Saint Joseph's Day | Mar 23Mon | 2026 |
| Palm Sunday | Mar 29Sun | 2026 |
| Maundy Thursday | Apr 2Thu | 2026 |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | 2026 |
| Easter Sunday | Apr 5Sun | 2026 |
| Language Day | Apr 23Thu | 2026 |
Showing 12 of 44 dates recorded for 2026.
Major cities in Colombia
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Colombia.
Bogota
A highland capital of museums, a colonial centre and a mountain cable car.
Medellin
A city of eternal spring, transformed by cable cars and public libraries.
Cartagena
A walled Caribbean city of pastel houses and sea bastions.
Cali
The salsa capital, warm and rhythmic, with a river and a zoo.
Barranquilla
A port city of a vast Carnival and the mouth of the Magdalena.
Santa Marta
The oldest surviving city in the country, beneath the Sierra Nevada.
Top attractions in Colombia
The places that draw most visitors to Colombia.
Cartagena Walled City
A fortress city of balconied houses, plazas and sea walls.
Tayrona National Park
A coast where rainforest meets the Caribbean in a series of bays.
Cocora Valley
Wax palms rising from cloud forest, the national tree at its tallest.
Caño Cristales
A river of red aquatic plants and clear pools, the river of five colours.
San Agustin
A highland archaeological park of megalithic statues and tombs.
Guatape & El Peñol
A colossal granite monolith climbed by a staircase, above an artificial lake.
Festivals, food and getting around Colombia
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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Epiphany
Falls on Jan 6
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Epiphany
Falls on Jan 12
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🎉
Women's Day
Falls on Mar 8
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🎉
Saint Joseph's Day
Falls on Mar 19
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March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
Food & drink
Getting around
Domestic flights are cheap and frequent given the mountains; buses cover the rest on winding roads.
Travelling around Colombia’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Colombia 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
Colombia'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.
Colombia public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Colombia have?
Colombia has 44 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 Colombia is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Colombia'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, Colombia typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Colombia?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Colombia?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.