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
Colombia has 19 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 |
| Epiphany (observed) | Jan 12Mon | Substitute |
| Saint Joseph's Day (observed) | Mar 23Mon | Substitute |
| Maundy Thursday | Apr 2Thu | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Labor Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Ascension Day (observed) | May 18Mon | Substitute |
| Corpus Christi (observed) | Jun 8Mon | Substitute |
| Sacred Heart (observed) | Jun 15Mon | Substitute |
| Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Day | Jun 29Mon | National |
| Day of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá (observed) | Jul 13Mon | Substitute |
| Independence Day | Jul 20Mon | National |
Showing 12 of 19 public holidays 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 19 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 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.
School holidays in Colombia
School term dates in Colombia
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.