Public Holidays in Congo
Statutory public holidays in Congo, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Congo at a glance
The Republic of the Congo’s public holidays mark National Day on 15 November and the anniversaries of the republic, alongside Christian feast days.
Several dates move with Easter, and the reconciliation conferences of the 1990s are also commemorated.
Congo public holidays 2026
The dates below come from Congo’s published calendar for 2026. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year | Jan 1Thu | 2026 |
| March Equinox | Mar 20Fri | 2026 |
| Easter Sunday | Apr 5Sun | 2026 |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | 2026 |
| Labour Day | May 1Fri | 2026 |
| Mother's Day | May 10Sun | 2026 |
| Ascension Day | May 14Thu | 2026 |
| Whit Monday | May 25Mon | 2026 |
| Reconciliation Day | Jun 10Wed | 2026 |
| Father's Day | Jun 21Sun | 2026 |
| June Solstice | Jun 21Sun | 2026 |
| Independence Day | Aug 15Sat | 2026 |
Showing 12 of 17 dates recorded for 2026.
Major cities in Congo
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Congo.
Brazzaville
A capital on the Congo river, facing Kinshasa across the water.
Pointe-Noire
The economic capital and main port, with beaches and an oil industry.
Dolisie
A railway and timber city in the Niari valley.
Nkayi
A sugar-growing town on the Bouenza river.
Ouesso
A remote northern town on the Sangha, in the deep rainforest.
Top attractions in Congo
The places that draw most visitors to Congo.
Odzala-Kokoua National Park
A rainforest park of forest elephant, gorilla and bai clearings.
Sangha Trinational
A transboundary forest reserve shared with Cameroon and the CAR.
Les Rapides
The rapids of the Djoue river, with a dam and forested gorge.
Pointe-Noire Beaches
Atlantic beaches south of the port city, with fishing and seafood.
Nabemba Tower
The tallest building in the country, in the capital's business district.
Lefini Reserve
A savanna reserve of hippo and antelope north of the capital.
Festivals, food and getting around Congo
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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March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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Easter Sunday
Falls on Apr 5
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Easter Monday
Falls on Apr 6
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Labour Day
Falls on May 1
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Mother's Day
Falls on May 10
Food & drink
Getting around
Roads are poor outside the corridor; the Congo river ferries and the railway are the main links.
Travelling around Congo’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Congo 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
Congo'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.
Congo public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Congo have?
Congo has 17 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 Congo is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Congo'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, Congo typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Congo?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Congo?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.