Public Holidays in Cuba
Statutory public holidays in Cuba, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Cuba at a glance
Cuba’s public holidays mark the Revolution’s anniversaries, including Liberation Day on 1 January and the Moncada barracks attack on 26 July.
Several dates move with Easter, and Easter Friday was restored as a public holiday in recent years.
Cuba public holidays 2026
The dates below come from Cuba’s published calendar for 2026. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Liberation Day | Jan 1Thu | 2026 |
| Victory Day | Jan 2Fri | 2026 |
| Epiphany | Jan 6Tue | 2026 |
| José Martí's Birthday Memorial | Jan 28Wed | 2026 |
| Daylight Saving Time starts | Mar 8Sun | 2026 |
| March Equinox | Mar 20Fri | 2026 |
| Palm Sunday | Mar 29Sun | 2026 |
| Maundy Thursday | Apr 2Thu | 2026 |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | 2026 |
| Labor Day / May Day | May 1Fri | 2026 |
| Mother's Day | May 10Sun | 2026 |
| Independence Day | May 20Wed | 2026 |
Showing 12 of 22 dates recorded for 2026.
Major cities in Cuba
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Cuba.
Havana
A capital of colonnaded streets, classic cars and a fort-guarded harbour.
Santiago de Cuba
The second city, a Caribbean melting pot of music and revolution.
Trinidad
A preserved colonial town of cobbled streets and pastel houses.
Camaguey
A city of a maze-like old centre, churches and a pottery tradition.
Cienfuegos
A French-planned city on a bay, of neoclassical facades and a seawall.
Viñales
A tobacco town in a valley of limestone mogotes and red soil.
Top attractions in Cuba
The places that draw most visitors to Cuba.
Old Havana
A dense colonial core of plazas, fortresses and baroque churches.
Vinales Valley
A karst valley of mogotes, tobacco barns and cave systems.
Trinidad
A sugar-wealth town of cobbles, pastel houses and a bell tower.
Varadero
A long peninsula of white sand and resort hotels on the north coast.
Cienfuegos
A French-colonial city around a sheltered bay, with a wide promenade.
Che Guevara Mausoleum
A memorial and museum to the revolutionary in Santa Clara.
Festivals, food and getting around Cuba
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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🎉
Liberation Day
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
Victory Day
Falls on Jan 2
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🎉
Epiphany
Falls on Jan 6
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🎉
José Martí's Birthday Memorial
Falls on Jan 28
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🎉
Daylight Saving Time starts
Falls on Mar 8
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
Food & drink
Getting around
Viazul buses serve tourists reliably; classic cars and colectivos fill the gaps, and fuel supply varies.
Travelling around Cuba’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Cuba 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
Cuba'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.
Cuba public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Cuba have?
Cuba has 22 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 Cuba is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Cuba'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, Cuba typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Cuba?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Cuba?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.