Public Holidays in Dominica
Statutory public holidays in Dominica, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Dominica at a glance
Dominica’s public holidays mark Independence Day on 3 November alongside Christian feast days and Emancipation Day in August.
Several dates move with Easter, and the country’s Creole festival and Carnival are the biggest celebrations.
Dominica public holidays 2026
The dates below come from Dominica’s published calendar for 2026. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | 2026 |
| Carnival Monday | Feb 16Mon | 2026 |
| Carnival Tuesday | Feb 17Tue | 2026 |
| March Equinox | Mar 20Fri | 2026 |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | 2026 |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | 2026 |
| Labor Day / May Day | May 4Mon | 2026 |
| Whit Monday | May 25Mon | 2026 |
| June Solstice | Jun 21Sun | 2026 |
| Emancipation Day | Aug 3Mon | 2026 |
| September Equinox | Sep 22Tue | 2026 |
| Independence Day | Nov 3Tue | 2026 |
Showing 12 of 17 dates recorded for 2026.
Major cities in Dominica
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Dominica.
Roseau
A small capital of wooden houses, a botanic garden and a market by the sea.
Portsmouth
A town on a bay with a university and Indian River at its edge.
Marigot
A village on the Atlantic coast, near the Carib territory.
Salisbury
A village of small farms on the west coast road.
Grand Bay
A village in the south with a market and a mountain backdrop.
Top attractions in Dominica
The places that draw most visitors to Dominica.
Morne Trois Pitons National Park
A volcanic park of boiling lakes, waterfalls and rainforest.
Boiling Lake
The world's second-largest boiling lake, reached by a hard day's hike.
Trafalgar Falls
Twin falls plunging into warm and cold pools in the forest.
Champagne Reef
A shallow reef where volcanic gas bubbles rise through warm water.
Indian River
A calm river through a forest gorge, poled by boat and filmed as Calypso's cave.
Emerald Pool
A small waterfall falling into a green pool in the rainforest.
Festivals, food and getting around Dominica
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
-
🎉
New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
-
🎉
Carnival Monday
Falls on Feb 16
-
🎉
Carnival Tuesday
Falls on Feb 17
-
🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
-
🎉
Good Friday
Falls on Apr 3
-
🎉
Easter Monday
Falls on Apr 6
Food & drink
Getting around
Minibuses run the coast roads; the interior trails are best done with a guide.
Travelling around Dominica’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Dominica 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
Dominica'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.
Dominica public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Dominica have?
Dominica 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 Dominica is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Dominica'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, Dominica typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Dominica?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Dominica?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.