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
Dominica has 12 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 |
| Carnival Monday | Feb 16Mon | National |
| Carnival Tuesday | Feb 17Tue | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | National |
| Labour Day | May 4Mon | National |
| Whit Monday | May 25Mon | National |
| Emancipation Day | Aug 3Mon | National |
| Independence Day | Nov 3Tue | National |
| National Day of Community Service | Nov 4Wed | National |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25Fri | National |
| Boxing Day | Dec 26Sat | National |
Showing 12 of 12 public holidays 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
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🎉
New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
Carnival Monday
Falls on Feb 16
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🎉
Carnival Tuesday
Falls on Feb 17
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
Good Friday
Falls on Apr 3
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🎉
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 12 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 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.
School holidays in Dominica
School term dates in Dominica
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.