Public Holidays in Ecuador
Statutory public holidays in Ecuador, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Ecuador at a glance
Ecuador’s public holidays mark Independence Day on 10 August and the independence of Guayaquil on 9 October, alongside Catholic feast days.
Several dates move with Easter, and the government sometimes shifts holidays to Mondays for long weekends.
Ecuador public holidays 2026
The dates below come from Ecuador’s published calendar for 2026. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | 2026 |
| Carnival | Feb 16Mon | 2026 |
| Carnival | Feb 17Tue | 2026 |
| March Equinox | Mar 20Fri | 2026 |
| Maundy Thursday | Apr 2Thu | 2026 |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | 2026 |
| Holy Saturday | Apr 4Sat | 2026 |
| Easter Sunday | Apr 5Sun | 2026 |
| Labor Day / May Day | May 1Fri | 2026 |
| The Battle of Pichincha | May 24Sun | 2026 |
| Day off for The Battle of Pichincha | May 25Mon | 2026 |
| June Solstice | Jun 21Sun | 2026 |
Showing 12 of 22 dates recorded for 2026.
Major cities in Ecuador
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Ecuador.
Quito
A UNESCO highland capital of colonial churches between volcanic peaks.
Guayaquil
The main port and economic city, with a regenerated riverfront.
Cuenca
A colonial city of cobblestones, a river and blue-domed churches.
Banios
A town of waterfalls, thermal baths and adventure sports below a volcano.
Otavalo
A town of an indigenous market and weaving tradition in the northern Andes.
Top attractions in Ecuador
The places that draw most visitors to Ecuador.
Galapagos Islands
An archipelago of endemic species that reshaped evolutionary biology.
Cotopaxi Volcano
A near-perfect snow-capped cone climbed from a high refuge.
Cuenca Historic Centre
A planned colonial city of cobbles, ironwork and church domes.
Quito Historic Centre
The best-preserved historic centre in Latin America, of baroque churches.
Amazon Basin (Yasuni)
A biosphere reserve of rainforest with exceptional biodiversity.
Quilotoa Crater Lake
A green-green crater lake inside a collapsed caldera.
Festivals, food and getting around Ecuador
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
Falls on Feb 16
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🎉
Carnival
Falls on Feb 17
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
Maundy Thursday
Falls on Apr 2
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🎉
Good Friday
Falls on Apr 3
Food & drink
Getting around
Buses are cheap and reach almost everywhere; the Galapagos requires a flight, and the Amazon a river boat.
Travelling around Ecuador’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Ecuador 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
Ecuador'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.
Ecuador public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Ecuador have?
Ecuador 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 Ecuador is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Ecuador'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, Ecuador typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Ecuador?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Ecuador?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.