Public Holidays in El Salvador
Statutory public holidays in El Salvador, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
El Salvador at a glance
El Salvador’s public holidays mark Independence Day on 15 September alongside Catholic feast days and the August festival of San Salvador.
Several dates move with Easter, and Holy Week is the longest break in the year.
El Salvador public holidays 2026
El Salvador has 11 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 |
| Maundy Thursday | Apr 2Thu | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Holy Saturday | Apr 4Sat | National |
| Labor Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Mother's Day | May 10Sun | National |
| Father's Day | Jun 17Wed | National |
| Celebrations of San Salvador | Aug 6Thu | National |
| Independence Day | Sep 15Tue | National |
| All Souls' Day | Nov 2Mon | National |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25Fri | National |
Showing 11 of 11 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in El Salvador
The urban centres that anchor most trips to El Salvador.
San Salvador
A capital beneath a volcano, with a cathedral, a historic centre and markets.
Santa Ana
The second city, with a neogothic cathedral and a theatre.
San Miguel
A city in the east, with a cathedral and a famous November carnival.
La Libertad
A port city and surf coast, with a pier and a fish market.
Suchitoto
A cobblestone hill town of white houses and a lake view.
Top attractions in El Salvador
The places that draw most visitors to El Salvador.
Santa Ana Volcano
A peak with a turquoise crater lake, climbed in a morning.
Ruta de las Flores
A highland road of coffee towns, murals and weekend food fairs.
El Tunco
A black-sand surf break with a small town of hostels and bars.
Joya de Ceren
A Maya farming village buried by ash, the Pompeii of the Americas.
Lake Coatepeque
A deep blue caldera lake ringed by restaurants and viewpoints.
Cerro Verde National Park
A cloud-forest park with views over three volcanoes.
Festivals, food and getting around El Salvador
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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Signing of the Peace Accords
Falls on Jan 16
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Women's Day
Falls on Mar 8
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March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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Palm Sunday
Falls on Mar 29
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Maundy Thursday
Falls on Apr 2
Food & drink
Getting around
Buses and pickups cover the country; the surf coast and flower route are easy day trips from the capital.
Travelling around El Salvador’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in El Salvador 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
El Salvador'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.
El Salvador public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does El Salvador have?
El Salvador has 11 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 El Salvador is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are El Salvador'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, El Salvador typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in El Salvador?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for El Salvador?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in El Salvador
School term dates in El Salvador
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.