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
The dates below come from El Salvador’s published calendar for 2026. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | 2026 |
| Signing of the Peace Accords | Jan 16Fri | 2026 |
| Women's Day | Mar 8Sun | 2026 |
| March Equinox | Mar 20Fri | 2026 |
| Palm Sunday | Mar 29Sun | 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 |
| Cross Day | May 3Sun | 2026 |
| Soldiers' Day | May 7Thu | 2026 |
Showing 12 of 27 dates recorded 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 27 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 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.