Public Holidays in Eritrea
Statutory public holidays in Eritrea, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Eritrea at a glance
Eritrea’s public holidays mark Independence Day on 24 May and Martyrs’ Day on 20 June, alongside Orthodox, Catholic and Islamic dates.
Because the country is religiously diverse, Christmas, Orthodox Christmas and both Eids all appear in the calendar.
Eritrea public holidays 2026
Eritrea has 15 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 |
| Orthodox Christmas | Jan 7Wed | National |
| Epiphany | Jan 19Mon | National |
| Women's Day | Mar 8Sun | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 20Fri | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 10Fri | National |
| Orthodox Easter | Apr 12Sun | National |
| International Workers' Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Independence Day | May 24Sun | National |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 27Wed | National |
| Martyrs' Day | Jun 20Sat | National |
| Prophet's Birthday (estimated) | Aug 25Tue | National |
Showing 12 of 15 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Eritrea
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Eritrea.
Asmara
A UNESCO city of Italian modernist architecture, cafes and wide boulevards.
Massawa
A port city of coral-stone lanes, an old island and Ottoman architecture.
Keren
A highland market city with a mix of faiths and a war memorial.
Assab
A southern Red Sea port on the route toward Ethiopia.
Mendefera
A town in the highlands with rock-hewn churches nearby.
Top attractions in Eritrea
The places that draw most visitors to Eritrea.
Asmara Modernist City
A remarkably complete 1930s Italian modernist city centre.
Dahlak Archipelago
A Red Sea island group of corals, dugongs and pearl-diving history.
Massawa Old Town
Coral-block lanes and Ottoman houses on an island joined by causeways.
Debre Bizen Monastery
A monastery on a mountain terrace, requiring a climb to reach.
Qohaito
A highland plateau holding the ruins of a pre-Aksumite city.
Filfil Solomuna
A rainforest remnant in the eastern escarpment, rare in the country.
Festivals, food and getting around Eritrea
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
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
Orthodox Christmas Day
Falls on Jan 7
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🎉
Timket
Falls on Jan 19
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🎉
Ramadan Start
Falls on Feb 18
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🎉
Women's Day
Falls on Mar 8
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🎉
Eid al-Fitr
Falls on Mar 20
Food & drink
Getting around
Public transport is limited; travel permits are required outside the central region, and guidance should be checked.
Travelling around Eritrea’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Eritrea 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
Eritrea'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.
Eritrea public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Eritrea have?
Eritrea has 15 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 Eritrea is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Eritrea'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, Eritrea typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Eritrea?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Eritrea?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Eritrea
School term dates in Eritrea
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.