Public Holidays in Ethiopia
Statutory public holidays in Ethiopia, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Ethiopia at a glance
Ethiopia’s public holidays follow the Ethiopian Orthodox calendar for religious dates, with Christmas on 7 January and the Finding of the True Cross in September.
Ethiopia uses its own calendar of thirteen months, so the country celebrates the new year in September and is seven years behind the Gregorian count.
Ethiopia public holidays 2026
Ethiopia has 13 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas Day | Jan 7Wed | National |
| Epiphany | Jan 19Mon | National |
| Adwa Victory Day | Mar 2Mon | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 20Fri | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 10Fri | National |
| Easter Sunday | Apr 12Sun | National |
| International Workers' Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Ethiopian Patriots' Victory Day | May 5Tue | National |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 27Wed | National |
| Downfall of the Dergue Regime Day | May 28Thu | National |
| Prophet's Birthday (estimated) | Aug 25Tue | National |
| Ethiopian New Year | Sep 11Fri | National |
Showing 12 of 13 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Ethiopia
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Ethiopia.
Addis Ababa
A highland capital of markets, museums and a fast-changing skyline.
Gondar
A city of stone castles and a royal enclosure in the northern highlands.
Lalibela
A town famous for its churches carved out of living rock.
Bahir Dar
A city on Lake Tana, with monasteries and the Blue Nile falls nearby.
Harar
A walled Muslim city of alleys and shrines in the eastern highlands.
Axum
A town of obelisks and the legendary resting place of the Ark.
Top attractions in Ethiopia
The places that draw most visitors to Ethiopia.
Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela
Eleven medieval churches carved down into solid volcanic rock.
Simien Mountains
A highland range of escarpments, gelada baboons and endemic walia ibex.
Fasil Ghebbi
A walled royal enclosure of castles and pavilions in Gondar.
Axum
Giant obelisk stelae and the ruins of an ancient trading empire.
Danakil Depression
One of the hottest places on earth, with salt flats and sulphur springs.
Blue Nile Falls
A broad falls on the Blue Nile downstream of Lake Tana.
Festivals, food and getting around Ethiopia
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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🎉
Ethiopian Christmas Day
Falls on Jan 7
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Epiphany / Timkat
Falls on Jan 19
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🎉
Adwa Victory Day
Falls on Mar 2
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🎉
Eid al-Fitr
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
Ethiopian Good Friday
Falls on Apr 10
Food & drink
Getting around
Domestic flights are the practical way to cover the country; northern routes pass through areas needing current advice.
Travelling around Ethiopia’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Ethiopia 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
Ethiopia'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.
Ethiopia public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Ethiopia have?
Ethiopia has 13 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 Ethiopia is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Ethiopia'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, Ethiopia typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Ethiopia?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Ethiopia?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Ethiopia
School term dates in Ethiopia
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.