Public Holidays in Guinea Bissau
Statutory public holidays in Guinea Bissau, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Guinea Bissau at a glance
Guinea-Bissau’s public holidays mark Independence Day on 24 September and National Pidjiguiti Day on 3 August, alongside Islamic and Christian dates.
Religious dates follow the lunar and moveable calendars, so several holidays shift each Gregorian year.
Guinea Bissau public holidays 2026
Guinea Bissau 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 |
| National Heroes' Day | Jan 20Tue | National |
| Day of the Beginning of the Armed Struggle | Jan 23Fri | National |
| International Women's Day | Mar 8Sun | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 20Fri | National |
| Easter Sunday | Apr 5Sun | National |
| Worker's Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 27Wed | National |
| Pidjiguiti Day | Aug 3Mon | National |
| Independence Day | Sep 24Thu | National |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25Fri | National |
Showing 11 of 11 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Guinea Bissau
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Guinea Bissau.
Bissau
A small Atlantic capital of a grid of streets, a port and a fort.
Bafata
An inland city on the Geba river with a market and Portuguese core.
Gabu
A city in the east, a Fulani and Mandinka trading centre.
Bissora
A market town north of the capital on the road to Senegal.
Catio
A town in the south near the Cantanhez forest and the coast.
Top attractions in Guinea Bissau
The places that draw most visitors to Guinea Bissau.
Bijagos Archipelago
Some 88 islands of mangrove, savanna and saltwater hippos.
Orango National Park
An island park of hippos, turtles and matriarchal Bijago culture.
Cantanhez Forest
A national park of chimpanzees, forest and rice paddies in the south.
Fortaleza de Sao Jose
A Portuguese fort in Bissau with a mausoleum of Amilcar Cabral.
Varela Beach
A long Atlantic beach near the Senegalese border.
Ilha de Bolama
A former colonial capital with abandoned administrative buildings.
Festivals, food and getting around Guinea Bissau
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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🎉
Heroes Day
Falls on Jan 20
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🎉
Ramadan Start
Falls on Feb 18
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🎉
International Women's Day
Falls on Mar 8
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🎉
Eid al-Fitr
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
Food & drink
Getting around
Boats are essential for the Bijagos; mainland roads are limited and degrade badly in the rains.
Travelling around Guinea Bissau’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Guinea Bissau 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
Guinea Bissau'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.
Guinea Bissau public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Guinea Bissau have?
Guinea Bissau 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 Guinea Bissau is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Guinea Bissau'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, Guinea Bissau typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Guinea Bissau?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Guinea Bissau?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Guinea Bissau
School term dates in Guinea Bissau
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.