Public Holidays in Guyana
Statutory public holidays in Guyana, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Guyana at a glance
Guyana’s public holidays span Christian, Hindu and Muslim dates, reflecting the country’s diverse population, with Independence Day on 26 May.
Because several dates follow lunar Hindu and Muslim calendars, the festival calendar shifts each Gregorian year.
Guyana public holidays 2026
The dates below come from Guyana’s published calendar for 2026. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day Holiday | Jan 1Thu | 2026 |
| Mashramani (Republic Day) | Feb 23Mon | 2026 |
| Phagwah (Holi) | Mar 3Tue | 2026 |
| March Equinox | Mar 20Fri | 2026 |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | 2026 |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | 2026 |
| Labor Day / May Day | May 1Fri | 2026 |
| Arrival Day | May 5Tue | 2026 |
| Independence Day | May 26Tue | 2026 |
| Eid al-Adha | May 27Wed | 2026 |
| June Solstice | Jun 21Sun | 2026 |
| CARICOM Day | Jul 6Mon | 2026 |
Showing 12 of 18 dates recorded for 2026.
Major cities in Guyana
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Guyana.
Georgetown
A capital of wooden colonial architecture, canals and a sea wall.
Linden
A bauxite city on the Demerara river, with a mining heritage.
New Amsterdam
A town on the Berbice river with Dutch and British colonial layers.
Anna Regina
A town on the Essequibo coast, surrounded by rice and coconut.
Bartica
A town at the meeting of three rivers, the gateway to the interior.
Top attractions in Guyana
The places that draw most visitors to Guyana.
Kaieteur Falls
A single-drop waterfall of 226 metres, among the highest in the world.
Iwokrama Forest
A protected rainforest reserve of jaguars, harpy eagles and canopy walks.
Rupununi Savanna
A vast savanna of ranches, Amerindian villages and giant anteaters.
St George's Cathedral
A vast timber cathedral, one of the tallest wooden buildings in the world.
Shell Beach
A remote beach where four species of sea turtle nest.
Demerara River
The main river, with a harbour and the country's coastal settlements.
Festivals, food and getting around Guyana
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 Holiday
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
Mashramani (Republic Day)
Falls on Feb 23
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🎉
Phagwah (Holi)
Falls on Mar 3
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
Good Friday
Falls on Apr 3
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🎉
Easter Monday
Falls on Apr 6
Food & drink
Getting around
The interior is reached by light aircraft or river boat; the coastal strip is served by minibuses and taxis.
Travelling around Guyana’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Guyana 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
Guyana'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.
Guyana public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Guyana have?
Guyana has 18 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 Guyana is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Guyana'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, Guyana typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Guyana?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Guyana?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.