| Date | Holiday | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 | New Year's Day | National |
| 2026-03-08 | Women's Day | National |
| 2026-03-29 | Martyrs' Day | National |
| 2026-04-05 | Easter Sunday | National |
| 2026-04-06 | Easter Monday | National |
| 2026-05-01 | Labor Day | National |
| 2026-05-14 | Ascension Day | National |
| 2026-05-24 | Pentecost | National |
| 2026-05-25 | Pentecost Monday | National |
| 2026-05-31 | Mother's Day | National |
| 2026-06-21 | Father's Day | National |
| 2026-06-26 | Independence Day | National |
| 2026-08-15 | Assumption Day | National |
| 2026-11-01 | All Saints' Day | National |
| 2026-12-11 | Republic Day | National |
| 2026-12-25 | Christmas Day | National |
How many public holidays does Madagascar have in 2026?
Madagascar has 16 public holidays in 2026: 16 national holidays. The dates run from 1 January 2026 to 25 December 2026, and no public holiday falls in February, July, September, October. Observances and regional holidays are listed separately and are not counted.
Wondering how that stacks up globally? See how Madagascar's public holiday count compares.
Long weekends in Madagascar 2026
Madagascar's public holidays create 6 long weekends in 2026 - runs of three or more consecutive days off, each built around a holiday that touches a weekend.
- Sat 4 - Mon 6 April: Easter Sunday (3-day weekend, Saturday 4 April to Monday 6 April).
- Fri 1 - Sun 3 May: Labor Day (3-day weekend, Friday 1 May to Sunday 3 May).
- Sat 23 - Mon 25 May: Pentecost (3-day weekend, Saturday 23 May to Monday 25 May).
- Fri 26 - Sun 28 June: Independence Day (3-day weekend, Friday 26 June to Sunday 28 June).
- Fri 11 - Sun 13 December: Republic Day (3-day weekend, Friday 11 December to Sunday 13 December).
- Fri 25 - Sun 27 December: Christmas Day (3-day weekend, Friday 25 December to Sunday 27 December).
Observed and substitute holidays in Madagascar 2026
A substitute holiday is a day off moved to a nearby working weekday when a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday. The legal date never changes - only the day most people actually get off.
In 2026 no public holiday in Madagascar is moved to a nearby weekday, so every holiday in the table above is observed on the date shown.
Regional variations are common; see public holidays across Africa for the wider picture.
Public holidays in Madagascar: is your date a holiday in 2026?
Every date in the table above is a public holiday in Madagascar in 2026. If the date you are checking appears there, it is a day off; if it does not, it is not a public holiday - however widely it may be marked.
For example, 1 January 2026 is New Year's Day, a public holiday in Madagascar.
More to explore: browse public holidays by country.
About these holidays in Madagascar (2026)
Our Madagascar public holidays guide explains the background of each holiday and how the dates are set.
New Year's Day
New Year's Day falls on 1 January and opens the Gregorian calendar year. Most countries mark it with a public holiday, and celebrations usually begin the night before with countdowns, fireworks and gatherings. The date was fixed in its current position by Julius Caesar's calendar reform, and later preserved by the Gregorian reform of 1582. traditions vary widely, from first-footing in Scotland to writing resolutions for the months ahead.
Women's Day
Women's Day is celebrated on 8 March as International Women's Day, recognising the achievements of women and campaigning for gender equality. It developed from early twentieth century labour and suffrage movements in Europe and North America and was formally adopted by the United Nations in 1975. In a number of countries it is a public holiday, and it is traditional to give flowers and small gifts to women.
Martyrs' Day
Martyrs' Day honours those who died for their country or for a political or religious cause. The date and the event commemorated vary by nation: in India it marks the death of Mahatma Gandhi on 30 January, in Panama the 1964 flag protests, and in several Arab countries it recalls those killed in the independence struggle. Observances typically include wreath laying, moments of silence and official ceremonies at memorials.
Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday is the central feast of the Christian year, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus three days after the crucifixion. In many countries it is a public holiday, though in others the legal holiday falls on the preceding Friday or the following Monday. The date is movable, set by the Council of Nicaea as the first Sunday after the first full moon following the March equinox, so it ranges from 22 March to 25 April.
Easter Monday
Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and forms the final day of the Easter octave in Western Christianity. It is a public holiday in many European, Commonwealth and Latin American countries, effectively extending the Easter weekend. Because it is tied to the movable date of Easter, it falls between late March and late April. Traditional customs include egg rolling, picnics and family outings.