Public Holidays in Madagascar
Statutory public holidays in Madagascar, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Madagascar at a glance
Madagascar’s public holidays centre on Independence Day on 26 June, alongside Christian feast days and the commemoration of national martyrs.
Several dates move with Easter, and the country combines Malagasy traditions with a strong Christian calendar.
Madagascar public holidays 2026
Madagascar has 16 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 |
| Women's Day | Mar 8Sun | National |
| Martyrs' Day | Mar 29Sun | National |
| Easter Sunday | Apr 5Sun | National |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | National |
| Labor Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Ascension Day | May 14Thu | National |
| Pentecost | May 24Sun | National |
| Pentecost Monday | May 25Mon | National |
| Mother's Day | May 31Sun | National |
| Father's Day | Jun 21Sun | National |
| Independence Day | Jun 26Fri | National |
Showing 12 of 16 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Madagascar
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Madagascar.
Antananarivo
A highland capital of terraced hills, red-brick houses and a royal palace.
Toamasina
The main port, with palm-lined boulevards and a vanilla trade.
Antsirabe
A cool spa city of rickshaws, thermal springs and craft workshops.
Mahajanga
A coastal city with baobabs, a seafront and a river mouth.
Antsiranana
A deep natural harbour city in the far north, with mountains behind.
Fianarantsoa
A hillside city and the centre of the Malagasy wine and tea country.
Top attractions in Madagascar
The places that draw most visitors to Madagascar.
Avenue of the Baobabs
A dirt road lined with giant baobabs, the iconic image of Madagascar.
Andasibe-Mantadia
Rainforest park holding the indri, the largest living lemur.
Tsingy de Bemaraha
A labyrinth of razor-sharp limestone pinnacles and suspension bridges.
Isalo National Park
Sandstone massifs of canyons, natural pools and ring-tailed lemurs.
Rainforests of the Atsinanana
A chain of eastern rainforest parks of exceptional endemism.
Nosy Be
An island of volcanic lakes, ylang-ylang and coral reefs in the northwest.
Festivals, food and getting around Madagascar
What the calendar looks like on the ground, and how to move through the country around it.
Festivals behind the holidays
-
🎉
New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 1
-
🎉
Ramadan Start
Falls on Feb 18
-
🎉
International Women's Day
Falls on Mar 8
-
🎉
Eid al-Fitr
Falls on Mar 20
-
🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
-
🎉
Martyrs' Day
Falls on Mar 29
Food & drink
Getting around
Roads are slow and often poor; domestic flights and long taxi-brousse journeys are the main options.
Travelling around Madagascar’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Madagascar 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
Madagascar'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.
Madagascar public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Madagascar have?
Madagascar has 16 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 Madagascar is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Madagascar'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, Madagascar typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Madagascar?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Madagascar?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Madagascar
School term dates in Madagascar
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.