Public Holidays in Malawi
Statutory public holidays in Malawi, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Malawi at a glance
Malawi’s public holidays mark Independence Day on 6 July and Kamuzu Day in May, alongside Christian feast days.
Several dates move with Easter, and Mother’s Day in October is a distinctive national observance.
Malawi public holidays 2026
Malawi has 12 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 |
| John Chilembwe Day | Jan 15Thu | National |
| Martyrs Day | Mar 3Tue | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | National |
| Labour Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Kamuzu Day | May 14Thu | National |
| Independence Day | Jul 6Mon | National |
| Mother's Day | Oct 15Thu | National |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25Fri | National |
| Boxing Day | Dec 26Sat | National |
| Boxing Day (observed) | Dec 28Mon | Substitute |
Showing 12 of 12 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Malawi
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Malawi.
Lilongwe
A garden capital of government quarters, markets and a new city centre.
Blantyre
The commercial hub in the Shire highlands, with a missionary heritage.
Mzuzu
A city in the northern highlands with a market and coffee estates.
Zomba
A city beneath the Zomba plateau, with colonial buildings and a market.
Mangochi
A town at the southern end of Lake Malawi, with beaches and lodges.
Top attractions in Malawi
The places that draw most visitors to Malawi.
Lake Malawi National Park
A freshwater lake park of cichlid fish, islands and clear water.
Lake Malawi
One of the great African rift lakes, with beaches comparable to the sea.
Mount Mulanje
A granite massif of peaks, plateaux and pine-planted valleys.
Zomba Plateau
A forested highland plateau of viewpoints and waterfalls above Zomba.
Liwonde National Park
A river park of elephants, hippos and reintroduced rhinos.
Nyika Plateau
A rolling highland plateau of montane grassland and antelope.
Festivals, food and getting around Malawi
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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🎉
John Chilembwe Day
Falls on Jan 15
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🎉
Ramadan Start
Falls on Feb 18
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🎉
Martyrs' Day
Falls on Mar 3
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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
Minibuses and coaches link the main towns; the lake steamer and island boats serve the shoreline communities.
Travelling around Malawi’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Malawi 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
Malawi'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.
Malawi public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Malawi have?
Malawi has 12 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 Malawi is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Malawi'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, Malawi typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Malawi?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Malawi?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Malawi
School term dates in Malawi
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.