Public Holidays in Mali
Statutory public holidays in Mali, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Mali at a glance
Mali’s public holidays follow the Islamic lunar calendar, with Independence Day on 22 September the national date.
Religious dates move about ten days earlier each Gregorian year, and the country is overwhelmingly Muslim.
Mali public holidays 2026
Mali 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 |
| Armed Forces Day | Jan 20Tue | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 20Fri | National |
| Martyrs' Day | Mar 26Thu | National |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | National |
| Labor Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Africa Day | May 25Mon | National |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 27Wed | National |
| Prophet's Birthday (estimated) | Aug 25Tue | National |
| Prophet's Baptism (estimated) | Sep 1Tue | National |
| National Day of the Republic of Mali | Sep 22Tue | National |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25Fri | National |
Showing 12 of 12 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Mali
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Mali.
Bamako
A Niger river capital of markets, bridges and a national museum.
Sikasso
The second city, in the green south, with a market and a fortress.
Mopti
A port city at the meeting of two rivers, with a mosque and boatyards.
Segou
A city on the Niger with colonial architecture and a pottery tradition.
Kayes
A hot western city near the Senegal river and a rail junction.
Top attractions in Mali
The places that draw most visitors to Mali.
Timbuktu
A desert city of mud-brick mosques and manuscripts, once a scholarly capital.
Djenné
A river town with the largest mud-brick building in the world and a Monday market.
Great Mosque of Djenné
A monumental adobe mosque rebuilt each year by the community.
Bandiagara Escarpment
A sandstone cliff of Dogon villages, granaries and cliff tombs.
Cliffs of Hombori
The highest peaks in Mali, of sandstone buttresses and caves.
Boucle du Baoulé
A savanna park of giraffes and hippos northwest of the capital.
Festivals, food and getting around Mali
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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🎉
Army Day
Falls on Jan 20
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🎉
Ramadan Start
Falls on Feb 18
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🎉
Leylatoul Qadr
Falls on Mar 16
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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
Travel is heavily restricted by insecurity; check official guidance. River boats and bush taxis remain the local norm.
Travelling around Mali’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Mali 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
Mali'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.
Mali public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Mali have?
Mali 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 Mali is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Mali'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, Mali typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Mali?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Mali?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Mali
School term dates in Mali
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.