Public Holidays in Mauritius
Statutory public holidays in Mauritius, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Mauritius at a glance
Mauritius has one of the fuller holiday calendars in the region, spanning Hindu, Tamil, Muslim, Chinese and Christian festivals alongside Independence Day on 12 March.
Because several dates follow lunar Hindu and Muslim calendars, the festival calendar shifts each Gregorian year.
Mauritius public holidays 2026
Mauritius has 15 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 |
| Day after New Year's Day | Jan 2Fri | National |
| Abolition of Slavery | Feb 1Sun | National |
| Thaipusam | Feb 2Mon | National |
| Maha Shivaratri | Feb 15Sun | National |
| Chinese Spring Festival | Feb 17Tue | National |
| Independence and Republic Day | Mar 12Thu | National |
| Ugadi | Mar 19Thu | National |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 21Sat | National |
| Labor Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Assumption Day | Aug 15Sat | National |
| Ganesh Chaturthi | Sep 14Mon | National |
Showing 12 of 15 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Mauritius
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Mauritius.
Port Louis
A capital of a harbour, a covered market and a waterfront of colonial facades.
Beau Bassin-Rose Hill
A residential and commercial city on the plateau above the capital.
Vacoas-Phoenix
A cool inland city with a racecourse and botanical gardens nearby.
Curepipe
A misty hill town with a crater lake and Victorian houses.
Quatre Bornes
A market town of flower sellers and a busy shopping district.
Grand Baie
A northern village of beaches, restaurants and catamaran trips.
Top attractions in Mauritius
The places that draw most visitors to Mauritius.
Le Morne Brabant
A dramatic peninsula mountain, a refuge for escaped slaves and a symbol of resistance.
Black River Gorges National Park
The largest remaining native forest, with waterfalls and endemic birds.
Seven Coloured Earths
Dunes of differently coloured volcanic sands that never mix.
Pamplemousses Botanical Garden
A colonial garden of giant water lilies and spice trees.
Ile aux Cerfs
A lagoon island of white sand and shallow turquoise water.
Grand Bassin
A sacred Hindu crater lake with a giant statue of Shiva above it.
Festivals, food and getting around Mauritius
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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🎉
New Year (Day 2)
Falls on Jan 2
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🎉
Abolition of Slavery
Falls on Feb 1
-
🎉
Ramadan Start
Falls on Feb 18
-
🎉
National Day
Falls on Mar 12
-
🎉
Eid al-Fitr
Falls on Mar 20
Food & drink
Getting around
Buses are cheap and reach most of the island; car hire gives access to the wilder south and west coasts.
Travelling around Mauritius’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Mauritius 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
Mauritius'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.
Mauritius public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Mauritius have?
Mauritius has 15 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 Mauritius is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Mauritius'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, Mauritius typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Mauritius?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Mauritius?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Mauritius
School term dates in Mauritius
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.