Public Holidays in Myanmar
Statutory public holidays in Myanmar, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Myanmar at a glance
Myanmar’s public holidays follow the Burmese lunar calendar, with Thingyan, the water festival in mid-April, the biggest celebration. Most dates move each Gregorian year.
Thingyan closes businesses for up to ten days, and the full-moon days of the lunar month mark many of the country’s Buddhist festivals.
Myanmar public holidays 2025
The dates below come from Myanmar’s published calendar for 2025. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year Holiday | Jan 1Wed | 2025 |
| Independence Day | Jan 4Sat | 2025 |
| Chinese New Year | Jan 29Wed | 2025 |
| Union Day | Feb 12Wed | 2025 |
| Peasants' Day | Mar 2Sun | 2025 |
| Full Moon Day of Tabaung | Mar 13Thu | 2025 |
| March Equinox | Mar 20Thu | 2025 |
| Armed Forces' Day | Mar 27Thu | 2025 |
| Maha Thingyan (Water Festival) | Apr 13Sun | 2025 |
| Maha Thingyan (Water Festival) | Apr 14Mon | 2025 |
| Maha Thingyan (Water Festival) | Apr 15Tue | 2025 |
| Maha Thingyan (Water Festival) | Apr 16Wed | 2025 |
Showing 12 of 35 dates recorded for 2025.
Major cities in Myanmar
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Myanmar.
Yangon
A city of colonial terraces, gold pagodas and busy tea shops on the Yangon river.
Mandalay
The last royal capital, with a walled palace, monasteries and marble workshops.
Naypyidaw
A purpose-built administrative capital of vast boulevards and ministries.
Bagan
A settlement among thousands of brick stupas on the Irrawaddy plain.
Inle Lake
Stilt villages and floating gardens on a shallow highland lake.
Mawlamyine
A riverside city of colonial churches, pagodas and a literary heritage.
Top attractions in Myanmar
The places that draw most visitors to Myanmar.
Bagan Archaeological Zone
Over 3,000 surviving stupas and temples on a dry plain.
Shwedagon Pagoda
A 99-metre gold-plated stupa, the holiest Buddhist site in the country.
Inle Lake
A shallow lake where fishers row with one leg and gardens float on the water.
Mandalay Hill
A covered stairway climbing to terraces above the royal city.
U Bein Bridge
A 1.2 km teak footbridge across a shallow lake, busiest at sunset.
Golden Rock
A pagoda balanced on a gilded boulder on a mountain ledge.
Festivals, food and getting around Myanmar
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 Holiday
Falls on Jan 1
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🎉
Independence Day
Falls on Jan 4
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🎉
Chinese New Year
Falls on Jan 29
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🎉
Union Day
Falls on Feb 12
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🎉
Peasants' Day
Falls on Mar 2
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🎉
Full Moon Day of Tabaung
Falls on Mar 13
Food & drink
Getting around
Buses and trains link the main cities slowly; domestic flights are the practical option for longer hops.
Travelling around Myanmar’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Myanmar 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
Myanmar'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.
Myanmar public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Myanmar have?
Myanmar has 35 dates recorded on its 2025 calendar, ranging from national statutory holidays to widely marked observances that are not days off work.
Where can I find the full 2025 list?
The complete 2025 calendar for Myanmar is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Myanmar'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, Myanmar typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Myanmar?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Myanmar?
Calendars are published for 2025.