Public Holidays in Nicaragua
Statutory public holidays in Nicaragua, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Nicaragua at a glance
Nicaragua’s public holidays mark Independence Day on 15 September and Revolution Day on 19 July, alongside Catholic feast days.
Several dates move with Easter, and the Purisima celebration in early December is a distinctive national devotion.
Nicaragua public holidays 2026
The dates below come from Nicaragua’s published calendar for 2026. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | 2026 |
| Day of Love and Friendship | Feb 14Sat | 2026 |
| March Equinox | Mar 20Fri | 2026 |
| Maundy Thursday | Apr 2Thu | 2026 |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | 2026 |
| Holy Saturday | Apr 4Sat | 2026 |
| Easter Sunday | Apr 5Sun | 2026 |
| Labor Day / May Day | May 1Fri | 2026 |
| Mothers' Day | May 30Sat | 2026 |
| June Solstice | Jun 21Sun | 2026 |
| The Sandinista Revolution Day | Jul 19Sun | 2026 |
| Santo Domingo Celebrations Start | Aug 1Sat | 2026 |
Showing 12 of 23 dates recorded for 2026.
Major cities in Nicaragua
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Nicaragua.
Managua
A capital on a lake, of a rebuilt centre, a cathedral and a waterfront.
Leon
A city of a vast cathedral, revolutionary murals and a university.
Granada
A colonial city on Lake Nicaragua of pastel houses and a cathedral.
Masaya
A city of a market, a volcanic lagoon and a strong craft tradition.
San Juan del Sur
A Pacific surf town of a bay, hostels and fishing boats.
Top attractions in Nicaragua
The places that draw most visitors to Nicaragua.
Leon Cathedral
The largest cathedral in Central America, with a roof you can walk.
Ometepe Island
A volcanic island of twin cones in the middle of Lake Nicaragua.
Masaya Volcano
An accessible active volcano with a glowing crater you can drive to.
Corn Islands
Two Caribbean islands of palms, clear water and a slow Creole culture.
Granada & Isletas
A colonial city with a lake archipelago of small islands.
Cerro Negro
A young black volcano sand-boarded down from the crater rim.
Festivals, food and getting around Nicaragua
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's Day
Falls on Jan 1
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Day of Love and Friendship
Falls on Feb 14
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March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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Maundy Thursday
Falls on Apr 2
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🎉
Good Friday
Falls on Apr 3
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Holy Saturday
Falls on Apr 4
Food & drink
Getting around
Chicken buses are the backbone; boats serve Ometepe and the Corn Islands, and flights reach the Caribbean coast.
Travelling around Nicaragua’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Nicaragua 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
Nicaragua'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.
Nicaragua public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Nicaragua have?
Nicaragua has 23 dates recorded on its 2026 calendar, ranging from national statutory holidays to widely marked observances that are not days off work.
Where can I find the full 2026 list?
The complete 2026 calendar for Nicaragua is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Nicaragua'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, Nicaragua typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Nicaragua?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Nicaragua?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.