Public Holidays in Rwanda
Statutory public holidays in Rwanda, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Rwanda at a glance
Rwanda’s public holidays centre on Independence Day on 1 July and Liberation Day on 4 July, with Genocide Memorial Day on 7 April a national day of mourning.
The week following 7 April is an official mourning period, and several dates move with Easter.
Rwanda public holidays 2026
The dates below come from Rwanda’s published calendar for 2026. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year | Jan 1Thu | 2026 |
| Day After New Year's Day | Jan 2Fri | 2026 |
| National Heroes' Day | Feb 1Sun | 2026 |
| National Heroes' Day observed | Feb 2Mon | 2026 |
| Eid al-Fitr | Mar 20Fri | 2026 |
| March Equinox | Mar 20Fri | 2026 |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | 2026 |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | 2026 |
| Genocide Against the Tutsi Memorial Day | Apr 7Tue | 2026 |
| Labor Day | May 1Fri | 2026 |
| Eid al-Adha | May 27Wed | 2026 |
| June Solstice | Jun 21Sun | 2026 |
Showing 12 of 23 dates recorded for 2026.
Major cities in Rwanda
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Rwanda.
Kigali
A clean, hilly capital of terraces, a genocide memorial and a convention centre.
Musanze
A city beneath the Virunga volcanoes, the base for gorilla trekking.
Rubavu
A city on Lake Kivu, with beaches and a border crossing to Goma.
Huye
A university city with a national museum and a hilltop cathedral.
Rusizi
A city at the southern end of Lake Kivu, near Nyungwe forest.
Top attractions in Rwanda
The places that draw most visitors to Rwanda.
Volcanoes National Park
Mountain gorilla trekking on the slopes of the Virunga volcanoes.
Nyungwe Forest
A montane rainforest of chimpanzees, colobus and a canopy walkway.
Akagera National Park
Savanna park of lions, elephants and the restored big five.
Kigali Genocide Memorial
The national memorial and museum, where many victims are buried.
Lake Kivu
A deep rift lake of terraced hills, islands and coffee shores.
King's Palace, Nyanza
A reconstructed traditional royal residence of thatched domes.
Festivals, food and getting around Rwanda
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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🎉
Day After New Year's Day
Falls on Jan 2
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🎉
National Heroes' Day
Falls on Feb 1
-
🎉
National Heroes' Day observed
Falls on Feb 2
-
🎉
Eid al-Fitr
Falls on Mar 20
-
🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
Food & drink
Getting around
Roads are excellent by regional standards; moto-taxis and shared taxis handle short trips, and 4x4s serve the parks.
Travelling around Rwanda’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Rwanda 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
Rwanda'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.
Rwanda public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Rwanda have?
Rwanda 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 Rwanda is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Rwanda'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, Rwanda typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Rwanda?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Rwanda?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.