Public Holidays in Saint Kitts and Nevis
Statutory public holidays in Saint Kitts and Nevis, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Saint Kitts and Nevis at a glance
Saint Kitts and Nevis’s public holidays mark Independence Day on 19 September alongside Christian feast days and Emancipation Day in August.
Several dates move with Easter, and the December Carnival is the biggest celebration of the year.
Saint Kitts and Nevis public holidays 2026
Saint Kitts and Nevis 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Carnival Day | Jan 1Thu | National |
| Carnival Day – Last Lap | Jan 2Fri | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | National |
| Labour Day | May 4Mon | National |
| Whit Monday | May 25Mon | National |
| Emancipation Day | Aug 3Mon | National |
| Culturama Day – Last Lap | Aug 4Tue | National |
| National Heroes Day | Sep 16Wed | National |
| Independence Day | Sep 19Sat | National |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25Fri | National |
| Boxing Day | Dec 26Sat | National |
Showing 12 of 12 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Saint Kitts and Nevis
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Basseterre
A capital of Georgian buildings, a circus roundabout and a deep-water port.
Charlestown
A small Georgian town on Nevis, with hot springs and a museum.
Old Road Town
A west-coast village where the first English settlement was founded.
Sandy Point
A town on the northwest coast with a beach and old sugar estates.
Cayon
A village in a green valley of small farms and a school.
Top attractions in Saint Kitts and Nevis
The places that draw most visitors to Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Brimstone Hill Fortress
A vast hilltop fortress of siege-proof ramparts above the sea.
Mount Liamuiga
A dormant volcano with a crater lake, climbed through rainforest.
Nevis Peak
A cloud-forested volcanic cone climbed on a steep day hike.
Pinney's Beach
A long grey-sand beach on Nevis with beach bars and calm water.
Frigate Bay
A strip of sand and bars on the southeast peninsula of Saint Kitts.
Romney Manor
A colonial estate of gardens and a batik workshop beneath the mountain.
Festivals, food and getting around Saint Kitts and Nevis
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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🎉
Carnival Day
Falls on Jan 2
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
Good Friday
Falls on Apr 3
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🎉
Easter Monday
Falls on Apr 6
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🎉
Labor Day / May Day
Falls on May 4
Food & drink
Getting around
Minibuses run the ring roads; a short ferry links Saint Kitts and Nevis several times a day.
Travelling around Saint Kitts and Nevis’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Saint Kitts and Nevis 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
Saint Kitts and Nevis'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.
Saint Kitts and Nevis public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Saint Kitts and Nevis have?
Saint Kitts and Nevis 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 Saint Kitts and Nevis is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Saint Kitts and Nevis'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, Saint Kitts and Nevis typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Saint Kitts and Nevis?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Saint Kitts and Nevis?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Saint Kitts And Nevis
School term dates in Saint Kitts And Nevis
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.