Public Holidays in Sao Tome and Principe
Statutory public holidays in Sao Tome and Principe, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Sao Tome and Principe at a glance
Sao Tome and Principe’s public holidays mark Independence Day on 12 July alongside Catholic feast days and the commemoration of national heroes.
Several dates move with Easter, and the islands add their own municipal celebrations.
Sao Tome and Principe public holidays 2026
Sao Tome and Principe 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 |
|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Jan 1Thu | National |
| Day of King Amador | Jan 4Sun | National |
| Day of King Amador (observed) | Jan 5Mon | Substitute |
| Martyrs' Day | Feb 3Tue | National |
| Worker's Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Independence Day | Jul 12Sun | National |
| Independence Day (observed) | Jul 13Mon | Substitute |
| Armed Forces Day | Sep 6Sun | National |
| Armed Forces Day (observed) | Sep 7Mon | Substitute |
| Agricultural Reform Day | Sep 30Wed | National |
| São Tomé Day | Dec 21Mon | National |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25Fri | National |
Showing 12 of 12 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Sao Tome and Principe
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Sao Tome and Principe.
Sao Tome
A small capital of colonial buildings, a waterfront and a cocoa warehouse district.
Santo Antonio
The main town of Principe, with pastel colonial houses and a bay.
Neves
A port town on the west coast with cocoa and palm oil processing.
Trindade
A market town in the hills behind the capital.
Santana
A town east of the capital with beaches and a fortress ruin.
Top attractions in Sao Tome and Principe
The places that draw most visitors to Sao Tome and Principe.
Pico Cao Grande
A needle-like volcanic plug rising 300 metres from the rainforest.
Obô Natural Park
Primary rainforest on both islands, with endemic birds and orchids.
Bom Bom Island
A small islet off Principe with beaches and a causeway.
Roça Plantations
Former cocoa and coffee estates of colonial architecture in the hills.
Praia Jale
A remote beach where turtles nest, on the southern coast.
Ilheu das Rolas
A tiny island straddling the equator, with a marker and a resort.
Festivals, food and getting around Sao Tome and Principe
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 of King Amador
Falls on Jan 4
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🎉
Day off for Day of King Amador
Falls on Jan 5
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🎉
Commemoration of the Batepá Massacre
Falls on Feb 3
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
Labour Day
Falls on May 1
Food & drink
Getting around
Ferries and small planes link the two islands; on Sao Tome, shared taxis and motorbikes cover the roads.
Travelling around Sao Tome and Principe’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Sao Tome and Principe 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
Sao Tome and Principe'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.
Sao Tome and Principe public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Sao Tome and Principe have?
Sao Tome and Principe 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 Sao Tome and Principe is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Sao Tome and Principe'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, Sao Tome and Principe typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Sao Tome and Principe?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Sao Tome and Principe?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Sao Tome And Principe
School term dates in Sao Tome And Principe
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.