Public Holidays in Sierra Leone
Statutory public holidays in Sierra Leone, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Sierra Leone at a glance
Sierra Leone’s public holidays mark Independence Day on 27 April alongside Christian and Islamic dates and the armed forces commemoration.
Because the country is religiously mixed, both Easter and the Eid holidays are nationally observed.
Sierra Leone public holidays 2026
Sierra Leone has 14 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 |
| Armed Forces Day | Feb 18Wed | National |
| International Women's Day | Mar 8Sun | National |
| International Women's Day (observed) | Mar 9Mon | Substitute |
| Eid al-Fitr (estimated) | Mar 20Fri | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | National |
| Independence Day | Apr 27Mon | National |
| International Worker's Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Eid al-Adha (estimated) | May 27Wed | National |
| Prophet's Birthday (estimated) | Aug 25Tue | National |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25Fri | National |
Showing 12 of 14 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Sierra Leone
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Sierra Leone.
Freetown
A capital of hills, a natural harbour and a creole heritage on the peninsula.
Bo
The largest city outside the peninsula, a trading and education centre.
Kenema
A city in the diamond country, with a market and a hospital.
Makeni
The main city of the north, a road junction and market centre.
Koidu
A mining town in the east, at the centre of the diamond trade.
Top attractions in Sierra Leone
The places that draw most visitors to Sierra Leone.
Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary
A forest reserve near the capital rescuing and rehabilitating chimpanzees.
River No. 2 Beach
A white-sand beach with a river mouth, among the country's best.
Bunce Island
A slave-trading castle in the river estuary, visited by boat.
Tiwai Island
A rainforest island reserve of primates and rare forest birds.
Outamba-Kilimi National Park
A savanna park of elephants, chimpanzees and hippos in the north.
Gola Rainforest National Park
A transboundary rainforest rich in birds and pygmy hippos.
Festivals, food and getting around Sierra Leone
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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🎉
Ramadan Start
Falls on Feb 18
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🎉
Armed Forces Day
Falls on Feb 18
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🎉
International Women's Day
Falls on Mar 8
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🎉
Day off for International Women's Day
Falls on Mar 9
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🎉
Eid al-Fitr
Falls on Mar 20
Food & drink
Getting around
Roads vary widely; poda-podas and shared taxis are the main transport, and the peninsula beaches are reached by road or boat.
Travelling around Sierra Leone’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Sierra Leone 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
Sierra Leone'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.
Sierra Leone public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Sierra Leone have?
Sierra Leone has 14 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 Sierra Leone is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Sierra Leone'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, Sierra Leone typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Sierra Leone?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Sierra Leone?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Sierra Leone
School term dates in Sierra Leone
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.