Public Holidays in Suriname
Statutory public holidays in Suriname, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Suriname at a glance
Suriname’s public holidays span Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Javanese observances, reflecting the country’s exceptional diversity, with Independence Day on 25 November.
Because several dates follow lunar and Javanese calendars, the festival calendar shifts each Gregorian year.
Suriname public holidays 2026
The dates below come from Suriname’s published calendar for 2026. Open the full year for the complete list.
| Holiday | Date | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Year | Jan 1Thu | 2026 |
| Lunar New Year | Feb 17Tue | 2026 |
| Ramadan Start | Feb 18Wed | 2026 |
| Holi Phagwa | Mar 3Tue | 2026 |
| Eid al-Fitr | Mar 20Fri | 2026 |
| March Equinox | Mar 20Fri | 2026 |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | 2026 |
| Easter Sunday | Apr 5Sun | 2026 |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | 2026 |
| Labor Day | May 1Fri | 2026 |
| Eid al-Adha | May 27Wed | 2026 |
| June Solstice | Jun 21Sun | 2026 |
Showing 12 of 21 dates recorded for 2026.
Major cities in Suriname
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Suriname.
Paramaribo
A UNESCO capital of Dutch colonial wooden buildings and multi-faith streets.
Nieuw Nickerie
A rice-farming town near the Guyana border with a sea wall.
Moengo
A bauxite town on the Cottica river, now known for its art centre.
Albina
A town on the Maroni river facing French Guiana, a ferry crossing point.
Brokopondo
A town beside a vast hydroelectric reservoir in the interior.
Top attractions in Suriname
The places that draw most visitors to Suriname.
Paramaribo Historic Centre
A wooden colonial city of verandas, a fort and a presidential palace.
Central Suriname Nature Reserve
A vast rainforest reserve of granite domes and pristine rivers.
Brownsberg Nature Park
A plateau reserve above a reservoir, with waterfalls and rainforest trails.
Fort Zeelandia
A 17th-century fort at the river mouth, now a museum.
Jodensavanne
The remains of one of the oldest Jewish settlements in the Americas.
Galibi Nature Reserve
A coastal reserve where sea turtles nest on sandbanks.
Festivals, food and getting around Suriname
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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🎉
Lunar New Year
Falls on Feb 17
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🎉
Ramadan Start
Falls on Feb 18
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🎉
Holi Phagwa
Falls on Mar 3
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🎉
Eid al-Fitr
Falls on Mar 20
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
Food & drink
Getting around
The interior is reached by river boat or light aircraft; the coastal strip has minibuses and shared taxis.
Travelling around Suriname’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Suriname 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
Suriname'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.
Suriname public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Suriname have?
Suriname has 21 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 Suriname is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Suriname'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, Suriname typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Suriname?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Suriname?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.