Public Holidays in Tonga
Statutory public holidays in Tonga, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Tonga at a glance
Tonga’s public holidays mark Emancipation Day on 4 June and the King’s birthday in July, alongside Christian feast days.
The country is deeply Christian, and Sunday observance is strict, with most businesses closed all day.
Tonga public holidays 2026
Tonga has 11 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 |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | National |
| ANZAC Day | Apr 25Sat | National |
| Emancipation Day (observed) | Jun 8Mon | Substitute |
| Birthday of the Reigning Sovereign of Tonga | Jul 4Sat | National |
| Birthday of the Heir to the Crown of Tonga | Sep 17Thu | National |
| Constitution Day (observed) | Nov 2Mon | Substitute |
| Anniversary of the Coronation of HM King George Tupou I (observed) | Dec 7Mon | Substitute |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25Fri | National |
| Boxing Day | Dec 26Sat | National |
Showing 11 of 11 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Tonga
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Tonga.
Nuku'alofa
A capital on Tongatapu with a royal palace, a market and a waterfront.
Neiafu
The main town of Vava'u, on a sheltered harbour of yachts.
Pangai
A small town on Lifuka, of churches and a lagoon.
Mu'a
A village of ancient royal burial mounds and a church.
'Ohonua
The main town of 'Eua, a green island of cliffs and caves.
Top attractions in Tonga
The places that draw most visitors to Tonga.
Ha'amonga 'a Maui Trilithon
A stone gateway of three giant slabs, the Stonehenge of the Pacific.
Mapu'a 'a Vaea Blowholes
A coast where surf is forced through coral holes in high plumes.
Swallows Cave
A sea cave where swifts nest, snorkelled by boat from Vava'u.
Royal Tombs of Mu'a
Coral-slab burial mounds of the ancient Tu'i Tonga line.
Vava'u Whale Swimming
Humpback whales that can be swum with under licence each season.
'Eua National Park
A forest park of cliffs, caves and birdlife on a quiet island.
Festivals, food and getting around Tonga
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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March Equinox
Falls on Mar 21
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🎉
Good Friday
Falls on Apr 3
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🎉
Easter Monday
Falls on Apr 6
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🎉
ANZAC Day
Falls on Apr 25
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Emancipation Day
Falls on Jun 4
Food & drink
Getting around
Ferries and small planes link the island groups; on Tongatapu, taxis and buses cover the roads.
Travelling around Tonga’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Tonga 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
Tonga'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 โ and the busiest.
Tonga public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Tonga have?
Tonga has 11 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 Tonga is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Tonga'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, Tonga typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Tonga?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Tonga?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Tonga
School term dates in Tonga
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.