Public Holidays in Vanuatu
Statutory public holidays in Vanuatu, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Vanuatu at a glance
Vanuatu’s public holidays mark Independence Day on 30 July alongside Christian feast days and Custom Chiefs Day in March.
Several dates move with Easter, and the country’s John Frum movement and land diving on Pentecost are distinctive observances.
Vanuatu public holidays 2026
Vanuatu has 15 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 |
| Father Lini Day | Feb 21Sat | National |
| Custom Chief's Day | Mar 5Thu | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | National |
| Labour Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Ascension Day | May 14Thu | National |
| Children's Day | Jul 24Fri | National |
| Independence Day | Jul 30Thu | National |
| Assumption Day | Aug 15Sat | National |
| Constitution Day | Oct 5Mon | National |
| Unity Day | Nov 29Sun | National |
Showing 12 of 15 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Vanuatu
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Vanuatu.
Port Vila
A capital on Efate of a harbour, markets and a relaxed Melanesian pace.
Luganville
The second town, on a channel with world-class wreck diving offshore.
Isangel
The main town of Tanna, near the active volcano of Mount Yasur.
Sola
A small town in the Banks islands, of a hospital and a volcano.
Norsup
A town on Malakula with a hospital and a timber industry.
Top attractions in Vanuatu
The places that draw most visitors to Vanuatu.
Mount Yasur
One of the most accessible active volcanoes on earth, viewed from the crater rim.
Chief Roi Mata's Domain
A landscape of burial sites and oral tradition on Efate and Lelepa.
SS President Coolidge
One of the largest and most accessible shipwreck dives in the world.
Land Diving (Naghol)
The original bungee, where men dive with vines from a tall tower on Pentecost.
Million Dollar Point
Where wartime equipment was dumped into the sea, now a shallow wreck site.
Champagne Beach
A white-sand bay on Espiritu Santo where the surf fizzes over coral.
Festivals, food and getting around Vanuatu
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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Father Lini Day
Falls on Feb 21
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Custom Chief's Day
Falls on Mar 5
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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
Food & drink
Getting around
Domestic flights and inter-island boats link the islands; truck-buses and 4x4s handle most land transport.
Travelling around Vanuatu’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Vanuatu 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
Vanuatu'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.
Vanuatu public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Vanuatu have?
Vanuatu has 15 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 Vanuatu is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Vanuatu'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, Vanuatu typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Vanuatu?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Vanuatu?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Vanuatu
School term dates in Vanuatu
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.