Public Holidays in Venezuela
Statutory public holidays in Venezuela, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Venezuela at a glance
Venezuela’s public holidays mark Independence Day on 5 July and the birthday of Bolivar on 24 July, alongside Catholic feast days.
Several dates move with Easter, and the Christmas and Carnival periods are the longest breaks of the year.
Venezuela public holidays 2026
Venezuela 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 |
| Carnival Monday | Feb 16Mon | National |
| Carnival Tuesday | Feb 17Tue | National |
| Maundy Thursday | Apr 2Thu | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Declaration of Independence | Apr 19Sun | National |
| International Worker's Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Family Day | May 15Fri | National |
| Battle of Carabobo | Jun 24Wed | National |
| Independence Day | Jul 5Sun | National |
| Birthday of Simon Bolivar | Jul 24Fri | National |
| Day of Indigenous Resistance | Oct 12Mon | National |
Showing 12 of 15 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Venezuela
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Venezuela.
Caracas
A capital in a valley beneath the Avila mountain, with museums and a modern centre.
Maracaibo
A city on Lake Maracaibo, of oil wealth, gaita music and a long bridge.
Valencia
A city of industry and a colonial core, on the road to the coast.
Barquisimeto
A city of music and a vast monument, in the western llanos.
Merida
A mountain city with the world's highest cable car and Andean peaks.
Ciudad Bolivar
A colonial city on the Orinoco, the gateway to the Gran Sabana.
Top attractions in Venezuela
The places that draw most visitors to Venezuela.
Angel Falls
The highest uninterrupted waterfall in the world, in a tabletop mountain.
Canaima National Park
A vast park of tepuis, waterfalls and savanna in the southeast.
Los Roques Archipelago
A coral archipelago of white sand and shallow turquoise water.
Mount Roraima
A flat-topped table mountain straddling three borders, climbed over days.
Morrocoy National Park
A coastal park of cays, mangroves and coral reefs.
Merida Cable Car
The highest and longest cable car in the world, over the Andes.
Festivals, food and getting around Venezuela
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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🎉
The Three Wise Men Day
Falls on Jan 6
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🎉
Carnival / Shrove Monday
Falls on Feb 16
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🎉
Carnival / Shrove Tuesday / Pancake Day
Falls on Feb 17
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🎉
Saint Joseph's Day
Falls on Mar 19
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🎉
March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
Food & drink
Getting around
Conditions are difficult and services are irregular; consult official guidance before any journey.
Travelling around Venezuela’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Venezuela 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
Venezuela'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.
Venezuela public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Venezuela have?
Venezuela 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 Venezuela is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Venezuela'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, Venezuela typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Venezuela?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Venezuela?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Venezuela
School term dates in Venezuela
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.