Public Holidays in Zimbabwe
Statutory public holidays in Zimbabwe, with the dates that give people the day off, how the calendar is set, and what it means for travel, cities and culture.
Zimbabwe at a glance
Zimbabwe’s public holidays mark Independence Day on 18 April, alongside Christian feast days and Unity Day on 22 December.
Several dates move with Easter, and the Heroes’ Day and Defence Forces Day pair falls in August.
Zimbabwe public holidays 2026
Zimbabwe has 13 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 |
| Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day | Feb 21Sat | National |
| Good Friday | Apr 3Fri | National |
| Easter Saturday | Apr 4Sat | National |
| Easter Monday | Apr 6Mon | National |
| Independence Day | Apr 18Sat | National |
| Workers' Day | May 1Fri | National |
| Africa Day | May 25Mon | National |
| Zimbabwe Heroes' Day | Aug 10Mon | National |
| Defense Forces Day | Aug 11Tue | National |
| Unity Day | Dec 22Tue | National |
| Christmas Day | Dec 25Fri | National |
Showing 12 of 13 public holidays for 2026.
Major cities in Zimbabwe
The urban centres that anchor most trips to Zimbabwe.
Harare
A capital of jacaranda and flame trees, with a botanical garden and markets.
Bulawayo
The country's industrial and cultural second city, with museums nearby.
Victoria Falls
A town beside the falls, the adventure capital of the country.
Mutare
A city in the Eastern Highlands, near the Mozambique border.
Gweru
A city in the central highlands, with a military museum and antelope park.
Top attractions in Zimbabwe
The places that draw most visitors to Zimbabwe.
Victoria Falls
A mile-wide curtain of the Zambezi falling into a basalt gorge.
Great Zimbabwe
The dry-stone ruins of a medieval city and the country's namesake.
Mana Pools
A Zambezi floodplain park of walking safaris and wild dogs.
Hwange National Park
A vast elephant park of teak woodland and pumped waterholes.
Matobo Hills
Balanced granite kopjes with rock art and Cecil Rhodes' grave.
Lake Kariba
A huge artificial lake on the Zambezi, with houseboats and game shores.
Festivals, food and getting around Zimbabwe
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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Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day
Falls on Feb 21
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March Equinox
Falls on Mar 20
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Good Friday
Falls on Apr 3
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Holy Saturday
Falls on Apr 4
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Easter Sunday
Falls on Apr 5
Food & drink
Getting around
Coaches link the main towns; the parks are reached by 4×4 or light aircraft, and fuel supply can be irregular.
Travelling around Zimbabwe’s holidays
What the dates mean once you are there.
Book around the peaks
Transport and hotels in Zimbabwe 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
Zimbabwe'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.
Zimbabwe public holidays: common questions
How many public holidays does Zimbabwe have?
Zimbabwe has 13 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 Zimbabwe is on the year page, with every recorded date in order.
Are Zimbabwe'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, Zimbabwe typically observes it on the nearest weekday. Check the year page for the confirmed arrangement.
Are there regional holidays in Zimbabwe?
Some holidays are observed only in certain regions or by certain communities. The year page lists what applies nationally.
Which years are covered for Zimbabwe?
Calendars are published for 2026, 2025.
School holidays in Zimbabwe
School term dates in Zimbabwe
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.