Calendars & Holidays

DR Congo public holidays 2026

11public holidays
5long weekends
2bridge days worth booking
Add holidays to your calendar (.ics)

Public holidays in the DR Congo in 2026

DateDayHoliday
Jan 1ThursdayNew Year's Day
Jan 4SundayDay of the Martyrs
Jan 5MondayDay of the Martyrs (substitute day)
Jan 16FridayAnniversary of President Laurent Kabila
Jan 17SaturdayAnniversary of Prime Minister Patrice Emery Lumumba
May 1FridayLabour Day
May 17SundayLiberation Day
May 18MondayLiberation Day (substitute day)
Jun 30TuesdayIndependence Day
Aug 1SaturdayParents' Day
Dec 25FridayChristmas Day

In 2026, the DR Congo has 11 public holidays, counting 2 substitute days that replace a holiday falling on a weekend. 7 of them land on a weekday, so they are real days off for most people. The year opens with New Year's Day on Thursday, January 1, 2026 and the last one is Christmas Day on Friday, December 25, 2026.

Long weekends in 2026

Best bridge days to book

Take these days off to connect public holidays with the weekend:

Take offGetAround
Jan 2 (1 day)5 days off (Jan 1 to Jan 5)New Year's Day, Day of the Martyrs, Day of the Martyrs (substitute day)
Jun 29 (1 day)4 days off (Jun 27 to Jun 30)Independence Day

Weekend days assumed: Saturday and Sunday. Read more about planning bridge days.

Frequently asked questions

How many public holidays does the DR Congo have in 2026?

11, including 2 substitute days. The table above lists every one with its date and weekday, starting with New Year's Day on Jan 1.

How many long weekends are there in the DR Congo in 2026?

5, and you don't need any vacation days for them. The first one runs from Jan 3 to Jan 5 (Day of the Martyrs, Day of the Martyrs (substitute day)). With a day or two off you can stretch some of them further: see the bridge days above.

Which 2026 holidays in the DR Congo fall on a weekend?

Day of the Martyrs (Sunday, January 4, 2026), Anniversary of Prime Minister Patrice Emery Lumumba (Saturday, January 17, 2026), Liberation Day (Sunday, May 17, 2026), Parents' Day (Saturday, August 1, 2026). Whether you get another day off instead depends on local rules. When there is a substitute day, it is in the table above.

More calendars

Other years for the DR Congo: 2027, 2028. Without holidays: blank 2026 calendar.

Holiday data: date-holidays (CC BY 3.0). Holidays can change by government decision; regional holidays are not included. Please verify important dates with official sources.