Calendars & Holidays

Zambia public holidays 2026

15public holidays
8long weekends
5bridge days worth booking
Add holidays to your calendar (.ics)

Zambia 2026

January

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262728293031

February

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March

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April

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May

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June

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2930

July

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August

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September

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October

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262728293031

November

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December

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Public holiday Weekend

Public holidays in Zambia in 2026

DateDayHoliday
Jan 1ThursdayNew Year's Day
Mar 9MondayWomen's Day
Mar 12ThursdayYouth Day
Apr 3FridayGood Friday
Apr 6MondayEaster Monday
Apr 28TuesdayKenneth Kaunda Day
May 1FridayLabour Day
May 25MondayAfrican Freedom Day
Jul 6MondayHeroes' Day
Jul 7TuesdayUnity Day
Aug 3MondayFarmers' Day
Oct 18SundayNational Day of Prayers
Oct 19MondayNational Day of Prayers (substitute day)
Oct 24SaturdayIndependence Day
Dec 25FridayChristmas Day

In 2026, Zambia has 15 public holidays, counting 1 substitute day that replaces a holiday falling on a weekend. 13 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)4 days off (Jan 1 to Jan 4)New Year's Day
Mar 13 (1 day)4 days off (Mar 12 to Mar 15)Youth Day
Apr 27 (1 day)4 days off (Apr 25 to Apr 28)Kenneth Kaunda Day
Mar 10, Mar 11 (2 days)6 days off (Mar 7 to Mar 12)Women's Day, Youth Day
Apr 29, Apr 30 (2 days)6 days off (Apr 28 to May 3)Kenneth Kaunda Day, Labour Day

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

Frequently asked questions

How many public holidays does Zambia have in 2026?

15, including 1 substitute day. 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 Zambia in 2026?

8, and you don't need any vacation days for them. The first one runs from Mar 7 to Mar 9 (Women's Day). With a day or two off you can stretch some of them further: see the bridge days above.

Which 2026 holidays in Zambia fall on a weekend?

National Day of Prayers (Sunday, October 18, 2026), Independence Day (Saturday, October 24, 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 Zambia: 2027, 2028. Without holidays: blank 2026 calendar.

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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.