Public Holidays in Zambia, 2026
Zambia observes 16 nationwide public holidays in 2026, 5 of which fall on the weekend. The table below lists every date the holiday calendar records.
- Public holidays
- 16
- On a weekend
- 5
- Regional only
- 0
- Business days 2026
- 250
Nationwide
Zambia holiday calendar 2026
Dates marked nationwide are days off across Zambia. Entries showing a region count, or an observance type, are not deducted from business day calculations.
| Date | Day | Holiday | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2026 | Thursday | New Year's Day | Nationwide |
| 8 March 2026 | Sunday(weekend) | International Women's Day | Nationwide |
| 12 March 2026 | Thursday | Youth Day | Nationwide |
| 3 April 2026 | Friday | Good Friday | Nationwide |
| 4 April 2026 | Saturday(weekend) | Holy Saturday | Nationwide |
| 5 April 2026 | Sunday(weekend) | Easter Sunday | Nationwide |
| 6 April 2026 | Monday | Easter Monday | Nationwide |
| 28 April 2026 | Tuesday | Kenneth Kaunda's Birthday | Nationwide |
| 1 May 2026 | Friday | Labour Day | Nationwide |
| 25 May 2026 | Monday | African Freedom Day | Nationwide |
| 6 July 2026 | Monday | Heroes' Day | Nationwide |
| 7 July 2026 | Tuesday | Unity Day | Nationwide |
| 3 August 2026 | Monday | Farmers' Day | Nationwide |
| 18 October 2026 | Sunday(weekend) | National Day of Prayer | Nationwide |
| 24 October 2026 | Saturday(weekend) | Independence Day | Nationwide |
| 25 December 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Nationwide |
Which holidays actually give a day off in 2026?
11 of Zambia's 16 nationwide public holidays land on a working day in 2026, so those are the ones that shorten the working year. The remaining 5 fall on Saturday and Sunday: International Women's Day (8 March 2026), Holy Saturday (4 April 2026), Easter Sunday (5 April 2026), National Day of Prayer (18 October 2026), Independence Day (24 October 2026).
After removing weekends and holidays, 2026 leaves 250 business days in Zambia.
Count business days in Zambia
Need the number of working days between two specific dates rather than the holiday list?