Public Holidays

Discover upcoming public holiday dates for Eritrea and start planning to make the most of your time off.

2026 Public Holidays

Date	Day	Holiday
1 Jan	Thu	New Year's Day
19 Jan	Mon	Coptic Epiphany
8 Mar	Sun	International Women's Day
1 May	Fri	May Day
24 May	Sun	Independence Day
20 Jun	Sat	Martyrs' Day
1 Sep	Tue	Revolution Day

2027 Public Holidays

Date	Day	Holiday
1 Jan	Fri	New Year's Day
19 Jan	Tue	Coptic Epiphany
8 Mar	Mon	International Women's Day
1 May	Sat	May Day
24 May	Mon	Independence Day
20 Jun	Sun	Martyrs' Day
1 Sep	Wed	Revolution Day

2028 Public Holidays

Date	Day	Holiday
1 Jan	Sat	New Year's Day
19 Jan	Wed	Coptic Epiphany
8 Mar	Wed	International Women's Day
1 May	Mon	May Day
24 May	Wed	Independence Day
20 Jun	Tue	Martyrs' Day
1 Sep	Fri	Revolution Day

The State of Eritrea currently celebrates 16 national holidays. Many of the holidays celebrated in Eritrea are based on religious beliefs. However, these events are considered national holidays and everyone is entitled to a paid vacation day.

Public holidays in Eritrea are regulated by the Labour Proclamation of Eritrea No. 118 of 2001. This law establishes the public holidays celebrated within the country, provides the government with the authority to move holidays from a rest day to the following work day, and grants the government authority to create one-time or new national holidays.

Chapter 2, Article 55 of the Labour Proclamation regulates pay for employees on national holidays. Under this law, all employees are entitled to a paid day off for every national holiday.

Employees that are required to work on a national holiday because of their position are given a pay rate of two and one half times their regular hourly salary for all hours worked on that date. This premium pay is mandated by law and cannot be changed, even in employment contracts.