In short: Panama has 13 national holidays and days of mourning a year, set by the Labour Code and special laws. When one falls on a Sunday it moves to the following Monday. Working on a holiday is paid with a 150% surcharge. This page calculates the next holiday and shows the full calendar for the current year.
Full calendar of national public holidays for 2026 below; the next one is calculated automatically on this page.
National holiday calendar 2026
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| Thursday 1 January 2026 | New Year's Day |
| Friday 9 January 2026 | Martyrs' Day |
| Tuesday 17 February 2026 | Carnival Tuesday |
| Friday 3 April 2026 | Good Friday |
| Friday 1 May 2026 | Labour Day |
| Tuesday 3 November 2026 | Separation from Colombia |
| Wednesday 4 November 2026 | Flag Day |
| Thursday 5 November 2026 | Colón Day |
| Tuesday 10 November 2026 | First Call for Independence (Los Santos) |
| Saturday 28 November 2026 | Independence from Spain |
| Tuesday 8 December 2026 | Mother's Day |
| Sunday 20 December 2026 (moves to Monday) | National Day of Mourning |
| Friday 25 December 2026 | Christmas Day |
Carnival Tuesday and Good Friday change every year with the date of Easter. 1 July is a holiday only every five years, when the President of the Republic takes office (next: 2029).
Rules worth knowing
- Move to Monday: if the holiday falls on a Sunday, the day off moves to the following Monday. If it falls on a Saturday it does not move.
- Surcharge for working on a holiday: 150% on the day’s wage, plus a compensatory day where applicable.
- Civic days: 4 November (Flag Day) and 20 December (National Day of Mourning) are treated as mandatory rest days in labour and banking practice.
- Banks and public offices: close on every national holiday. Shopping centres usually open except on Good Friday and Christmas Day.
Key fact: November has five holidays (3, 4, 5, 10 and 28), which leaves the month with 17 or 18 business days depending on the year (in 2026 the 28th falls on a Saturday). It is the month that most affects legal deadlines and procedures.
Frequently asked questions
Is Carnival a full holiday?
Only Carnival Tuesday is a national holiday. The Monday is usually declared a day off by decree for public employees, but it is not mandatory for private companies.
How is a holiday paid when no work is done?
The employee receives their normal wage. The holiday is neither deducted nor made up.
What happens to legal deadlines that expire on a holiday?
Judicial and administrative deadlines that expire on a holiday are extended to the next business day.
Related articles
Sources
- Labour Code of Panama, articles 46 to 49 (national holidays and days of mourning, surcharges)
- Law 55 of 2001 (5 November, Columbus Day) and Law 2 of 2012 (4 November, Day of the National Symbols) and Law 259 of 2022 (20 December, National Day of Mourning)
- Ministry of Labour and Workforce Development (MITRADEL)