Nigeria has 11 public holidays in 2026. They blend Christian, Muslim and national celebrations, reflecting the country's diversity. Here's the full official list with dates and days of the week.
See the Nigeria holiday calendar or plan long weekends.
Nigeria public holidays 2026 — full list
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan | Thursday | New Year's Day |
| 21 Mar | Saturday | Eid al-Fitr* |
| 3 Apr | Friday | Good Friday |
| 6 Apr | Monday | Easter Monday |
| 1 May | Friday | Workers' Day |
| 27 May | Wednesday | Eid al-Adha* |
| 12 Jun | Friday | Democracy Day |
| 25 Aug | Tuesday | Mawlid (Eid-el-Maulud)* |
| 1 Oct | Thursday | Independence Day |
| 25 Dec | Friday | Christmas Day |
| 26 Dec | Saturday | Boxing Day |
*Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha and Mawlid follow the Islamic (moon-sighting) calendar and may shift by a day; the Federal Government confirms dates closer to the time. Islamic holidays sometimes span two days.
Long weekends in 2026
- Easter (Good Friday 3 Apr → Easter Monday 6 Apr) → 4-day break.
- Democracy Day (Fri 12 Jun) → 3-day weekend.
- Workers' Day (Fri 1 May) and Independence Day (Thu 1 Oct, bridge Friday) → long weekends.
- Christmas (Fri 25 Dec) + Boxing Day (Sat 26 Dec) → festive long weekend.
Use the long-weekend planner.
About Nigeria's holidays
Public holidays are declared by the Federal Government. When a holiday falls on a weekend, a weekday may be declared in lieu. Democracy Day moved to 12 June in 2018 to commemorate the 1993 election.
Quick answers
How many public holidays does Nigeria have in 2026? Eleven, blending Christian, Muslim and national days.
When is Independence Day in Nigeria? 1 October 2026 — marking independence from Britain in 1960.
Why is Democracy Day on 12 June? It commemorates the 1993 presidential election; the date was adopted in 2018.
Where can I see the live calendar? On the Nigeria holiday calendar.