Public holidays in Zambia 2026

18 nationwide public holidays in 2026.

18 Holidays 7 Long weekends 5 Bridge days

Next nationwide holiday in Zambia

See the list of nationwide holidays below.

Local time · Zambia

Nationwide holidays 2026

Date	Holiday	Local name
Thursday 1 January 2026	New Year's Day
Sunday 8 March 2026	International Women's Day
Monday 9 March 2026	International Women's Day (observed) Observed day off for International Women's Day (Sun 8 Mar)
Thursday 12 March 2026	Youth Day
Friday 3 April 2026	Good Friday Religious
Saturday 4 April 2026	Holy Saturday Religious
Sunday 5 April 2026	Easter Sunday Religious
Monday 6 April 2026	Easter Monday Religious
Tuesday 28 April 2026	Kenneth Kaunda Day
Friday 1 May 2026	Labour Day
Monday 25 May 2026	Africa Freedom Day National day
Monday 6 July 2026	Heroes' Day National day
Tuesday 7 July 2026	Unity Day National day
Monday 3 August 2026	Farmers' Day
Thursday 13 August 2026	General Election Day
Saturday 24 October 2026	Independence Day National day
Friday 25 December 2026	Christmas Day Religious
Tuesday 29 December 2026	National Day of Prayer and Christian Heritage Religious

Long weekends and bridge days 2026

Based on nationwide holidays and the weekend in Zambia (Saturday and Sunday). Regional, local and group holidays are not included.

Long weekends

Sat 7 Mar – Mon 9 Mar 3 days offInternational Women's Day, International Women's Day (observed)Typically in Lusaka: high 28°C (82°F), low 18°C (64°F), rain on 56% of daysShow on calendar ↓
Fri 3 Apr – Mon 6 Apr 4 days offGood Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday, Easter MondayTypically in Lusaka: high 29°C (84°F), low 17°C (63°F), rain on 17% of daysShow on calendar ↓
Fri 1 May – Sun 3 May 3 days offLabour DayTypically in Lusaka: high 29°C (84°F), low 15°C (59°F), rain on 4% of daysShow on calendar ↓
Sat 23 May – Mon 25 May 3 days offAfrica Freedom DayTypically in Lusaka: high 28°C (82°F), low 13°C (55°F), rain on 0% of daysShow on calendar ↓
Sat 4 Jul – Tue 7 Jul 4 days offHeroes' Day, Unity DayTypically in Lusaka: high 26°C (79°F), low 11°C (52°F), rain on 0% of daysShow on calendar ↓
Sat 1 Aug – Mon 3 Aug 3 days offFarmers' DayTypically in Lusaka: high 28°C (82°F), low 12°C (54°F), rain on 0% of daysShow on calendar ↓
Fri 25 Dec – Sun 27 Dec 3 days offChristmas DayTypically in Lusaka: high 28°C (82°F), low 19°C (66°F), rain on 57% of daysShow on calendar ↓

Bridge days

Fri 2 Jan: take 1 day off, get 4 days in a row (Thu 1 Jan – Sun 4 Jan)New Year's DayTypically in Lusaka: high 28°C (82°F), low 19°C (66°F), rain on 71% of daysShow on calendar ↓
Fri 13 Mar: take 1 day off, get 4 days in a row (Thu 12 Mar – Sun 15 Mar)Youth DayTypically in Lusaka: high 28°C (82°F), low 18°C (64°F), rain on 46% of daysShow on calendar ↓
Mon 27 Apr: take 1 day off, get 4 days in a row (Sat 25 Apr – Tue 28 Apr)Kenneth Kaunda DayTypically in Lusaka: high 29°C (84°F), low 15°C (59°F), rain on 6% of daysShow on calendar ↓
Fri 14 Aug: take 1 day off, get 4 days in a row (Thu 13 Aug – Sun 16 Aug)General Election DayTypically in Lusaka: high 29°C (84°F), low 13°C (55°F), rain on 0% of daysShow on calendar ↓
Mon 28 Dec: take 1 day off, get 5 days in a row (Fri 25 Dec – Tue 29 Dec)Christmas Day, National Day of Prayer and Christian HeritageTypically in Lusaka: high 28°C (82°F), low 19°C (66°F), rain on 57% of daysShow on calendar ↓

Leave planner 2026

Choose how many leave days you can take for one break. The planner finds the breaks that give the most days off in a row around nationwide holidays and weekends, and marks the leave days on the calendar below.

Leave days per break: 3

Longest break with up to 3 leave days: Fri 25 Dec – Sun 3 Jan 2027 — 10 days off for 3 leave days (Mon 28 Dec, Wed 30 Dec, Thu 31 Dec).Show on calendar ↓

Take 1 day off (Fri 2 Jan) get 4 days in a rowThu 1 Jan – Sun 4 Jan · New Year's DayShow on calendar ↓
Take 1 day off (Fri 6 Mar) get 4 days in a rowFri 6 Mar – Mon 9 Mar · International Women's Day, International Women's Day (observed)Show on calendar ↓
Take 1 day off (Fri 13 Mar) get 4 days in a rowThu 12 Mar – Sun 15 Mar · Youth DayShow on calendar ↓
Take 1 day off (Thu 2 Apr) get 5 days in a rowThu 2 Apr – Mon 6 Apr · Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday, Easter MondayShow on calendar ↓
Take 1 day off (Fri 3 Jul) get 5 days in a rowFri 3 Jul – Tue 7 Jul · Heroes' Day, Unity DayShow on calendar ↓
Take 1 day off (Mon 28 Dec) get 5 days in a rowFri 25 Dec – Tue 29 Dec · Christmas Day, National Day of Prayer and Christian HeritageShow on calendar ↓

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