Updated October 2026
Angola has 12 national public holidays in 2026, set by the national holidays law (Lei n.º 11/18), plus three legal bridge days: Friday 2 January, Monday 16 February and Friday 18 September. The bridges exist because the law gives the Monday or Friday off whenever a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday. Two holidays fall on a weekend this year (8 March and 4 April) and, under the current law, are not moved to a weekday. The holidays still ahead in 2026 are 2 November, 11 November and 25 December.
Angola public holidays 2026: full list
| Date | Day | Holiday (Portuguese name) | Bridge day? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Thursday | New Year’s Day (Dia do Ano Novo) | Yes, Friday 2 January |
| 4 February | Wednesday | Liberation Struggle Day (Dia do Início da Luta Armada de Libertação Nacional) | No |
| 17 February | Tuesday | Carnival (Dia do Carnaval) | Yes, Monday 16 February |
| 8 March | Sunday | International Women’s Day (Dia Internacional da Mulher) | No, falls on a Sunday |
| 23 March | Monday | Southern Africa Liberation Day (Dia da Libertação da África Austral) | No, already a long weekend |
| 3 April | Friday | Good Friday (Sexta-Feira Santa) | No, already a long weekend |
| 4 April | Saturday | Peace and National Reconciliation Day (Dia da Paz e da Reconciliação Nacional) | No, falls on a Saturday |
| 1 May | Friday | International Workers’ Day (Dia Internacional do Trabalhador) | No, already a long weekend |
| 17 September | Thursday | Founder of the Nation and National Hero Day (Dia do Fundador da Nação e do Herói Nacional) | Yes, Friday 18 September |
| 2 November | Monday | All Souls’ Day (Dia dos Finados) | No, already a long weekend |
| 11 November | Wednesday | Independence Day (Dia da Independência Nacional) | No |
| 25 December | Friday | Christmas and Family Day (Dia de Natal e da Família) | No, already a long weekend |
Carnival and Good Friday move each year with Easter. In 2026, Easter Sunday is 5 April, so Carnival Tuesday is 17 February and Good Friday is 3 April.
How bridge days work under Lei 11/18
Article 6 of Lei 11/18 sets the “ponte” (bridge) rule:
- If a national holiday falls on a Tuesday, work is suspended on the Monday before it.
- If a national holiday falls on a Thursday, work is suspended on the Friday after it.
- To make up for the bridge, the normal working day is extended by one and a half hours a day during the week before the bridge.
The rule covers both the public and private sectors. Legal commentary notes that shift workers are not automatically covered, since continuous operations (hospitals, utilities, oil and gas offshore rotations, security) need to keep running. Companies with shift rosters should set out in writing how bridges are handled.
What happens when a holiday falls on a weekend
Before 2018, a holiday falling on a Sunday was moved to the following Monday. Lei 11/18 repealed that rule. So in 2026, International Women’s Day (Sunday 8 March) and Peace Day (Saturday 4 April) do not give anyone an extra weekday off, unless the government decides otherwise by a specific announcement.
Note: The government sometimes announces extra days off for public servants (“tolerância de ponto”), for example around Christmas or New Year. These announcements apply to the public administration and are often followed by private employers, but they are not automatic for the private sector. Watch for official notices in the weeks before each holiday.
Long weekends in 2026
Thanks to the calendar and the bridge rule, 2026 has several long weekends. Those still useful for planning are at the bottom of the list.
- Thursday 1 to Sunday 4 January: four days (New Year plus the 2 January bridge).
- Saturday 14 to Tuesday 17 February: four days for Carnival (bridge on Monday 16 February).
- Saturday 21 to Monday 23 March: three days.
- Friday 3 to Sunday 5 April: Easter weekend, with Good Friday and Peace Day back to back.
- Friday 1 to Sunday 3 May: three days.
- Thursday 17 to Sunday 20 September: four days (bridge on Friday 18 September).
- Saturday 31 October to Monday 2 November: three days for All Souls’ Day.
- Friday 25 to Sunday 27 December: three days for Christmas.
Independence Day (Wednesday 11 November) falls mid-week, so there is no bridge. Taking Monday and Tuesday, or Thursday and Friday, as annual leave gives you a five-day break.
What this means for employers and payroll
Public holidays are paid days off. Under the general labor law (Lei Geral do Trabalho, Lei n.º 12/23), employees who are required to work on a public holiday are entitled to additional pay or compensatory rest. The exact premium and the rules for shift workers are set in the law and any collective agreement, so check the current provisions with a labor lawyer or the Ministry of Public Administration, Labor and Social Security (MAPTSS) before processing payroll. Our guides to Angola labor law for employers and payroll in Angola cover this in more detail.
Practical checklist for HR
- Publish the year’s holiday and bridge calendar to staff in January.
- Schedule the extra 1.5 hours a day in the week before each bridge and record it in the timesheets.
- Agree in advance who works on holidays in continuous operations, and how they are paid.
- For foreign staff, note that home-country holidays do not apply in Angola unless the contract says so.
- Plan deadlines with bank and government closures in mind. Banks, the AGT, the SME (immigration) and notaries close on national holidays, and processing slows around the bridges.
Commemorative dates that are not holidays
Lei 11/18 also lists national commemorative dates. These are marked by official events, but they are normal working days:
| Date | Commemoration |
|---|---|
| 4 January | Martyrs of Colonial Repression Day |
| 15 January | Veterans’ Day |
| 2 March | Angolan Women’s Day |
| 15 March | Expansion of the Armed Liberation Struggle Day |
| 14 April | Angolan Youth Day |
| 25 May | Africa Day |
| 1 June | International Children’s Day |
| 10 December | Human Rights Day |
Provinces and municipalities can also have local holidays, such as city foundation days. Check with the provincial government if you operate outside Luanda.
A first look at 2027
Easter 2027 is on 28 March, so Carnival falls on Tuesday 9 February and Good Friday on 26 March. Applying the bridge rule to the fixed dates, 2027 would have bridge days on Friday 5 February (after 4 February), Monday 8 February (before Carnival), Monday 22 March (before 23 March), Monday 1 November (before 2 November) and Friday 12 November (after Independence Day). Three holidays fall on a weekend (4 April, 1 May and 25 December), and New Year’s Day 2027 is a Friday, giving a three-day weekend from 1 to 3 January. Confirm the calendar once official 2027 notices are published, since the general election expected in 2027 may bring extra announcements.
If you are traveling to Angola around a holiday, book flights and hotels early, especially for Carnival in Luanda and the Christmas period. See our Angola tourist visa guide before you go.
Frequently asked questions
How many public holidays does Angola have in 2026?
Twelve national holidays under Lei 11/18, plus three bridge days (2 January, 16 February and 18 September).
Is Carnival a public holiday in Angola?
Yes. Carnival Tuesday is a national holiday. In 2026 it was on 17 February, with Monday 16 February as a bridge day.
If a holiday falls on a Sunday, is Monday off?
No. Lei 11/18 removed the old rule that moved Sunday holidays to Monday. Only government announcements can add a day off in that case.
Do private companies have to give bridge days?
Yes, the bridge rule applies to the public and private sectors, with the extra 1.5 hours a day worked the week before. Shift-based operations can be handled differently.
Are banks open on public holidays in Angola?
No. Banks and public offices close on national holidays and bridge days. ATMs and Multicaixa payments keep working.
Sources: Lei n.º 11/18 de 28 de Setembro (Lex.AO), ALC Advogados: new bridge-day regime, JULaw: national holidays law and working days, Ver Angola: holidays on Tuesday and Thursday give a bridge, MAPTSS.
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