Public Holidays in Brazil 2026
13 listed public holiday dates in 2026
Brazil's public holiday calendar reflects its own legal, religious and civic traditions. Brazil distinguishes national holidays from ponto facultativo, when federal public offices may close or operate on a special schedule. Carnival and Corpus Christi are prominent examples that are widely observed but are not the same as statutory national holidays nationwide.
Brazil Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Thursday | New Year's Day |
| Feb 16 | Monday | Carnival Monday Federal optional |
| Feb 17 | Tuesday | Carnival Tuesday Federal optional |
| Apr 3 | Friday | Good Friday |
| Apr 21 | Tuesday | Tiradentes Day |
| May 1 | Friday | Labour Day |
| Jun 4 | Thursday | Corpus Christi Federal optional |
| Sep 7 | Monday | Independence Day |
| Oct 12 | Monday | Our Lady of Aparecida |
| Nov 2 | Monday | All Souls' Day |
| Nov 15 | Sunday | Republic Proclamation Day |
| Nov 20 | Friday | Black Consciousness Day |
| Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day |
* Brazil’s national holidays are set by law, but the federal government separately publishes annual ponto facultativo dates for the federal civil service. 2027 discretionary federal-service dates should be confirmed when the annual ordinance is issued.
National Holidays vs Ponto Facultativo 2026
Holiday Rules in Brazil
Brazil distinguishes national holidays from ponto facultativo, when federal public offices may close or operate on a special schedule. Carnival and Corpus Christi are prominent examples that are widely observed but are not the same as statutory national holidays nationwide.
Brazil Holiday Calendar: What to Know
- Brazil has statutory national holidays and separate federal optional days.
- Carnival is widely observed but is not a nationwide statutory holiday in the same way as Independence Day.
- 20 November is the national Day of Black Consciousness.
- States and municipalities can have additional local holidays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Carnival a national public holiday in Brazil?
Carnival is widely observed and is normally a federal ponto facultativo, but it is not a nationwide statutory national holiday in the same category as 7 September.
When is Brazil Independence Day?
Independence Day is 7 September.
Is Black Consciousness Day a national holiday?
Yes. 20 November is a national holiday.
Can Brazilian cities have extra holidays?
Yes. States and municipalities can establish additional holidays within legal limits.
Sources & methodology
View sources used for this page
Official federal 2026 calendar under Portaria MGI nº 11.460/2025.
Independent calendar cross-check used for date, weekday and observed-day review. Government notices and statutory rules take precedence where they differ.
Source hierarchy: government, statutory or institutional material is the primary reference. Timeanddate is retained only as an independent cross-check; later official declarations take precedence.