Public Holidays in Rwanda 2026
19 listed public holiday dates in 2026
Rwanda's public-holiday calendar includes civic, Christian and Islamic observances, plus Umuganura on the first Friday of August. Under the statutory weekend rule, most public holidays that fall on Saturday or Sunday are followed by a public holiday on the next working day.
Rwanda Public Holidays 2026
| Date | Day | Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | Thursday | New Year's Day |
| Jan 2 | Friday | Day after New Year's Day |
| Feb 1 | Sunday | National Heroes' Day |
| Feb 2 | Monday | National Heroes' DayObserved |
| Mar 20 | Friday | Eid al-Fitr Moon |
| Apr 3 | Friday | Good Friday |
| Apr 6 | Monday | Easter Monday |
| Apr 7 | Tuesday | Genocide Memorial Day |
| May 1 | Friday | Labour Day |
| May 27 | Wednesday | Eid al-Adha Moon |
| Jul 1 | Wednesday | Independence Day |
| Jul 4 | Saturday | Liberation Day |
| Jul 6 | Monday | Liberation DayObserved |
| Aug 7 | Friday | Umuganura Day |
| Aug 15 | Saturday | Assumption Day |
| Aug 17 | Monday | Assumption DayObserved |
| Dec 25 | Friday | Christmas Day |
| Dec 26 | Saturday | Boxing Day |
| Dec 28 | Monday | Boxing DayObserved |
* 2027 Islamic dates are provisional pending religious confirmation.
National Remembrance and Liberation 2026
Genocide Memorial Day is 7 April, Independence Day is 1 July and Liberation Day is 4 July.
Holiday Rules in Rwanda
Rwandan law provides a next-working-day public holiday when most listed holidays fall on a weekend; the April 7 Genocide Memorial Day is an exception. The calendar therefore includes the applicable observed days as well as Umuganura.
Rwanda Holiday Calendar: What to Know
- Heroes' Day is 1 February.
- Genocide Memorial Day is 7 April.
- Independence Day is 1 July.
- Liberation Day is 4 July.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Rwanda Independence Day?
1 July.
When is Liberation Day?
4 July.
Why are 2027 Eid dates provisional?
They depend on the lunar calendar.
Does Rwanda use daylight saving time?
No.
Sources & methodology
View sources used for this page
Official diplomatic mission calendar of Rwandan public holidays.
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.