Kenya · 2026

Public holidays in Kenya 2026

19
days until Utamaduni Day

12 national public holidays · 9 fall on a weekday

Updated on September 20, 2026

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All 2026 public holidays

7 holidays have already passed this year
  1. 1 janThuNew Year's Day
  2. 20 marFriEid al-Fitr estimated date
  3. 3 aprFriGood Friday
  4. 6 aprMonEaster Monday
  5. 1 mayFriLabour Day
  6. 27 mayWedEid al-Adha estimated date
  7. 1 junMonMadaraka Day
  1. 10 octSatUtamaduni Day19 days
  2. 20 octTueMashujaa Day29 days
  3. 12 decSatJamhuri Day82 days
  4. 25 decFriChristmas Day95 days
  5. 26 decSatBoxing Day96 days

estimated date Dates marked as estimated follow the lunar calendar: the official authority confirms them shortly before and they can shift by a day.

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Long weekends in 2026

How many days off each holiday gives you, and how many vacation days it takes to stretch it.

Mashujaa Day October 20 Bridge

Falls on Tuesday. Taking Monday October 19 off, that is 4 days in a row.

Christmas Day / Boxing Day December 25 – December 26 3 days off

Falls on Friday: 3 days off in a row without taking any vacation.

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Frequently asked questions

How many national public holidays does Kenya have in 2026?
Kenya has 12 national public holidays in 2026. These apply across the whole country; local holidays for a district or municipality are not included.
Which is the next public holiday in Kenya?
The next one is Utamaduni Day, on October 10 (Saturday). 19 days to go.
Which public holidays fall on a weekend in 2026?
3 of the 12 fall on a Saturday or Sunday: Utamaduni Day (October 10), Jamhuri Day (December 12), Boxing Day (December 26).
Are public holidays paid in Kenya?
National public holidays are generally paid days off, and working on one usually entitles you to a premium. The details and the rate depend on Kenya law and on your contract: check your country labour authority.
More about work and rights in Kenya →
Does this list include regional holidays?
No. Only NATIONAL holidays are listed, the ones that apply across Kenya. Local patron saint days and district or municipal holidays are deliberately excluded: mixing them would produce a list that applies to no one in particular, because someone in one town does not get another town local holiday off.
This list covers only the NATIONAL public holidays of Kenya, the ones that apply countrywide. It does not include local patron saint days or district holidays: for those, check the labour authority of Kenya or your local government.

2026 calendar

September 1
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October 12
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January 11
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Keep exploring

Kenya public holidays 2027 Botswana public holidays 2026 Ghana public holidays 2026 Malawi public holidays 2026 Kenya labour resource centre

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