Key Takeaways:
- The federal government has published the Brazil 2026 holiday calendar, listing ten national holidays and several optional leave days.
- The schedule includes multiple Mondays, Fridays and mid-week holidays that may facilitate extended breaks when combined with state and municipal dates.
- Key national holidays include New Year’s Day (1 Jan), Good Friday (3 Apr) and Independence Day (7 Sept), with several optional dates such as Carnival and Corpus Christi.
The federal government has published the official Brazil 2026 holiday calendar in the Diário Oficial da União. The schedule lists ten national holidays and a number of points facultativos (optional leave days), giving workers and employers early clarity for planning the year.
Brazil 2026 holiday calendar and what workers should know
Officials noted that 2026 is one of the more favourable calendars in recent years, with a mix of holidays falling on Mondays, Fridays and mid-week days. That pattern increases the potential for extended breaks when employees combine national, state and municipal holidays with annual leave.
National holidays confirmed for 2026 are concise and spread across the year. Employers should take note of the dates that fall on Fridays and Mondays, which commonly encourage long weekends and may affect staffing and service provision.
Confirmed national holidays for 2026
- 1 January (Thursday) — New Year’s Day
- 3 April (Friday) — Good Friday
- 21 April (Tuesday) — Tiradentes Day
- 1 May (Friday) — International Workers’ Day
- 7 September (Monday) — Independence Day
- 12 October (Monday) — Our Lady of Aparecida
- 2 November (Monday) — All Souls’ Day
- 15 November (Sunday) — Proclamation of the Republic
- 20 November (Friday) — National Day of Zumbi and Black Consciousness
- 25 December (Friday) — Christmas Day
Of these, seven fall on weekdays that are particularly useful for planning extended breaks — five on Mondays and two on Fridays. The placement of New Year’s Day and Tiradentes on a Thursday and Tuesday respectively also provides opportunities for mid-week adjustments when combined with leave or local observances.
Optional leave days and special arrangements
In addition to national holidays, the government has listed several points facultativos that federal bodies commonly observe. These include:
- 16–17 February (Monday–Tuesday) — Carnival (optional)
- 18 February (Wednesday) — Ash Wednesday; optional until 14:00
- 4 June (Thursday) — Corpus Christi (optional)
- 28 October (Wednesday) — Federal Public Servant’s Day (optional)
- 24 December (Thursday) — Christmas Eve; optional after 13:00
- 31 December (Thursday) — New Year’s Eve; optional after 13:00
Employers should confirm which points facultativos apply to their operations. Some are customary across federal agencies, while others are adopted at the discretion of individual institutions or local authorities.
Local holidays can alter plans
State and municipal holidays — for example, city foundation days and regional religious celebrations — can make the calendar even more favourable for workers. Those additional dates vary by location and can create consecutive days off when combined with the national schedule.
Businesses, event organisers and public services are advised to review the calendar now and set staffing rotas, customer communications and supply arrangements accordingly. Early planning will help reduce disruption during peak holiday periods and allow workers to plan leave to best advantage.
