Sierra Leone Public Holidays and Events 2026

Key national holidays, Islamic festivals and seasonal events in Sierra Leone 2026.

Sierra Leone observes both Christian and Islamic holidays alongside its national days, reflecting a population that is roughly three-quarters Muslim and a quarter Christian. On public holidays, government offices, banks and most businesses close, and transport in and out of Freetown gets busy — worth knowing whether you are planning a trip or running a business here.

Full list of public holidays in 2026

• 1 January (Thursday) — New Year's Day
• 18 February (Wednesday) — Armed Forces Day
• 8 March (Sunday) — International Women's Day (observed in lieu on Monday 9 March)
• 20 March (Friday) — Eid al-Fitr / Korité, marking the end of Ramadan (subject to moon sighting)
• 3 April (Friday) — Good Friday
• 6 April (Monday) — Easter Monday
• 27 April (Monday) — Independence Day
• 1 May (Friday) — Labour Day
• 27 May (Wednesday) — Eid al-Adha / Tabaski, the Feast of the Sacrifice (subject to moon sighting)
• 25 August (Tuesday) — Maulid-un-Nabi, the Prophet Muhammad's Birthday (subject to moon sighting)
• 25 December (Friday) — Christmas Day
• 26 December (Saturday) — Boxing Day

Independence Day — 27 April

The biggest national holiday of the year. Expect parades, cultural performances, church and mosque services, and celebrations across the country, with the largest events in central Freetown. Hotels in the capital fill up around this date, so book ahead if you want to be in town for it.

Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha

Both Eid days are full public holidays and the most widely observed dates in the calendar. Most shops, offices and banks close, city-centre traffic thins out, and families travel to be together — long-distance transport is heavily booked on the days either side. Freetown is quiet and relaxed on Eid itself; some restaurants and beach bars stay open for visitors.

Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year

Christmas is celebrated enthusiastically nationwide. From mid-December the diaspora returns in large numbers, so flights into Lungi, airport transfers and beach hotels on the Freetown Peninsula are at their most expensive and most booked-out of the year. Reserve accommodation and airport pickups weeks in advance for any late-December trip.

Planning around the holidays

If you need banks, government offices or SLIEPA / NRA appointments, avoid the weeks containing Independence Day, either Eid, and the Christmas–New Year stretch. If you are coming to travel rather than do business, holiday periods can actually be a good time to visit — the beaches are lively, the mood is festive, and everything except formal offices keeps running.