Guatemala Holidays 2026: Next Asueto in 8 Days: Revolution Day

Guatemala has 10 official public holidays when banks and government offices close, plus two half-days (Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve). But the real calendar is bigger than that. Semana Santa shuts the country down for most of a week. Mother’s Day empties offices. Quema del Diablo fills the streets with smoke every December 7. And every town has its own feria patronal that can last anywhere from three days to two weeks.

If you are planning a trip, running a business, or just trying to get something done at a government office, you need to know this calendar. Below is every major date in 2026 — what closes, what stays open, and what you should not miss.

In short: Guatemala has 10 full public holidays + 2 half-days in 2026 under Codigo de Trabajo (Decreto 1441) — banks, government offices and most businesses close on Jan 1, Apr 2-4 (Semana Santa), May 1, Jun 30, Sep 15, Oct 20, Nov 1, Dec 24 (half), Dec 25 and Dec 31 (half). Semana Santa (Mar 29-Apr 5, 2026) shuts down the country for most of a week. Día de la Madre (May 10) is a paid day off for working mothers under Decreto 1794 of 1968 but not a national holiday. ATMs keep running on holidays; bank branches do not. Verified May 2026.

Upcoming National Holidays

• October 20 (in 8 days) — Revolution Day. Official public holiday commemorating the 1944 October Revolution that ended the dictatorship of Jorge Ubico and ushered in Guatemala’s democratic spring (1944-1954).
• November 1 (in 20 days) — All Saints’ Day / Day of the Dead. Official public holiday.
• December 24 (in 73 days) — Christmas Eve (Nochebuena). Paid half-day holiday from 12:00 (Labor Code Art.
• December 25 (in 74 days) — Christmas Day. Official public holiday.
• December 31 (in 80 days) — New Year’s Eve. Paid half-day holiday from 12:00 (Labor Code Art.

2026 National Holidays (Banks and Offices Closed)

These are the days established by the Guatemalan Labor Code (Codigo de Trabajo, Decree 1441) when banks, government offices, and most private businesses close. Workers are entitled to full pay.

Banks close on all holidays above. If you need to send money to family during holiday periods, process transfers at least one business day in advance. For budgeting holiday spending, check our cost of living guide.

Total bank closure days in 2026: 10 full days + 2 half days.

ATMs remain operational on all holidays. Some bank branches inside shopping malls (Oakland Mall, Miraflores, Pradera) may keep limited hours, but do not count on it. Handle any banking business at least one business day before any holiday.

Month-by-Month Calendar

January

January 1 — New Year’s Day. Public holiday. The celebration really starts the night before: Guatemalan New Year’s Eve is one of the loudest nights of the year. Fireworks — and I mean serious fireworks, not sparklers — go off from about 11 PM to well past midnight in every neighborhood. Families gather for dinner, tamales, and ponche de frutas. January 1 itself is quiet. Most businesses reopen January 2.

February

February 14 — Valentine’s Day (Dia del Carino). Not a public holiday.

March–April: Semana Santa

Semana Santa 2026: March 29 – April 5

This is the biggest holiday period in Guatemala. Bigger than Christmas. If you take one thing from this page, it is this: plan around Semana Santa, not through it.

• March 29 (Sun) — Palm Sunday. Semana Santa officially begins. Not a public holiday, but hotel prices in Antigua have already been at peak rates for weeks. Palm leaf processions in every town.
• March 30–April 1 (Mon–Wed) — Many businesses close or reduce hours even though these are not official holidays. Schools are out. Government offices increasingly empty. Processions build daily.
• April 2 (Thu) — Holy Thursday. Official holiday. Banks closed. The first of the massive processions. Alfombras (elaborate sawdust carpets) are created overnight on the streets, only to be walked over by procession participants the next morning.
• April 3 (Fri) — Good Friday. Official holiday. The most important day of the year. Antigua’s main procession lasts 12+ hours. Thousands of cucuruchos (men in purple robes) carry enormous andas (carved wooden floats) through streets lined with alfombras. Hundreds of thousands of people pack the colonial streets. If you want to see this, arrive by 6 AM.
• April 4 (Sat) — Holy Saturday. Official holiday. Quieter than Friday. Expect heavy traffic on the highways.
• April 5 (Sun) — Easter Sunday. Not an official holiday, but most businesses stay closed. Church celebrations in the morning. Heavy return traffic Sunday evening as families head back to the city.

Semana Santa practical tips:

• Antigua hotels book 2–3 months in advance. Prices triple or more.
• The Pacific coast (Monterrico, Iztapa, Hawaii) gets extremely crowded Thursday through Sunday.
• Lake Atitlan fills up, especially San Pedro and Panajachel.
• If you are driving, leave Guatemala City for the coast by Wednesday afternoon at the latest. Return Monday.
• Many restaurants close Thursday through Sunday, even in the capital. Stock up on groceries.
• ATMs run out of cash in small towns. Withdraw money before Wednesday.

For the complete Semana Santa experience, read our guide to Semana Santa in Guatemala. Tambien disponible en espanol: Semana Santa Guatemala 2026 – Guia Completa.

May

May 1 — Labor Day (Dia del Trabajo). Public holiday. Banks and offices closed. Workers’ marches and union demonstrations proceed along 6a Avenida in downtown Guatemala City. The rest of the city is quiet.

May 10 — Mother’s Day (Dia de la Madre). Not an official holiday, but many offices close early or give the full day off. Guatemala celebrates Mother’s Day on May 10 every year — a fixed date, not a floating Sunday like in the United States. Restaurants are completely booked for family lunches. Plan ahead or cook at home.

June

June 17 — Father’s Day (Dia del Padre). Not a public holiday. Less commercially intense than Mother’s Day, but restaurants still fill up for family lunches. Guatemala’s Father’s Day is June 17 every year (fixed date).

June 25 — Teacher’s Day (Dia del Maestro). Not a public holiday (it is not in Labor Code Art. 127). In 2026 it falls inside MINEDUC’s mid-year school break (24-30 June), so public and private schools have no classes that day. Commemorates schoolteacher María Chinchilla, killed during the 1944 protests. See our Día del Maestro in Guatemala guide for traditional gifts and the full history.

June 30 — Army Day (Dia del Ejercito). Public holiday. Commemorates the Liberal Revolution of 1871. Banks and offices closed. Military parades in the capital. It remains on the Article 127 list.

July–August

No national holidays, but this is feria season in several major cities:

• Late July – early August: Rabin Ajau festival in Coban (Alta Verapaz). National folklore festival featuring traditional Maya dances and the selection of indigenous queen representatives.
• July 25: Antigua’s patron saint festival (Fiesta de Santiago Apostol). Processions, dances, and cultural events in the colonial center.
• Around August 15: Guatemala City’s Feria de Jocotenango / Feria de la Asuncion. The capital’s patron saint festival includes carnival rides, food stalls, and concerts. August 15 is a holiday for Guatemala City only.

September

September 15 — Independence Day (Dia de la Independencia). Public holiday and one of the most patriotic days of the year. The celebration starts on September 14, when schools and neighborhood groups light independence torches and carry them through every town (in 2026 the capital’s lighting ran 6:00 AM-6:00 PM at five sites). School marching bands parade through every city and town. Blue and white decorations appear on every building, car, and street corner. Banks and offices closed. Full September 15 guide for 2026 — the official festivities calendar, the torch relays (decentralized across 5 capital sites in 2026), the 131-band parade, and what’s open and closed.

Mid-September: Quetzaltenango’s Feria Centroamericana de Independencia (Xelafer) runs around September 15; the 2026 edition ran 10-20 September (La Voz de Xela, Soy502) — concerts, bull-riding, cultural exhibitions, and commercial fairs. Xela’s hotels book up and prices rise.

October

October 20 — Revolution Day (Dia de la Revolucion de 1944). Public holiday commemorating the popular uprising that overthrew dictator Jorge Ubico and inaugurated Guatemala’s brief democratic spring (1944–1954). Banks and offices closed. Some civic commemorations and cultural events.

November

November 1 — All Saints’ Day / Day of the Dead (Dia de Todos los Santos). Public holiday. Families visit cemeteries to honor deceased relatives, decorating graves with flowers and sharing fiambre — a massive cold salad with 50+ ingredients that is unique to Guatemala and made only on this day. The iconic event is the giant kite festival (barriletes gigantes) in Santiago Sacatepequez and Sumpango (both in Sacatepequez department, about 30 minutes from Antigua). The kites range from 2 to 22 meters in diameter (Ministerio de Cultura y Deportes); the largest are displayed as works of art and may or may not be flown. In Santiago, the organisers’ 2025 agenda (reported by Prensa Libre) put the kite flight on November 2, so check the current year’s program before you go. UNESCO has recognized this as Intangible Cultural Heritage. Plan to arrive early — the roads to Santiago and Sumpango are packed by 8 AM.

November 2 — Day of the Dead (Dia de los Difuntos). Not an official holiday but widely observed as a continuation of November 1. Some businesses remain closed. More fiambre is eaten. Cemetery visits continue.

For a deeper dive into activities and events across the country, check out our Activities & Events guide.

December

The two December half-days are in the law itself. Article 127 of the Labor Code lists December 24 and December 31 as paid holidays mediodía, a partir de las doce horas: from 12:00, not the whole day. December 25 and January 1 are full days. In 2026, December 24 and 31 are Thursdays. Banks follow the Junta Monetaria’s own calendar, which is not the same list: see bank holiday hours. The month in one place: Christmas in Guatemala and New Year’s Eve in Guatemala.

December 7 — Quema del Diablo (Burning of the Devil). Not an official holiday. At 6 PM, families burn devil piñatas in front of their houses and neighbourhoods burn giant ones. CONRED asks people not to burn PVC, plastic, duroport, tyres, aerosols, paints or solvents, and in Antigua the tradition is now concentrated in a single devil in Barrio La Concepción. CONRED has warned that the smoke causes respiratory problems and asked for special care with children, pregnant women, older people and people with respiratory or heart disease. Details: Quema del Diablo.

December 8 — Immaculate Conception. Not a national holiday; a local one only where the Inmaculada is the patron feast (Art. 127 adds the day of the local festivity). See ferias in December.

December 12 — Virgen de Guadalupe. Not a holiday. In Guatemala City the Santuario de Guadalupe’s procession and the zona 1 street closures are on the Virgen de Guadalupe page.

December 16-24 — Las Posadas. Nine nights of processions with the images of Mary and Joseph. Not holidays. See Las Posadas.

December 18-21 — Fiesta de Santo Tomás (Chichicastenango). In the municipality’s own cultural calendar the feria opens on December 5, the Palo Volador flies on December 18-20 and the main day, with the procession of the 14 cofradías, is December 21 (a Monday in 2026). The shuttles to Chichicastenango run on the Thursday and Sunday market days. Day by day: Santo Tomás festival.

December 24 — Nochebuena (Christmas Eve). Half-day paid holiday from 12:00. The government news agency AGN describes families gathering for dinner, waiting for midnight and welcoming the birth with fireworks, music and prayers; tamales and ponche de frutas are the staples. See Christmas in Guatemala.

December 25 — Christmas Day (Navidad). Full paid holiday.

December 31 — New Year’s Eve (Fin de Año). Half-day paid holiday from 12:00. For the banks, the Superintendency of Banks’ 2026 calendar is not consistent: one line lists an afternoon half day, another says banks do not open to the public that day for the year-end close. In Antigua, the municipality’s free party in the Plaza Mayor started at 11 PM for the arrival of 2026. See New Year’s Eve in Guatemala.

Tips for Tourists and Expats

Banking: Handle all banking before a holiday. ATMs work on holidays but can run out of cash in smaller towns. During Semana Santa, withdraw enough cash to last Thursday through Monday.

Government offices (SAT, RENAP, IGSS, Migración): Closed on all national holidays. The days before a long weekend (especially Semana Santa and Christmas) see long lines as people rush to get things done. Go early in the week. If you need a passport renewal or DPI ID card, plan visits well before holiday weeks.

Restaurants: In Guatemala City’s Zona 10/14/15, some restaurants stay open on most holidays. In smaller cities, expect closures. During Semana Santa, even chain restaurants close.

Travel planning: Book Antigua hotels at least 2–3 months before Semana Santa. Book Pacific coast hotels 1 month ahead for Semana Santa and Christmas/New Year. Book Chichicastenango for December 21 at least 2 months ahead.

Noise: Guatemala celebrates with fireworks — real ones, not just firecrackers. Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, and Semana Santa nights in Antigua are extremely loud. If you are sensitive to noise or have pets, plan accordingly.

For current weather conditions and best travel times, check our Weather & Climate guide.

Standard Business Hours in Guatemala

Knowing when things are open is just as important as knowing when they are closed. Here are the standard operating hours by sector in Guatemala.

Banks

ATMs operate 24/7 every day of the year, including holidays.

Government Offices

Pro tip: Government offices are least crowded on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Monday mornings and Friday afternoons are worst. Many offices stop accepting new cases 1 hour before closing.

Supermarkets & Stores

Restaurants

Schools

School vacation 2026: October 31 – January 11, 2027. Expect more traffic during school year mornings (6:30-8:00 AM).

2026 Long Weekends & Bridge Days (Puentes)

These are the dates where holidays fall near weekends, creating potential 3-4 day breaks. Guatemalans take advantage of these for beach trips and family visits – expect heavier traffic on highways.

2026 is a good year for long weekends. Labor Day falls on a Friday, and several holidays fall on Tuesdays creating natural 4-day weekends. The Semana Santa break and Christmas/New Year periods align well for extended travel.

Major City Ferias 2026

Every municipality in Guatemala has a feria patronal (patron saint festival), but these are the largest ones that draw visitors from across the country:

Check our interactive map for festivals and events by department, or browse our Activities & Events page for the full listing.

421 Patron Saint Ferias: Every Town Celebrates

Beyond the 5 major city ferias above, Guatemala has 351 patron saint festivals across its municipalities. Every town celebrates its patron saint with anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks of processions, markets, carnival rides, traditional dances, and fireworks.

Upcoming Ferias

How Ferias Affect Travelers

Positive: Ferias are the best time to visit a town — authentic culture, amazing food, traditional dances (baile de moros, palo volador), and genuine local hospitality. Prices at food stalls are local, not tourist.

Practical: Hotels in the feria town and surrounding area book up. Roads get congested. Bus schedules may change. Banks and government offices in the municipality may close.

Find any feria: Our data covers all 421 municipal ferias. Check your destination on the interactive map or browse departments to see when each municipality celebrates.

Transport During Holidays

Public transportation changes significantly on holidays — here is what to expect.

Transmetro (Guatemala City BRT)

Intercity Buses

Pullman operators set their own holiday timetables; check with the operator (for example Litegua’s booking system) before you travel. Chicken buses are unpredictable on holidays. Shuttle services to Antigua and Lake Atitlan run on all holidays (advance booking required during Semana Santa and Christmas).

Key Highway Warning

The CA-9 (Guatemala City to Atlantic coast), CA-2 (to Pacific coast), and the Interamericana (to Antigua/Xela) see massive traffic surges on:

• Wednesday before Semana Santa (outbound)
• Easter Monday (return)
• December 23-24 (outbound)
• January 1-2 (return)

Related Resources

• Emergency Numbers & Directory – Every phone number you need in Guatemala
• Exchange Rates – Today’s bank rates for USD to GTQ
• Bank closure calendar and ACH rules – The banking system runs a second holiday list approved by the Junta Monetaria: two of its 2026 closures are not asuetos at all, and one asueto is not a bank closure
• Guatemala Consulates in the US – For diaspora needing documents
• Salaries & Minimum Wage – 2026 wage data with take-home calculator
• Semana Santa Guide – Everything about Holy Week
• Cost of Living – Monthly budgets and price comparisons
• The fireworks and feria noise calendar – The 421 local ferias the national holiday list does not show