Public Holidays in El Salvador in [2026]

Living in El Salvador or going on holiday there? Here’s a list of the public holidays in El Salvador you need to know in 2026, plus 2027 and 2028 tables to help you plan ahead.

El Salvador’s current holiday calendar is a mix of long-standing statutory days off and later decrees that added Mother’s Day on 10 May and Father’s Day on 17 June as paid national holidays. The sample list you shared also mixes in several observances and local festivals that are not general nationwide public holidays.

For 2026, the practical national holiday calendar includes 11 nationwide public holidays, plus 2 local August holiday dates in San Salvador that apply there in addition to the national holiday on 6 August. The Ministry of Labour also confirmed that the paid Holy Week days are Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.

Public holidays in El Salvador in 2026

San Salvador local August holidays in 2026

The Ministry of Labour has said that, for private-sector workers in San Salvador, the August local days off are 3 and 5 August, while 6 August is the nationwide holiday.

How many public holidays are observed in El Salvador?

For 2026, El Salvador has 11 nationwide public holidays in the commonly used national calendar. On top of that, San Salvador has 2 local August holiday dates tied to its patronal festivities.

That is why older or mixed holiday lists can look much longer. Dates such as Day of the Cross, Soldiers’ Day, Children’s Day, and the National Pupusa Festival appear in commemorative calendars, but they are not part of the standard nationwide paid-holiday table used here.

The most popular holidays in El Salvador

The biggest holiday periods are usually Holy Week, the August festivities around San Salvador, Independence Day on 15 September, and Christmas Day. Holy Week is especially important because El Salvador treats Thursday, Friday, and Saturday as paid days off.

The August calendar is also important in practice. For the private sector in San Salvador, the Ministry of Labour specifically highlighted 3 August, 5 August, and the national holiday on 6 August.

What the public holidays and days off are in El Salvador

New Year’s Day

New Year’s Day falls on 1 January and opens the holiday calendar in El Salvador. It is a nationwide public holiday.

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday is one of El Salvador’s paid Holy Week holidays. In 2026, it falls on 2 April.

Good Friday

Good Friday is another nationwide Holy Week holiday. In 2026, it falls on 3 April.

Holy Saturday

Holy Saturday completes the paid Holy Week break in El Salvador. In 2026, it falls on 4 April.

Labour Day

Labour Day is observed on 1 May and is one of the core public holidays in the country.

Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day on 10 May is a paid national holiday by legislative decree for both the public and private sectors.

Father’s Day

Father’s Day on 17 June is also a paid national holiday by legislative decree.

Celebrations of San Salvador

The nationwide holiday is 6 August, tied to the celebrations of San Salvador. In San Salvador itself, additional local holiday dates apply on 3 and 5 August.

Independence Day

Independence Day is celebrated nationwide on 15 September each year.

All Souls’ Day

All Souls’ Day is observed on 2 November and appears in current national holiday listings for El Salvador.

Christmas Day

Christmas Day falls on 25 December and closes the national holiday year.

Public holidays in El Salvador in 2027

San Salvador local August holidays in 2027

These 2027 dates match currently published El Salvador holiday calendars.

Public holidays in El Salvador in 2028

San Salvador local August holidays in 2028

These 2028 dates match currently published El Salvador holiday calendars as well.

Last Updated on 04/05/2026