Holidays in 2026: Next year will have the highest number of weekday holidays in the last ten years

The 2026 calendar includes nine national holidays on weekdays, the highest number in the last ten years. There will be seven holidays on Mondays or Fridays, and opportunities for extended days off

Unlike 2025, where most national holidays - especially in the second half of the year - fell on weekends, holidays in 2026 will be generous for workers, who will have several breaks throughout the year with many opportunities for extended holidays.

Next year's calendar will have nine national holidays on weekdays in 2026, the highest number in the last ten years.

Seven of the holidays in 2026 will fall on Mondays or Fridays, increasing the chances of extended days off. Furthermore, some dates will allow for strategic extensions, such as Tiradentes Day, which will be celebrated on a Tuesday, and Corpus Christi, an optional holiday set for a Thursday.

Check out the main holidays in 2026

• January 1 (Thursday): Universal Brotherhood

• February 16 and 17 (Monday and Tuesday): Carnival - optional holiday

• February 18 (Wednesday): Ash Wednesday - optional holiday valid until 2 p.m.

• April 3 (Friday): Good Friday

• April 5 (Sunday): Easter Sunday

• April 21 (Tuesday): Tiradentes

• May 1 (Friday): Labor Day

• June 4 (Thursday): Corpus Christi - optional holiday

• September 7 (Monday): Independence Day of Brazil

• October 12 (Monday): Our Lady of Aparecida

• November 2 (Monday): All Souls' Day

• November 15 (Sunday): Proclamation of the Republic - national holiday

• November 20 (Friday): Black Consciousness Day

• December 24 (Thursday): Christmas Eve - optional holiday after 2 p.m.

• December 25 (Friday): Christmas

• December 31 (Thursday): New Year's Eve 2027 - optional holiday after 2 p.m.

In addition to national holidays in 2026, there are also optional holidays, such as Carnival, Corpus Christi, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, and state and municipal holidays.

Labor rights during holidays

Labor law experts point out that employees in non-essential roles are entitled to time off on national holidays. If called to work, they must receive compensatory leave or double pay for the hours worked.

Impact on the economy and company planning

While holidays provide opportunities for rest and leisure for workers, they also require additional planning from companies, especially in sectors that depend on continuous labor. Collective and individual agreements may be necessary to avoid conflicts, ensuring that the rules of the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT) are respected.

Source: Contábeis