In short
- 19 public holidays in 2026, across fixed, movable, and tourism dates.
- Six 4-day long weekends (February, March, April, July, and December), plus several 3-day ones.
- A worked holiday pays double; a non-working day pays the normal wage — opening is the employer's call.
For planning ahead
The long weekends of 2026
Combining fixed holidays, movable holidays, and the three non-working "bridge" days set for tourism, here's how the year's longest breaks line up.
There are also 3-day long weekends around May 25, June 15, August 17, October 12, November 23, and December 25.
Fixed by law
Fixed holidays
These commemorate specific historical dates and never move, even if they fall on a weekday: if it lands on a Saturday, it stays on Saturday.
| Date | Day | Occasion |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Thursday | New Year's Day |
| February 16 & 17 | Monday & Tuesday | Carnival |
| March 24 | Tuesday | National Day of Remembrance for Truth and Justice |
| April 2 | Thursday | Malvinas Veterans and Fallen Day |
| April 3 | Friday | Good Friday |
| May 1 | Friday | Labor Day |
| May 25 | Monday | May Revolution Day |
| June 20 | Saturday | Anniversary of General Manuel Belgrano's death |
| July 9 | Thursday | Independence Day |
| December 8 | Tuesday | Immaculate Conception |
| December 25 | Friday | Christmas Day |
Shift to Monday
Movable and tourism holidays
Under article 6 of Law 27,399, if these fall on a Tuesday or Wednesday they move to the prior Monday; if they fall on a Thursday or Friday, to the following Monday. On top of that, three non-working "bridge" days are added each year specifically to create a long weekend.
| 2026 date | Day | Occasion |
|---|---|---|
| March 23 | Monday | Tourism bridge day (ahead of Mar 24) |
| June 15 | Monday | Anniversary of General Güemes's death (moved from Jun 17) |
| July 10 | Friday | Tourism bridge day (after Jul 9) |
| August 17 | Monday | Anniversary of General San Martín's death |
| October 12 | Monday | Columbus Day / Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity |
| November 23 | Monday | National Sovereignty Day (moved from Nov 20) |
| December 7 | Monday | Tourism bridge day (ahead of Dec 8) |
A different legal category
Non-working days
These aren't public holidays: the employer decides whether the business operates that day. If an employee works, they're paid their normal wage — unlike a worked holiday, which pays double. Most correspond to specific religious communities.
| Date | Occasion |
|---|---|
| March 20 | Eid al-Fitr, end of Ramadan (Islamic community) |
| April 2 | Maundy Thursday (Christian observance) |
| April 1–3 | Passover, first days (Jewish community) |
| April 24 | Day of Action for Tolerance and Respect Among Peoples (Law 26,199) |
| April 7–9 | Passover, final days (Jewish community) |
| May 27 | Eid al-Adha (Islamic community) |
| June 17 | Islamic New Year |
| September 11–13 | Rosh Hashanah — Jewish New Year |
| September 20–21 | Yom Kippur — Day of Atonement (Jewish community) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a public holiday and a non-working day?
On a public holiday, the general rule is not to work; if an employee works anyway, they're paid double. On a non-working day, the employer decides whether to open or not: if the employee works that day, they earn their normal wage, with no premium. The difference is purely about pay and business discretion.
How is a worked holiday paid?
The employee is paid the normal wage for that day plus a 100% premium — in practice, double a normal day's pay. This applies to both monthly-salaried and daily-wage employees, with any specifics set by the applicable collective bargaining agreement. See also our HR & Payroll service.
Why do some holidays "move" and others don't?
Law 27,399 splits holidays into two groups: fixed ones — specific historical dates like May 25 or July 9 — that stay put regardless of the day of the week, and movable ones — like anniversaries of generals or Columbus Day — that shift to the nearest Monday so they always create a long weekend.
If a holiday falls on my usual day off, am I entitled to another day off?
There's no automatic legal compensation just for the coincidence, unless the applicable collective bargaining agreement expressly provides for it. It's worth checking the CCT for your industry, since it varies quite a bit by sector.
Questions about paying a worked holiday?
We review your team's payroll calculations, holidays included. No obligation.