Public holidays, festivals and big weekends on Ambergris Caye and around Belize. A date only shows as confirmed when the government or the organiser has published it for that year — otherwise we tell you the month it usually falls in and nothing more.
List last checked Wed 23 Sep 2026.
Coming up next
The next 60 days, plus festivals that usually fall in that window but have no date yet.
Garifuna Settlement Day in San PedroDate not announcedCommunity
Drumming on the evening of 18 Nov; Yurumein at dawn on 19 Nov (public holiday)
Central Park and neighbourhoods such as DFC, San Pedro
The island's Garifuna community marks the national day with drumming, dances, traditional food and the Yurumein re-enactment at dawn. Coordinated by the San Pedro branch of the National Garifuna Council. The big national celebration is in Dangriga.
Timing based on 2025. The 19 November holiday is confirmed for 2026; the island programme has not been announced.
Garifuna Settlement Day in San PedroDate not announcedCommunity
Drumming on the evening of 18 Nov; Yurumein at dawn on 19 Nov (public holiday)
Central Park and neighbourhoods such as DFC, San Pedro
The island's Garifuna community marks the national day with drumming, dances, traditional food and the Yurumein re-enactment at dawn. Coordinated by the San Pedro branch of the National Garifuna Council. The big national celebration is in Dangriga.
Timing based on 2025. The 19 November holiday is confirmed for 2026; the island programme has not been announced.
El Gran Carnaval de San PedroDate not announcedFestival
The days before Ash Wednesday (Ash Wednesday is 10 Feb 2027). In 2026 it ran Sun 15 – Tue 17 Feb.
Central Park and downtown streets, San Pedro
San Pedro's pre-Lent carnival: comparsa dance groups in the streets and powder-paint and foam parties in Central Park. Organised by the San Pedro Town Council.
2027 dates not announced. Expect the weekend of 6–9 Feb, but that is our estimate, not an announcement.
National Heroes and Benefactors DayDate not yet gazettedPublic & bank holiday
Tue 9 Mar 2027 · Falls on a Tuesday. When this holiday fell mid-week in 2022 and 2023 it was moved to the Monday before, so it may be observed Mon 8 Mar. But the 2025 and 2026 lists left other mid-week holidays where they fell. Wait for the 2027 notice.
Originally Baron Bliss Day, after the Englishman who left his fortune to what was then British Honduras.
Labour DayDate not yet gazettedPublic & bank holiday
Sat 1 May 2027 · Falls on a Saturday. Saturday holidays stayed on the Saturday in the 2022 and 2026 lists (2024 moved two of them). Wait for the 2027 notice.
Early July, when lobster season opens; ends with a Saturday block party (11 Jul in 2026)
Restaurants and bars islandwide; block party at Saca Chispas Field
More than a week of lobster specials across the island, ending in a block party with food booths and live music. Organised by the San Pedro Business Association's Lobster Fest Committee.
Emancipation DayDate not yet gazettedPublic & bank holiday
Sun 1 Aug 2027 · Falls on a Sunday. In 2021, the last time 1 August fell on a Sunday, it was observed on Monday 2 August, and every Sunday holiday in the 2021–2025 lists except Christmas 2022 moved to the Monday. Expect Mon 2 Aug; not confirmed until the 2027 notice.
Marks 1 August 1838, when enslaved Africans in the English-speaking Caribbean were legally freed. A public holiday in Belize since 2021.
September Celebrations in San PedroDate not announcedCommunity
1–21 September: flag raising on the 1st, fire-engine parade and block party on the evening of the 9th, Independence Eve with fireworks on the 20th, Jouvert and a parade on the 21st (as in 2026)
Central Park, Saca Chispas Field and town streets
The island's run of events around St. George's Caye Day (10 Sep) and Independence Day (21 Sep).
2027 programme not announced. Start times in 2026 changed between the preview and the day, so check nearer the time.
Indigenous Peoples' Resistance DayDate not yet gazettedPublic & bank holiday
Tue 12 Oct 2027 · Falls on a Tuesday. When this holiday fell mid-week in 2022 and 2023 it was moved to the Monday before, so it may be observed Mon 11 Oct. But the 2025 and 2026 lists left other mid-week holidays where they fell. Wait for the 2027 notice.
The 12 October holiday, once Columbus Day / Pan American Day, then briefly El Día de la Raza. Renamed in November 2021 to honour the native peoples of the Americas who resisted colonial conquest.
Garifuna Settlement Day in San PedroDate not announcedCommunity
Drumming on the evening of 18 Nov; Yurumein at dawn on 19 Nov (public holiday)
Central Park and neighbourhoods such as DFC, San Pedro
The island's Garifuna community marks the national day with drumming, dances, traditional food and the Yurumein re-enactment at dawn. Coordinated by the San Pedro branch of the National Garifuna Council. The big national celebration is in Dangriga.
Timing based on 2025. The 19 November holiday is confirmed for 2026; the island programme has not been announced.
Boxing DayDate not yet gazettedPublic & bank holiday
Sun 26 Dec 2027 · Falls on a Sunday. The last time Christmas fell on a Saturday (2021), Boxing Day was observed on Monday 27 December. Expect the same; not confirmed until the 2027 notice.
Banks, government offices and many businesses close. The Government of Belize publishes the official list for each year, usually in late October or early November, and sometimes moves a holiday to a Monday or adds a one-off holiday during the year.
2026
Official list published 6 November 2025.
Date
Holiday
Status
Thu 1 Jan
New Year's Day
Confirmed
Thu 15 Jan
George Price Day
Confirmed
Mon 9 Mar
National Heroes and Benefactors Day
Confirmed
Fri 3 Apr
Good Friday
Confirmed
Sat 4 Apr
Holy Saturday
Confirmed
Mon 6 Apr
Easter Monday
Confirmed
Fri 1 May
Labour Day
Confirmed
Sat 1 Aug
Emancipation Day
Confirmed
Thu 10 Sep
St. George's Caye Day
Confirmed
Mon 21 Sep
Independence Day
Confirmed
Mon 12 Oct
Indigenous Peoples' Resistance Day
Confirmed
Thu 19 Nov
Garifuna Settlement Day
Confirmed
Fri 25 Dec
Christmas Day
Confirmed
Sat 26 Dec
Boxing Day
Confirmed
2027
Not published yet (checked 23 September 2026). These are the legal dates; which weekday each is observed on is set by the 2027 notice. The notes say where a Monday move is likely, based on past years.
Date
Holiday
Status
Fri 1 Jan
New Year's Day
Date not yet gazetted
Fri 15 Jan
George Price Day
Date not yet gazetted
Tue 9 Mar
National Heroes and Benefactors DayFalls on a Tuesday. When this holiday fell mid-week in 2022 and 2023 it was moved to the Monday before, so it may be observed Mon 8 Mar. But the 2025 and 2026 lists left other mid-week holidays where they fell. Wait for the 2027 notice.
Date not yet gazetted
Fri 26 Mar
Good FridayFollows Easter (Easter Sunday is 28 March 2027).
Date not yet gazetted
Sat 27 Mar
Holy SaturdayFollows Easter.
Date not yet gazetted
Mon 29 Mar
Easter MondayFollows Easter.
Date not yet gazetted
Sat 1 May
Labour DayFalls on a Saturday. Saturday holidays stayed on the Saturday in the 2022 and 2026 lists (2024 moved two of them). Wait for the 2027 notice.
Date not yet gazetted
Sun 1 Aug
Emancipation DayFalls on a Sunday. In 2021, the last time 1 August fell on a Sunday, it was observed on Monday 2 August, and every Sunday holiday in the 2021–2025 lists except Christmas 2022 moved to the Monday. Expect Mon 2 Aug; not confirmed until the 2027 notice.
Date not yet gazetted
Fri 10 Sep
St. George's Caye Day
Date not yet gazetted
Tue 21 Sep
Independence DayFalls on a Tuesday. Independence Day has stayed on 21 September in every list we checked (2021–2026).
Date not yet gazetted
Tue 12 Oct
Indigenous Peoples' Resistance DayFalls on a Tuesday. When this holiday fell mid-week in 2022 and 2023 it was moved to the Monday before, so it may be observed Mon 11 Oct. But the 2025 and 2026 lists left other mid-week holidays where they fell. Wait for the 2027 notice.
Date not yet gazetted
Fri 19 Nov
Garifuna Settlement Day
Date not yet gazetted
Sat 25 Dec
Christmas DayFalls on a Saturday.
Date not yet gazetted
Sun 26 Dec
Boxing DayFalls on a Sunday. The last time Christmas fell on a Saturday (2021), Boxing Day was observed on Monday 27 December. Expect the same; not confirmed until the 2027 notice.
Date not yet gazetted
Not on the list, and why
Costa Maya Festival. We can't find a Costa Maya Festival held since 2019, and it was cancelled in 2022, so it isn't on the calendar. If it comes back, we'll add it. Source
Day of the Dead. We haven't found a regular public Day of the Dead event on the island, so it isn't listed. Tell us if there is one.
Where this comes from
Every date above links to its own source. These are the main ones. Spotted something wrong or a new date? [email protected]
This list as open data: events.json · holidays.json. Free to reuse with credit to belizepulse.com.
