2026 Holidays - Ethiopia

Ethiopia Public Holiday Observance Rules

1. General Observance

Public holidays in Ethiopia are established by national legislation and published in the official government holiday calendar. They are observed on the dates specified in the Ethiopian calendar, which governs both religious and national commemorative events.

2. When a Public Holiday Falls on a Sunday

If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, it is typically observed on that day. There is no automatic substitution to the following Monday unless explicitly provided by an official decree.

3. When a Public Holiday Falls on a Saturday

If a public holiday falls on a Saturday, it is observed on that day. There is no statutory provision to move the holiday to another day unless specifically announced by the government.

4. Bridge Holidays (Long Weekends)

Ethiopia does not have a statutory mechanism for automatically creating extra “bridge” days to extend a holiday period into a long weekend.

Any additional days off beyond the official holiday dates are provided at the employer’s discretion or through specific government directives.

5. Additional Notes

Employers are required to follow the official public holiday calendar as published by the Ethiopian government.

Employees working on a public holiday are entitled to premium pay or compensatory time off in accordance with Ethiopian labor law.

For the most up-to-date information, consult the latest official holiday calendar and any recent legislative updates.