Colombia has 18 national public holidays a year, and almost all of them are shifted to a Monday. For visitors that means a steady rhythm of three-day weekends in which the country moves: roads out of Bogota and Medellin clog, Caribbean beaches fill, and hotel rates jump. Knowing the dates lets you either avoid the crowds or plan around them. This guide lists every holiday for 2026 and 2027, explains what actually closes, and flags the weekends that cause the most disruption. For month-by-month weather and events, see our best time to visit Colombia guide.
How Colombian holidays work
Under the Ley Emiliani, many religious and civic holidays are moved to the next Monday so they create a long weekend. Some holidays are fixed to their calendar date (January 1, May 1, July 20, August 7, December 8 and December 25). Others are tied to Easter and move every year: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Ascension, Corpus Christi and the Sacred Heart. Because Easter moves, always check the year you are travelling rather than assuming last year’s dates. We verified the 2026 dates against published national calendars, and the 2027 dates against the 2027 Easter date (March 28) and the same Monday-transfer rules.
Public holidays 2026
- January 1 (Thursday): New Year’s Day
- January 12 (Monday): Epiphany (Reyes Magos)
- March 23 (Monday): St Joseph’s Day
- April 2 (Thursday): Holy Thursday
- April 3 (Friday): Good Friday
- May 1 (Friday): Labour Day
- May 18 (Monday): Ascension
- June 8 (Monday): Corpus Christi
- June 15 (Monday): Sacred Heart
- June 29 (Monday): Saints Peter and Paul
- July 20 (Monday): Independence Day
- August 7 (Friday): Battle of Boyaca
- August 17 (Monday): Assumption
- October 12 (Monday): Columbus Day (Dia de la Raza)
- November 2 (Monday): All Saints
- November 16 (Monday): Independence of Cartagena
- December 8 (Tuesday): Immaculate Conception
- December 25 (Friday): Christmas Day
Semana Santa runs from Palm Sunday on March 29 to Easter Sunday on April 5, 2026. There are no holidays in February or September.
Public holidays 2027
- January 1 (Friday): New Year’s Day
- January 11 (Monday): Epiphany
- March 22 (Monday): St Joseph’s Day
- March 25 (Thursday): Holy Thursday
- March 26 (Friday): Good Friday
- May 1 (Saturday): Labour Day (falls on a weekend)
- May 10 (Monday): Ascension
- May 31 (Monday): Corpus Christi
- June 7 (Monday): Sacred Heart
- July 5 (Monday): Saints Peter and Paul
- July 20 (Tuesday): Independence Day
- August 7 (Saturday): Battle of Boyaca (falls on a weekend)
- August 16 (Monday): Assumption
- October 18 (Monday): Columbus Day
- November 1 (Monday): All Saints
- November 15 (Monday): Independence of Cartagena
- December 8 (Wednesday): Immaculate Conception
- December 25 (Saturday): Christmas Day
Easter Sunday 2027 is March 28, so Semana Santa lands a week earlier than in 2026 and overlaps with the St Joseph’s Day weekend, creating a very long break from March 20 to 28. A law passed in 2026 reportedly adds a July 9 holiday for the Virgen de Chiquinquira, but published calendars disagree, so check the official Ministry of the Interior list before building a July 2027 trip around it.
What is open and closed
Banks and government offices: closed on every public holiday. ATMs keep working, but they run low on cash before long weekends, so withdraw early. Foreign exchange houses in malls often keep reduced hours.
Shops and malls: large malls and supermarkets such as Exito and Jumbo generally open on puentes, usually from around 10am to 8pm. Small family shops and markets may close, especially on Good Friday, Christmas Day and January 1. Alcohol sales can be restricted in some cities during elections, so keep this in mind in an election year.
Restaurants and bars: tourist-area restaurants in Cartagena, Medellin (El Poblado) and Bogota (Zona T, Chapinero) stay open. Neighbourhood restaurants often close on Good Friday and December 25, and many Semana Santa menus are fixed-price.
Attractions: most museums close on Mondays anyway, and some open on Monday holidays instead, which varies by institution. Check the Museo del Oro in Bogota and Medellin’s Museo de Antioquia on their own sites. Natural parks such as Tayrona and Los Nevados cap daily visitors, so holiday weekends sell out. Booking a guided tour in Colombia in advance secures entry on busy days.
Transport: city buses and metros (Bogota’s TransMilenio, Medellin Metro) run holiday schedules similar to Sundays. Intercity buses run but terminals are crowded. Domestic flights are fully booked on the Friday before and the Monday of a puente. In Bogota, the Pico y Placa driving restriction is often lifted on holidays, but rules change, so confirm with the city.
Most disruptive holidays for travellers
- Semana Santa (April 2-5, 2026; March 25-28, 2027). The biggest travel week of the year. Popayan and Mompox hold famous processions and are packed; Caribbean beaches and Santa Marta fill; prices rise 30 to 50 percent. Book flights and hotels two months ahead.
- Christmas to New Year (December 16 to January 6). Heavy domestic travel, high rates in Cartagena, and the Epiphany puente in January. See our Christmas in Colombia guide and New Year’s Eve guide.
- June and July puentes. In 2026, Corpus Christi (June 8), Sacred Heart (June 15), Saints Peter and Paul (June 29) and July 20 form four long weekends in six weeks, overlapping school holidays. Expect crowds in Villa de Leyva, Guatape and the coast.
- October 12 and November puentes. Mid-sized crowds, plus the October school recess in 2026, which runs October 5 to 9. The November 16 Independence of Cartagena weekend means local celebrations in Cartagena and high hotel rates (see our Cartagena Independence Day guide).
- August 7 weekend. Bogota hosts its kite festival around this date, bringing day trippers to parks.
Planning tips
- Travel into major cities on the Friday morning or Thursday evening of a puente, and return on Monday evening only if you accept traffic of several hours. Leaving Monday morning or Tuesday is easier.
- Mid-week days around holidays are good value for the Coffee Region and the interior, because locals have left for the coast.
- Prefer inland destinations (Bogota, Medellin, Cali) during Semana Santa if you want quieter streets, since residents leave for the beaches.
- Book intercity buses and flights online at least two to three weeks ahead for puentes, and a month or more for Semana Santa and December.
- Prices and schedules above reflect information as of 2026; calendars are published by the government, so check the official list for any change.
Plan your visit around Colombia’s busiest weekends with our first time in Colombia guide, or start looking at tours in Bogota for quieter weekday slots.