Belize Public And Bank Holidays

Welcome to the party! Holidays in Belize are a great opportunity for fun and offer a wide range of activities. They provide a chance to experience the rich culture and delicious cuisine of Belizean traditions. When a public holiday falls on a Sunday, it is celebrated on the following Monday. If you are planning to visit during a holiday, it is advisable to make hotel reservations in advance, especially if you intend to spend time in Dangriga during Settlement Day on November 19th. Keep in mind that accommodations in that area are limited. On certain holidays like Easter and Christmas, most businesses are closed for the day, while some also close the day after Christmas and Good Friday.

National holidays hold significantly greater importance to the population of Belize compared to the population of North America. On the listed holidays, the entire country of Belize essentially comes to a standstill. Transportation services are notably reduced, schools are closed, news services are unavailable, and public services like banks and government offices cease operations. However, it’s worth noting that tourism plays a vital role in the economy. Consequently, tourist services such as tours, hotels, restaurants even liquor establishments remain open, even on Christmas.

New Years Day – 1 January

This is a traditional holiday like in most other countries. Most everything is closed while the population recovers from celebrations the night before.

George Price Day 15 January

George Price the first prime minister of Belize gets his own day in recognition of his fight to gain independence for Belize.

Baron Bliss Day – 9 March

Now known as National Heroes and Benefactors Day. Celebrates Baron Henry Edward Bliss a wealthy Englishman who left his fortune to Belize. On 9 March this holiday is celebrated with various activities, mostly water sports. This is in memory of the baron who was a sports fishing enthusiast. Baron Bliss remembered Belize with a generous legacy when he died. A day of sailing and fishing was designated in his will.

Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday, Easter Sunday

Easter is the biggest holiday in Belize and is a four-day event from Good Friday up to and including Easter Monday. Everything starts shutting down at midday on Holy Thursday with government workers being given the afternoon off enabling them to travel home for the Easter holidays, but almost no public officer bothers to go to work Thursday morning. Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday are public holidays.

Labour Day 1 May

This day commemorates the working men and women of Belize and is held on this day same like in most countries around the world. It is the same day as labour day in the US but on a different day. The date is immovable.

Emancipation Day 1 August

This day observes the abolition of slavery in the British West Indies on 1 August 1834, when 750,000 slaves formally became free.

St. George’s Caye Day September 10

Thus holiday celebrates a military skirmish between Spain and Britain that took place near St. George’s Caye.

Independence Day September 21

Celebrates the day in 1981 when Great Britain granted Belize is independence.

Columbus Day, Indigenous Day 12 October

Observes the discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus.

Garifuna Settlement Day 19 November

This day celebrates the arrival of the Garifuna people, also known as the Black Caribs, to the colony of British Honduras. The Garifuna were inhabitants of St. Vincent island in the lesser Antilles from where they were expelled by the British.

Christmas Day 25 December

This traditional christian holiday is celebrated in Belize like everywhere else in the western world.

Boxing Day 26 December

The recorded celebration of Boxing Day has long included giving money and other gifts to those who were needy and in service positions. The European tradition has been dated to the Middle Ages, and there are claims that it goes back to the late Roman or early Christian era; metal boxes placed outside of churches were used to collect special offerings. In practice Belizeans use this day it to recover from, or extend the Christmas celebrations.

Belize Festivals and Cultural Events

February

Fiesta de Carnaval is an exciting yearly event celebrated in the northern districts of Corozal and Orange Walk and at Ambergris and Caye Caulker Cayes which have mostly Latino populations. Participants compete in comparsas – special dances that parody local individuals, officials or historical events. The highlight of this event is the last day when good-natured but purposeful groups of celebrants roam the streets and paint anyone they can find with flour and food coloring at best, or shoe polish at worse. Carnaval is celebrated one week before Lent.

International Billfish Tournament: Prize of $50,000 to angler landing blue marlin over 500 pounds. Sponsored by the Belize Game Fish Association.

March

Annual Agricultural & Trade Show held at the City Of Belmopan. This is the largest public event in Belize – easily drawing 30,000+ visitors to view livestock and trade exhibitions, rodeos, mechanical rides, dance and music festivals, manufacturer exhibits and blowout sales by merchants.

Baron Bliss Day Celebrations are held nationwide to honor this great benefactor of Belize. Harbor regatta is held in front of the Belize City lighthouse site of the Baron Bliss Memorial. Horse and cycle races are also held in various areas of Belize.

April

Easter Good Friday in is observed in all major population centers. Church services are in the morning followed by processions at around 3p.m. The processions are a solemn event carrying the cross and other sacred icons through the streets of the town.

Holy Saturday Cross Country Classic race starts in Belize City, continues on to Western Twin Towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena, lopes around and returns to Belize City. The race is open to all cyclists world wide and is coordinated by the Belize Cycling Association.

The San Jose Succotz Fiesta celebrating the day of their patron saint is held in this month. This village fair features entertainment for kids, rides, food, marimba music and dances featuring big bands from Belize, Mexico and Guatemala.

May

Cashew Festival Crooked Tree Village. Celebrates the cashew harvest season. Live punta and brukdown music, cashew wine, Caribbean-style dishes, games, sports and folklore presentations.

Cayo Expo San Ignacio. Displays of local crafts and products, archaeological exhibits, dance and local foods.

Coconut Festival Caye Caulker. Food, beverages, boat races. Parade with prize for floats, coconut competition, dancing.

June

Dia de San Pedro Ambergris Caye. Three-day festival honoring San Pedro (St. Peter), the patron saint of San Pedro. Early morning boat parade. Boats and fishermen are blessed, a special mass is held and and a fiesta jump-up follows in the evening.

July

Benque Viejo del Carmen Fiesta Fair. Celebrates the day of their patron saint with cultural shows, marimba bands, food and games, mechanical rides, cultural presentations, sports marathons and dances with bands from Belize, Guatemala and Mexico.

Hopkins Mango Festival: Stann Creek villagers set up stalls on the beach where visitors can enjoy mango as the main ingredient in appetizers, entrees and desserts.

August

Deer Dance Festival San Antonio, Toledo District: Week-long celebrations. Historical reenactments, costumes, homemade harps and violins. This traditional Maya cultural event features costumed dancers (a jaguar, a hunter and, of course, deer). The dance continues today as a part of cultural preservation efforts for Toledo

Costa Maya Festival San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. A festival of music, dance, and foods from Belize, Mexico and neighboring countries. Includes parachute teams from various countries competing for prizes.

Tres Pescados Slam Tournament: Takes place in Ambergris Caye that is surrounded by some of the best saltwater fishing flats in the world. The stated objective for hosting this tournament is to gather data on the local stocks of Tarpon, Permit and Bonefish.

September

Independence Day Numerous cultural, religious and sporting activities held a couple of weeks before St. George’s Caye Day. Flag-raising ceremonies, parades, street jump-ups, music, dance and foods. Crowning of Miss Belize.

Mexican National Day Orange Walk and Corozal residents cross over into Mexico to reunite with families and have celebrations.

St. George’s Caye Day Celebrates and commemorates a military skirmish in 1798 when the Spanish fought British soldiers. Around the country similar official ceremonies and parades take place. Carnivals, sporting activities, fire engine parade, and pop concerts held several days prior to this event. Belikin Spectacular Billfish tournament with spectacular prizes. Sponsored by the Belize Game Fish Association.

October

Columbus Day (Pan American Day, AKA Indigenous Peoples’ Resistance Day) Regatta racing in Belize City, beauty queen contests, dances and parades in the northern Corozal and Orange Walk Districts.

Hike and Bike for the Rain Forest A two-day cross-country run and mountain bike race. Local and International athletes compete in El Cayo area to raise funds for rain forest conservation.

November

Garifuna Settlement Day, mainly in the southern most areas of the country to mark the first arrival of the Garifuna in 1832 in Dangriga. Celebrations begin the night before the official day with drumming throughout communities where the Garifuna are present. The centre of the celebrations are in Dangriga where most residents start to celebrate on the 18th and go right through to the 19 without a break for sleep. The Punta Rock music genre is on display along with traditional drumming at these events.

December

Christmas Day sees most business places closed – except for nightclubs, churches and dance halls. Families visit each other, play music on the streets, exchange gifts and party like only Belizeans known how. Boxing Day Parties, dances , horse races and some Garifuna dances are performed.

John Canoe Festival, also know by locals as the Habinahan Wanaragua Jankunu Festival is held in Dangriga a day or two after Christmas Day at Why Not Island in Dangriga, and at times at the Stann Creek Ecumenical School depending on the weather.

Belize Public And Bank Holidays 2026 Official List

Belmopan, November 6, 2026.

IT IS NOTIFIED for general information that public and bank holidays specified in the First and Second Schedules to Holidays Act, Chapter 289 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2011, will be observed on the following days during the year 2026 in accordance with section 3 of the said Act –