Tanzania’s public holidays rarely close the places visitors come for. Safari lodges, national parks, beach resorts and the Zanzibar ferries keep running. What shuts is the everyday infrastructure around them: bank branches, government offices, the immigration and park-fee desks in town, and many local shops. This guide lists every holiday with its date, explains what actually closes, and flags the days that cause real trouble for a trip.
All dates below are for 2026 and 2027. Fixed dates are certain. Easter is calculated. The Islamic holidays depend on moon sighting, so the 2027 dates are the expected ones and can move by a day (details in the moveable section).
Fixed-Date Public Holidays
| Holiday | Date | 2027 weekday |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | 1 January | Friday |
| Zanzibar Revolution Day | 12 January | Tuesday |
| Karume Day | 7 April | Wednesday |
| Union Day | 26 April | Monday |
| Workers’ Day (Labour Day) | 1 May | Saturday |
| Saba Saba (International Trade Fair Day) | 7 July | Wednesday |
| Nane Nane (Farmers’ Day) | 8 August | Sunday |
| Nyerere Day | 14 October | Thursday |
| Independence Day (Uhuru) | 9 December | Thursday |
| Christmas Day | 25 December | Saturday |
| Boxing Day | 26 December | Sunday |
For the rest of 2026, the remaining fixed holidays are Independence Day on Wednesday 9 December, Christmas Day on Friday 25 December and Boxing Day on Saturday 26 December. Nyerere Day (14 October 2026) has just passed. Nane Nane is widely observed as an agricultural day and is listed as a holiday by most calendars, but check locally if you need an office open on that date.
Some of these have real regional weight. Zanzibar Revolution Day marks the 1964 revolution and is celebrated with parades and official events in Zanzibar, so Stone Town government services close and some roads are blocked. Karume Day honours Zanzibar’s first president, Abeid Amani Karume. Union Day celebrates the 1964 union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar. Nyerere Day remembers Julius Nyerere, the first president of Tanzania, who died on 14 October 1999.
Moveable Holidays: 2026 and 2027 Dates
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 (expected) |
|---|---|---|
| Good Friday | 3 April | 26 March |
| Easter Monday | 6 April | 29 March |
| Eid al-Fitr | Passed (around 20 March) | 9 March, with 10 March also observed |
| Eid al-Adha (Idd el Hajj) | Passed (around 27 May) | 16 or 17 May |
| Maulid (Prophet’s Birthday) | Passed (late August) | 14 or 15 August |
Good Friday and Easter Monday follow the Western Easter calendar, with Easter Sunday on 28 March 2027. These dates are firm.
The Islamic holidays are different. Tanzania follows local moon sighting, and the Muslim authorities (BAKWATA on the mainland, the Mufti’s office in Zanzibar) announce the date the evening before. Published calendars disagree by a day or two. For 2027, astronomical calculations point to Eid al-Fitr on Tuesday 9 March (celebrations continue 10 March), Eid al-Adha on 16 or 17 May, and Maulid on 14 or 15 August. Treat these as planning dates and confirm a week ahead if a booking depends on them. Ramadan begins roughly 30 days before Eid al-Fitr, so expect it from about 8 February 2027.
What Is Open and Closed
Banks and bureaux de change: Branches close on every public holiday and usually close early the day before a long weekend. ATMs keep working in cities, but machines in smaller towns and on the Zanzibar coast can run out of cash over a holiday weekend. Withdraw in advance. Our Tanzania currency and money guide covers cash planning.
Government offices: Immigration offices, TANAPA and Ngorongoro Conservation Area administration offices, and licensing offices close. Park gates themselves do not. Pre-pay park fees online where possible.
Shops and markets: Supermarkets in Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Moshi often open shorter hours on Christmas Day, Eid and Good Friday. Markets such as Kariakoo (Dar es Salaam) are quiet on Eid day and bustling the day before. On Zanzibar, many Stone Town shops close on the main Eid day.
Restaurants and hotels: Tourist restaurants, lodges and hotels operate normally, and Christmas and New Year menus come with a price premium. In Muslim-majority areas such as Stone Town and Pemba, some local eateries close during Ramadan daylight hours, though tourist-oriented places stay open.
Safari and trekking: Operators run departures every day. The practical impact is on logistics: Arusha town offices closed for a day, and bank cash unavailable for tips and last-minute payments. Our tipping guide explains how much cash to carry.
Transport: Intercity buses, domestic flights and ferries run, but heavy demand is the problem, not closures. The Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar ferries and Precision Air and Auric Air flights sell out around Christmas, Eid and Easter. Local daladala minibuses run fewer routes on the holiday itself.
Most Disruptive Dates for Travellers
- Christmas to New Year (24 December to 2 January): The peak of the high season. Zanzibar and northern circuit lodges charge peak rates and book out months ahead. Roads out of Dar es Salaam are jammed with people travelling home.
- Eid al-Fitr (9-10 March 2027): The most significant travel disruption of the year, with families moving between cities and islands. Zanzibar is especially busy with domestic visitors, and many local businesses close for two to three days.
- Easter weekend (26-29 March 2027): A four-day weekend that coincides with the long rains. Prices are low at safari lodges, but transport to Zanzibar is booked by locals.
- Zanzibar Revolution Day (12 January): Stone Town streets near the parade grounds are restricted, and government services close.
- Eid al-Adha (mid-May 2027): Livestock markets and family gatherings across the country. Expect closures, particularly on Zanzibar and the coast.
The least disruptive are Saba Saba, Nane Nane and Union Day, which mostly affect government offices. Union Day on Monday 26 April 2027 creates a long weekend, so expect fuller buses that Friday.
Planning Tips
- Book Zanzibar ferries, domestic flights and the Dar es Salaam to Arusha bus at least two to three weeks before any long weekend. See getting around Tanzania for options.
- Arrive with enough cash for the long weekend, in both Tanzanian shillings and clean USD notes.
- Schedule arrival and exit formalities, such as visa extensions, for working days. The Tanzania visa guide explains what must be done in person.
- Zanzibar offers the clearest Eid experience for visitors. Dress modestly and avoid eating in public in Stone Town during Ramadan daylight hours. See our Zanzibar guide.
- A guided day out is easy to arrange even on a holiday. Browse Zanzibar tours or Dar es Salaam tours and confirm operating days when booking.
- Check the best time to visit Tanzania to see how holidays overlap with the dry and rainy seasons.
Dates in this guide are as of 2026 and based on published government calendars and astronomical calculations; the Islamic holiday dates for 2027 are provisional until announced.