Sri Lanka’s holiday calendar runs on the moon, not just the calendar page. Every full moon is a public holiday, and religious festivals from four faiths add more. For a traveller, a holiday can mean a closed bank, a dry day with no alcohol, a sold-out train or a once-a-year festival worth rearranging your plans for. This guide lists the dates for the rest of 2026 and for 2027, and explains what actually changes on the ground.
Public holidays in Sri Lanka 2026
The dates below follow the official 2026 gazette and the Central Bank holiday list, with Poya dates cross-checked against publicholidays.lk. We checked them in October 2026.
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 3 January (Sat) | Duruthu Poya |
| 15 January (Thu) | Tamil Thai Pongal |
| 1 February (Sun) | Navam Poya |
| 4 February (Wed) | Independence Day |
| 15 February (Sun) | Mahasivarathri |
| 2 March (Mon) | Madin Poya |
| 21 March (Sat) | Eid al-Fitr |
| 1 April (Wed) | Bak Poya |
| 3 April (Fri) | Good Friday |
| 13-14 April | Sinhala and Tamil New Year |
| 1 May (Fri) | Vesak Poya and May Day |
| 2 May (Sat) | Day after Vesak |
| 28 May (Thu) | Eid al-Adha |
| 30 May (Sat) | Adhi Poson Poya |
| 29 June (Mon) | Poson Poya |
| 29 July (Wed) | Esala Poya |
| 26 August (Wed) | Milad-un-Nabi |
| 27 August (Thu) | Nikini Poya |
| 26 September (Sat) | Binara Poya |
| 25 October (Sun) | Vap Poya |
| 8 November (Sun) | Deepavali |
| 24 November (Tue) | Ill Poya |
| 23 December (Wed) | Unduvap Poya |
| 25 December (Fri) | Christmas Day |
If you are travelling now, the remaining 2026 dates are Vap Poya on 25 October, Deepavali on 8 November, Ill Poya on 24 November, Unduvap Poya on 23 December and Christmas on 25 December. Published sources disagree on a few 2026 dates (Deepavali and Ill Poya in particular), so we followed the government calendar.
Public holidays in Sri Lanka 2027
The 2027 dates below come from publicholidays.lk, which marks them as estimates until the government gazettes the final list. Poya days are astronomically fixed and very unlikely to move. Eid and Deepavali can shift by a day.
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 15 January (Fri) | Tamil Thai Pongal |
| 22 January (Fri) | Duruthu Poya |
| 4 February (Thu) | Independence Day |
| 20 February (Sat) | Navam Poya |
| 6 March (Sat) | Mahasivarathri |
| 10 March (Wed) | Eid al-Fitr |
| 21 March (Sun) | Madin Poya |
| 26 March (Fri) | Good Friday |
| 13-14 April | Sinhala and Tamil New Year |
| 20 April (Tue) | Bak Poya |
| 1 May (Sat) | May Day |
| 17 May (Mon) | Eid al-Adha |
| 20 May (Thu) | Vesak Poya |
| 21 May (Fri) | Day after Vesak |
| 18 June (Fri) | Poson Poya |
| 18 July (Sun) | Esala Poya |
| 15 August (Sun) | Milad-un-Nabi |
| 16 August (Mon) | Nikini Poya |
| 15 September (Wed) | Binara Poya |
| 15 October (Fri) | Vap Poya |
| 28 October (Thu) | Deepavali |
| 13 November (Sat) | Ill Poya |
| 13 December (Mon) | Unduvap Poya |
| 25 December (Sat) | Christmas Day |
What Poya days mean for travellers
Poya days are the ones you will hit most often, roughly once a month. They are quiet, devotional days, and Sri Lankans in white head to temples with flowers and lamps.
- Alcohol: liquor shops and bars close and sales are banned. Some hotels serve guests regardless, but do not count on it. Buy beer or wine the day before.
- Meat: butchers and many restaurants avoid meat, so expect vegetarian rice and curry in local eateries.
- Banks and offices: closed. Withdraw cash in advance, as ATMs sometimes run low before long weekends. Our Sri Lanka money guide covers cash planning.
- Shops: many small shops close, though supermarkets and tourist-area shops in places like Galle Fort and Ella usually stay open.
- Temples: open and crowded. Dress modestly and read our temple etiquette guide before you go.
- Transport: trains and buses run, often with fuller carriages. Tuk-tuks and taxis are easy to find in tourist areas.
- Attractions: most open, though some state-run museums close. National parks keep running safaris.
Poya days can also be a highlight. The evening at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy is particularly atmospheric, and you can book a Kandy cultural tour to see it with a guide.
The most disruptive holidays for travellers
Sinhala and Tamil New Year (13-14 April). This is the big one. Many shops, restaurants and tour operators close for two to five days around the date, and trains and buses are packed as the country goes home. Book accommodation and train seats well ahead, and expect some hotels to run reduced menus. Our April guide covers what is open.
Vesak (1 to 2 May 2026; 20 to 21 May 2027). Vesak is a two-day holiday with an alcohol ban, lantern displays and free food stalls called dansal across the country. It is a wonderful time to visit but transport is busy and accommodation fills up. Read more in our Vesak guide.
Esala Poya and the Kandy Perahera (July or August). The Esala festival brings the famous Kandy procession. Kandy hotels sell out months in advance. See the Kandy Esala Perahera guide. Confirm the procession dates with the temple authority before booking.
Christmas and New Year. Not a closure problem but a peak-season one. Beach and hill-country prices peak, and trains on the Ella route sell out.
Eid and Deepavali. These are less disruptive for tourists, though Muslim-owned and Tamil-owned shops will close in some areas, especially in Colombo and the north and east.
How to plan around the holidays
- Check the Poya date for any long drive or internal flight. Roads and trains are busier on the day before and after a Poya that falls on a Friday or Monday.
- Withdraw cash two days before a multi-day holiday such as New Year or Vesak.
- Book Ella train seats and Kandy hotels early for Poya weekends.
- Use Poya days for temples and slow sightseeing rather than nightlife.
- Confirm opening hours for any museum or state attraction, as holiday hours differ.
For help picking a month, see our best time to visit Sri Lanka guide. If you want help planning around a festival, browse guided tours across Sri Lanka and book with free cancellation.
Related guides: Thai Pongal Sri Lanka, Sinhala and Tamil New Year and Deepavali Sri Lanka.