Travel · Holidays · The Gambia

Public holidays in The Gambia

Published September 27, 2026.

The Gambia has two kinds of public holiday: fixed-date holidays such as New Year's Day, Independence Day on 18 February, Labour Day, Africa Day on 25 May, the Assumption and Christmas; and moving holidays — Good Friday and Easter Monday, plus the Islamic festivals of Koriteh, Tobaski, Tamkharit and Gamo, which follow the lunar calendar and are confirmed only shortly before, based on the sighting of the moon.

Fixed-date public holidays

When a holiday falls on a weekend, the government sometimes announces a substitute day off. Always check the official announcement for the year you are travelling.

Moving holidays

Christian holidays that move

Good Friday and Easter Monday follow the Western church calendar, so they fall on different dates each year, usually between late March and late April. You can find the dates for any year well in advance.

Islamic holidays

The Islamic calendar is lunar, about 11 days shorter than the solar year, so each Islamic holiday arrives roughly 11 days earlier every year. The exact date depends on the sighting of the new moon, and in The Gambia the final date is usually confirmed by religious authorities and the government only a day or two beforehand. It is not unusual for different communities to celebrate a day apart.

We do not list future dates for these holidays here, because any date published in advance is only an estimate. If your trip is close to Koriteh or Tobaski, look up the expected date, allow a day either side, and check again locally as the day approaches. The religion guide explains how each festival is celebrated.

Ad hoc holidays

The government can declare additional public holidays at short notice — for example an extra day around Koriteh or Tobaski, a day for a national election, or a day marking a special occasion. These are usually announced through the Office of the President and national media a few days in advance, sometimes less. If you have appointments with government offices, banks or businesses, it is worth checking the news in the week you plan to visit.

A holiday that no longer exists: 22 July

Under Yahya Jammeh, 22 July — the anniversary of the 1994 military takeover — was celebrated as a public holiday, often known as Revolution Day or Freedom Day. After Adama Barrow came to power, it was dropped from the official list of public holidays in 2017. You may still see it in older calendars and guidebooks, but it is no longer observed. The government and politics guide covers this period.

How public holidays affect travel

• Government offices and banks close. Immigration, residence and business registration offices are shut, so plan paperwork around holidays. ATMs usually keep working but can run low on cash over long weekends — see money and payments.
• Hotels, restaurants and tourist sites mostly stay open, especially on the coast. Some local restaurants and craft markets close or open late, particularly on the first day of Koriteh and Tobaski.
• Transport gets busy before the Islamic festivals. In the days before Tobaski in particular, many people travel to their home villages, ferries and bush taxis are crowded, and fares can rise. On the festival day itself, transport can be thin. See getting around and river crossings.
• Markets are hectic in the run-up. Livestock markets fill with rams before Tobaski, and tailors and markets are packed before Koriteh as people buy new clothes.
• Border crossings may be busier around major festivals, as families travel between The Gambia and Senegal — see crossing to Senegal.
• Flights into Banjul can be fuller around Christmas, New Year and Tobaski, when members of the diaspora return home; book early — see flights and arrivals.

Experiencing a holiday as a visitor

Public holidays can be a highlight of a trip. At Koriteh and Tobaski, people dress in their finest clothes and visit relatives, and visitors with Gambian friends are often invited to share a meal. Wishing people a happy feast day, even in English, is always appreciated; Gambian friends can teach you the local greetings in Wolof or Mandinka. On Independence Day there are official ceremonies in the Banjul area. Christmas and New Year on the coast are lively, with beach parties and hotel events. The festivals and events guide covers cultural festivals that are not public holidays, and best time to visit helps you plan around the seasons.

Frequently asked questions

What are the public holidays in The Gambia?

Fixed holidays are New Year's Day, Independence Day (18 February), Labour Day (1 May), Africa Day (25 May), Assumption Day (15 August) and Christmas Day. Moving holidays are Good Friday, Easter Monday, Koriteh, Tobaski, Tamkharit and Gamo (Mawlid).

When is Independence Day in The Gambia?

18 February. It marks independence from Britain in 1965.

When is Tobaski in The Gambia?

Tobaski (Eid al-Adha) follows the Islamic lunar calendar and moves about 11 days earlier each year. The exact date depends on the moon sighting and is confirmed only shortly beforehand, so check locally.

What is Koriteh?

Koriteh is the Gambian name for Eid al-Fitr, the festival that marks the end of Ramadan, celebrated with prayers, new clothes, family visits and food.

Is 22 July still a holiday in The Gambia?

No. 22 July, the anniversary of the 1994 coup, was a public holiday under Yahya Jammeh but was removed from the official list in 2017.

Are shops and hotels open on public holidays in The Gambia?

Hotels, tourist restaurants and many shops stay open. Government offices and banks close, and some local businesses close on the main days of Koriteh and Tobaski.

What to read next

• Religion in The Gambia — how the festivals are celebrated.
• Festivals and events — the cultural calendar.
• Best time to visit — seasons and crowds.
• Weather and climate — month by month.
• Getting around — transport during busy periods.
• Gambia facts — key information at a glance.