Also on Bank Holidays UK: Spring Bank Holiday 2026 Date — When Is It? · Easter Monday — Date, History & Pay · Good Friday 2026 — Date & Bank Holiday Status
Cyprus is one of the UK’s favourite Mediterranean escapes — a sun-soaked, English-speaking island with direct flights, left-hand driving and a large British resident community. But its calendar runs on the Greek Orthodox tradition, so its public holidays look very different from UK bank holidays. This guide lists every public holiday in Cyprus in 2026, explains the dates that catch British visitors out, and shows how to plan your trip around them.
Public Holidays in Cyprus 2026 — Full List
The Republic of Cyprus observes 17 public holidays in 2026. The table below shows each date with its Greek name, English name, type and the day of the week. Several dates are movable because they follow the Orthodox Easter cycle.
| Date | Name (Greek) | Name (English) | Type | Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Πρωτοχρονιά | New Year’s Day | National | Thursday |
| 6 January | Θεοφάνεια | Epiphany | National | Tuesday |
| 23 February | Καθαρά Δευτέρα | Green Monday (Clean Monday) | National · movable | Monday |
| 25 March | Επέτειος Ελληνικής Επανάστασης | Greek Independence Day | National | Wednesday |
| 1 April | Κυπριακή Εθνική Επέτειος | Cyprus National Day (EOKA Day) | National | Wednesday |
| 10 April | Μεγάλη Παρασκευή | Good Friday (Orthodox) | National · movable | Friday |
| 13 April | Δευτέρα του Πάσχα | Easter Monday (Orthodox) | National · movable | Monday |
| 14 April | Τρίτη της Διακαινησίμου | Easter Tuesday (Orthodox) | National · movable | Tuesday |
| 1 May | Πρωτομαγιά | Labour Day | National | Friday |
| 31 May | Πεντηκοστή | Pentecost (Orthodox) | Religious (falls on Sunday) | Sunday |
| 1 June | Κατακλυσμός / Δευτέρα Πεντηκοστής | Kataklysmos / Whit Monday | National · movable | Monday |
| 15 August | Κοίμηση της Θεοτόκου | Assumption of the Virgin Mary | National | Saturday |
| 1 October | Ημέρα Ανεξαρτησίας | Cyprus Independence Day | National | Thursday |
| 28 October | Επέτειος του Όχι | Ohi Day (Greek National Day) | National | Wednesday |
| 24 December | Παραμονή Χριστουγέννων | Christmas Eve | National | Thursday |
| 25 December | Χριστούγεννα | Christmas Day | National | Friday |
| 26 December | Δεύτερη μέρα Χριστουγέννων | Boxing Day (St Stephen’s Day) | National (falls on Saturday) | Saturday |
Note: Pentecost Sunday (31 May) is a religious observance that falls on a Sunday; the working public holiday is Whit Monday / Kataklysmos on 1 June. Assumption (15 August) and Boxing Day (26 December) fall on a Saturday in 2026 — Cyprus does not add a substitute weekday.
Long Weekends in Cyprus 2026
Because several Cypriot holidays land next to a weekend, 2026 offers some excellent long-weekend windows — useful if you are timing a short break from the UK.
🟢 Best long-weekend windows in Cyprus 2026
- Green Monday weekend — Sat 21 to Mon 23 February: an automatic three-day weekend to open the season.
- Orthodox Easter — Fri 10 to Tue 14 April: Good Friday, the weekend, Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday give a full five-day break, the biggest holiday window of the Cypriot year.
- Labour Day — Fri 1 May falls on a Friday, so it joins the weekend for a three-day break.
- Kataklysmos — Sat 30 May to Mon 1 June: Whit Monday extends the weekend, with seafront festivals in the coastal towns.
- Independence Day bridge — Thu 1 October: take Friday 2 October off for a four-day weekend.
By comparison, the UK’s eight bank holidays produce far fewer multi-day breaks — Cyprus packs in several thanks to its longer holiday list.
What’s Open and Closed on Public Holidays
On the major holidays — Orthodox Easter, Christmas, 1 January and 15 August — banks, government offices, post offices and most independent shops close. In the tourist resorts, however, the holiday machinery keeps running: hotels, beach bars, tavernas and many restaurants stay open, and resort-area mini-markets usually trade. Larger supermarkets in towns generally close on the biggest days. Public transport (intercity buses and the urban networks in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos) runs a reduced Sunday-style timetable, and museums and archaeological sites are often shut on the principal religious holidays, so check ahead before planning a day at Kourion or the Tombs of the Kings.
🟡 Travel tip
Orthodox Good Friday and Easter Saturday are the quietest retail days of the year in Cyprus. Beaches and resort restaurants stay open, but stock up on groceries the day before if you are self-catering, and don’t rely on town-centre supermarkets or pharmacies (which run a rota). Petrol stations and resort mini-markets are your safest bet.
How Cyprus Public Holidays Compare with UK Bank Holidays
The headline difference is volume: Cyprus has 17 public holidays, the UK has eight bank holidays. But there are structural differences too, summarised below. For the full UK picture, see our complete list of UK bank holidays for 2026.
| Feature | United Kingdom | Cyprus |
|---|---|---|
| Number in 2026 | 8 bank holidays | 17 public holidays |
| Easter timing | Western — Good Friday 3 April, Easter Monday 6 April | Orthodox — Good Friday 10 April, Easter Mon/Tue 13–14 April |
| Weekend holidays | Substitute weekday given (e.g. Monday off) | No substitute day — observed on the actual date |
| Religious basis | Largely secular bank holidays | Mostly Greek Orthodox feast days |
| National days | None fixed by statute | Four (25 March, 1 April, 1 October, 28 October) |
One quirk worth flagging: there are effectively two Easters for UK visitors to keep straight. Western Easter (which the UK follows) is 5 April 2026, while Cyprus celebrates Orthodox Easter a week later on 12 April. If you want to experience the spectacular midnight Resurrection service and fireworks, you’ll need to be on the island in mid-April, not early April.
Key Cultural Holidays Explained
Three Cypriot holidays stand out for visitors because they have no real UK equivalent and are genuinely worth planning around.
- Green Monday (Kathara Deftera, 23 February). The first day of Orthodox Lent and a beloved family day out. Cypriots head to the countryside or the coast for picnics of Lenten food — olives, tahini, halloumi, fresh bread and seafood — and the skies fill with kites. It is a cheerful, outdoorsy start to spring rather than a solemn occasion.
- Orthodox Easter (12 April in 2026). The most important festival of the Cypriot year. On Holy Saturday night, churches fill for the midnight Resurrection service; at the stroke of midnight candles are lit, fireworks crackle and large community bonfires (lambratzia) are set alight. Easter Sunday brings the traditional roast lamb, flaounes (cheese pastries) and red-dyed eggs.
- Kataklysmos (Whit Monday, 1 June). The Festival of the Flood is unique to Cyprus, blending the Orthodox feast of Pentecost with an older tradition tied to the sea and Noah’s flood. Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos and Ayia Napa host multi-day seafront fairs with music, dancing, boat and swimming races, and the good-natured throwing of water.
🔵 Did you know?
Cyprus marks two separate national days in spring. Greek Independence Day (25 March) commemorates the 1821 Greek revolution shared with Greece, while Cyprus National Day on 1 April — known as EOKA Day — marks the start of the 1955 campaign for self-determination. The island’s own Independence Day (1 October) celebrates the 1960 birth of the Republic of Cyprus.
Planning Your Trip Around Public Holidays
For most UK visitors, Cypriot public holidays add to the experience rather than getting in the way — beaches and resorts run normally and festivals like Kataklysmos are a highlight. The dates to plan deliberately are Orthodox Easter (mid-April), when the island is at its most atmospheric but accommodation in popular spots books up and prices rise, and the peak of summer, when 15 August (Assumption) sees domestic Cypriots travel and resorts are at their busiest. If you prefer quiet, target the shoulder months of May, late September and October, where the Independence Day bridge (1 October) and warm sea make for an excellent value break. Whatever the dates, book flights and accommodation well ahead for any trip that overlaps Orthodox Easter or the August peak, as availability tightens quickly.
Planning a wider European itinerary? You may also find our guide to long weekends in 2026 useful, and if you are island-hopping the Eastern Mediterranean, compare the dates with our guide to public holidays in Greece — the two share the same Orthodox calendar but differ on national days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holidays does Cyprus have in 2026?
The Republic of Cyprus observes 17 public holidays in 2026 — more than double the UK’s eight bank holidays. Most follow the Greek Orthodox calendar, so several dates differ from UK and Western European holidays.
When is Orthodox Easter in Cyprus in 2026?
Orthodox Easter Sunday falls on 12 April 2026. The public holidays around it are Good Friday (10 April), Easter Monday (13 April) and Easter Tuesday (14 April). Note this is a week later than Western Easter Sunday (5 April 2026), so UK visitors should not assume the dates match.
What is Green Monday in Cyprus?
Green Monday (Kathara Deftera, or Clean Monday) on 23 February 2026 marks the start of Orthodox Lent. Families head outdoors for picnics of Lenten (vegan) food and fly colourful kites. It is a full public holiday with banks, schools and most shops closed.
What is Kataklysmos and when is it in 2026?
Kataklysmos, the Festival of the Flood, is unique to Cyprus and coincides with Orthodox Whit Monday (Pentecost Monday) on 1 June 2026. Coastal towns such as Larnaca, Limassol, Paphos and Ayia Napa hold seafront fairs with music, boat races and the playful throwing of water.
Are shops and restaurants open on public holidays in Cyprus?
It depends on the day and the area. On major holidays — Orthodox Easter, Christmas, 15 August and 1 January — banks, government offices and most independent shops close. In tourist resorts (Ayia Napa, Paphos, Protaras, Limassol) hotels, beach bars and many restaurants stay open, and tourist-zone mini-markets often trade. Public transport runs a reduced timetable.
Does Cyprus have more public holidays than the UK?
Yes. The Republic of Cyprus has 17 public holidays in 2026 against eight UK bank holidays. Unlike the UK, Cyprus does not move holidays that fall on a weekend to the following Monday, so a holiday landing on a Saturday or Sunday is simply observed on that day.
Is English spoken on Cyprus public holidays and will services run for tourists?
English is very widely spoken across the Republic of Cyprus, a legacy of the island’s links with Britain, and tourist services continue on holidays. Pharmacies operate a rota, resort medical centres stay open, and hotel reception desks run as normal — handy reassurance for the large British visitor and resident community.
Sources & Last Verified
- Nager.Date Public Holidays API — date.nager.at (Cyprus 2026)
- Central Bank of Cyprus — official bank holidays 2026 (PDF)
- Cross-checked against UK search results for “public holidays in Cyprus 2026” (Office Holidays, timeanddate).
- Last verified: 19 June 2026
- Author: Bank Holidays UK Editorial Team