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Mexico is a bucket-list long-haul trip for many UK travellers, from the beaches of the Riviera Maya to the pyramids of the Yucatán and the buzz of Mexico City. Its public holidays can be confusing, though, because Mexico draws a sharp line between a small number of statutory holidays (when the law guarantees a paid day off) and a longer list of hugely important cultural days — like Día de Muertos — that are celebrated everywhere but are not official days off. This guide sets out every public holiday in Mexico in 2026, explains that distinction, and shows visitors what to expect.
Public Holidays in Mexico 2026 — Full List
The table below shows Mexico’s statutory public holidays (días de descanso obligatorio under the Federal Labour Law) for 2026, followed by the most important widely observed days that are not official days off but shape daily life. Three statutory holidays are fixed to a Monday by law to create long weekends.
| Date | Holiday (Spanish) | Holiday (English) | Type | Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | Año Nuevo | New Year’s Day | Statutory | Thursday |
| 2 February | Día de la Constitución | Constitution Day (observed) | Statutory | Monday |
| 16 March | Natalicio de Benito Juárez | Benito Juárez’s Birthday (observed) | Statutory | Monday |
| 2–3 April | Jueves y Viernes Santo | Maundy Thursday & Good Friday | Widely observed (not statutory) | Thu–Fri |
| 1 May | Día del Trabajo | Labour Day | Statutory | Friday |
| 16 September | Día de la Independencia | Independence Day | Statutory | Wednesday |
| 1–2 November | Día de Muertos | Day of the Dead | Widely observed (not statutory) | Sun–Mon |
| 16 November | Día de la Revolución | Revolution Day (observed) | Statutory | Monday |
| 25 December | Navidad | Christmas Day | Statutory | Friday |
Constitution Day (5 Feb), Benito Juárez’s Birthday (21 Mar) and Revolution Day (20 Nov) are moved by law to the nearest Monday, giving guaranteed three-day weekends. Semana Santa (Holy Week) and Día de Muertos are culturally enormous but are not statutory paid holidays — banks and government close for Holy Thursday and Good Friday by custom.
Long Weekends in Mexico 2026
Where the three- and four-day breaks fall in 2026:
Constitution Day (31 Jan–2 Feb): Constitution Day is observed on Monday 2 February, giving the first guaranteed three-day weekend of the year — popular for domestic beach getaways.
Semana Santa (Holy Week, late March/early April): Easter is Mexico’s biggest domestic travel season. Although only observed rather than statutory, Holy Thursday (2 April) and Good Friday (3 April) see banks, schools and offices close, and resorts fill with Mexican families for a fortnight.
Revolution Day (14–16 November): Revolution Day is observed on Monday 16 November, another law-made long weekend and a lively one, with parades and school displays across the country.
What’s Open and Closed on Public Holidays
On statutory holidays, banks and government offices close and many businesses give staff the day off, but Mexico is not a country that shuts down: shops, malls, markets and restaurants generally stay open, particularly in tourist areas such as Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Mexico City. Beach resorts run as normal, and holiday weekends simply bring more domestic visitors.
The days to watch are Semana Santa (Holy Week) and Día de Muertos (1–2 November). During Holy Week banks and offices close for Holy Thursday and Good Friday, and the whole country is on the move. Día de Muertos is not a day off work, but it is one of the most spectacular cultural events anywhere — cemeteries, town squares and homes fill with marigolds, altars and candlelit vigils, and tourist demand is very high.
Travel tip: If you want to experience Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) around 1–2 November, book flights and hotels months in advance — Oaxaca and Mexico City in particular sell out, and it is one of the most in-demand travel windows of the year for both Mexicans and international visitors.
How Mexico’s Public Holidays Compare with UK Bank Holidays
On paper Mexico has fewer guaranteed days off than the UK — only a handful of statutory holidays — but the cultural calendar is far richer. The key difference for visitors is that many of Mexico’s most famous ‘holidays’, from Día de Muertos to Cinco de Mayo, are celebrations rather than legal days off, so shops and attractions usually stay open.
| Feature | United Kingdom | Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Number of holidays | 8 (England & Wales) | 7–8 statutory + many observed days |
| Weekend substitute day | Yes — moved to Monday | Three statutory holidays fixed to Mondays by law |
| Famous days off? | Most are days off | Día de Muertos & Cinco de Mayo are not statutory |
| Shops open on holidays? | Many reduced | Mostly open, especially in resorts |
| Holy Week | Good Friday & Easter Monday | Observed (not statutory) but widely closed |
For the British comparison, see our list of UK bank holidays. Mexico’s northern neighbour offers a useful parallel — our guide to public holidays in the USA covers another federal system where several holidays anchor long weekends.
Key Cultural Holidays Explained
Día de Muertos (1–2 November) — the Day of the Dead — is Mexico’s most iconic tradition and now UNESCO-listed. Far from sombre, it is a joyful reunion with departed loved ones: families build ofrendas (altars) with marigolds, photographs, food and candles, and towns hold parades and cemetery vigils. It is not a statutory day off, but it defines early November across the country.
Independence Day (16 September) commemorates the 1810 Grito de Dolores that began Mexico’s war of independence. Celebrations actually begin the night before, on 15 September, when crowds fill the zócalo in Mexico City and town squares nationwide for the president’s re-enactment of the Grito, followed by fireworks. The 16th itself, a statutory holiday, brings military and civic parades.
Did you know? Cinco de Mayo (5 May) — heavily marketed abroad, especially in the United States — is a relatively minor date in most of Mexico and is not a national statutory holiday. It mainly commemorates the 1862 Battle of Puebla and is celebrated most in Puebla itself, not nationwide.
Planning Your Trip Around Public Holidays
For UK travellers, Mexico’s peak domestic-travel windows are Semana Santa (Holy Week) and the Christmas–New Year period, when resorts are busiest and priciest. The statutory Monday long weekends in February, March and November also lift domestic demand. The best value for a beach or culture trip tends to be the shoulder months — May to June and September to early November — with Día de Muertos the one high-demand exception to book early.
As a long-haul destination, getting the flight right matters most: compare fares early and stay flexible on dates using Skyscanner, then secure well-located hotels on Booking.com before the Semana Santa and Christmas peaks push prices up. For more on stringing days off into longer trips, see our guide to long weekends in 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public holidays does Mexico have in 2026?
Mexico has a small number of statutory public holidays (días de descanso obligatorio) — around seven to eight in 2026 — but many more widely observed cultural days that are not official days off, such as Día de Muertos and Semana Santa.
Is Día de Muertos a public holiday in Mexico?
No. Día de Muertos (1–2 November) is one of Mexico’s most important cultural events but it is not a statutory public holiday, so most people work and shops and attractions stay open. Demand from visitors is very high, so book ahead.
Is Cinco de Mayo a national holiday in Mexico?
No. Cinco de Mayo is not a national statutory holiday and is a fairly minor date in most of Mexico, celebrated mainly in Puebla. It is far bigger in the United States than in Mexico.
Why are some Mexican holidays always on a Monday?
Constitution Day, Benito Juárez’s Birthday and Revolution Day are moved by law to the nearest Monday to create guaranteed three-day weekends, similar in effect to UK bank holidays.
Do banks close for Semana Santa (Holy Week)?
Yes. Although Holy Thursday and Good Friday are not statutory holidays, banks, government offices and schools close by custom, and it is Mexico’s busiest domestic travel season.
Are the beach resorts open on public holidays?
Yes. Resorts, restaurants and attractions in areas like Cancún, Tulum and Playa del Carmen stay open on holidays — they simply get busier with domestic visitors, especially over long weekends.
When is Mexican Independence Day in 2026?
Independence Day is on Wednesday 16 September 2026, a statutory holiday. Celebrations begin the evening before with the Grito de Dolores in town squares nationwide.
Sources & Last Verified
Government of Mexico — Federal Labour Law, Article 74 (días de descanso obligatorio) — gob.mx
Nager.Date Public Holiday API — Mexico 2026 — date.nager.at/PublicHolidays/2026/MX
Cross-checked against Office Holidays and timeanddate.com
Last verified: 27 July 2026
Author: Bank Holidays UK Editorial Team