Public holidays in Colombia are days on which workers are entitled to paid rest in commemoration of historical or religious events. Most are held on the same date every year, but some are moved to ensure that they are always celebrated on Mondays. In total, the Colombian calendar has 18 public holidays a year, 12 of which are of religious origin and 6 of civic origin.

Public Holidays in Colombia 2024

This year, 16 public holidays fall on weekdays (Monday to Friday), with 11 of them observed on a Monday. The public holidays on the Colombian Declaration of Independence and the Immaculate Conception, which fall on a weekend, bring the year’s total to 18.

Public Holidays in Colombia 2025

In 2025, 17 public holidays will fall on weekdays (Monday to Friday), with 11 of them observed on a Monday. The public holiday on the Colombian Declaration of Independence, which falls on a Sunday, will complete the 18 public holidays of the year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are business days?

Business days are those on which work is generally carried out and the right to paid rest is not granted by law. In other words, they are all days that are not public holidays or Sundays. According to this, Saturdays are, in principle, considered business days. However, employers can establish them as non-business days for practical purposes.

What are calendar days?

Calendar days refer to the total number of days that elapse from a specific date to another date, including weekends and holidays. Calendar days are all 365 days of the year (366 in a leap year).

How are public holidays determined?

Public holidays in Colombia are defined by law and apply throughout the national territory. The 18 current public holidays are listed in Law 51 of 1983, and their impact on Colombian workers is defined in the Labor Code.

Why do public holidays change their date?

Some public holidays do not have a fixed date each year but are calculated to always fall on a Monday. Hence, when the reference date is not a Monday, the celebration is moved to the following Monday on the calendar.

Are Saturdays and Sundays considered public holidays?

In general, fixed-date holidays do not fall on weekends, but it is possible that they may coincide with a Saturday or Sunday. However, Sundays and holidays share the characteristic of being paid rest days. Employers may also determine that Saturdays are paid rest days.