Practical Cuba
Public Holidays in Cuba
Cuba's public holidays follow the revolutionary calendar far more than the religious one, and a few of them close state offices, banks and services for several consecutive days.
How it works, not what it costs — reviewed 2026-08-24.
The revolutionary dates
The almanac records Cuba's national holiday as Triumph of the Revolution (Liberation Day), 1 January (1959), and independence as 20 May 1902 (from US administration); 10 December 1898 (from Spain); not acknowledged by the Cuban Government as days of independence.
The first days of January mark the triumph of the Revolution and are firmly closed. Late July carries the Moncada anniversary, which spans more than one day and is the point in the year when the largest number of state services stop at once. Early October marks the Grito de Yara, the start of the independence wars.
May Day
The first of May is the largest single public event in the Cuban calendar, with organised marches in Havana's Plaza de la Revolución and in provincial capitals. It is genuinely worth seeing if you are in the country.
It also means transport in and around city centres is disrupted for most of the morning, and that anything requiring a state office is not happening that day.
Religious dates, and what actually closes
Good Friday and Christmas Day are observed as holidays. Christmas is quieter in Cuba than visitors from Europe or North America usually expect; New Year's Eve, falling immediately before the revolutionary anniversary, is the bigger occasion.
On any public holiday, expect banks, government offices and the immigration and customs counters that are not airport-based to be shut. Restaurants, casas particulares, museums and transport generally continue, though on reduced schedules. Because exact dates for the movable holidays shift each year, confirm against a current calendar before booking anything time-critical.
See also: What time is it in Cuba.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is Cuba's national holiday?
- Triumph of the Revolution (Liberation Day), 1 January (1959) — recorded in the almanac from the CIA World Factbook.
- Is Christmas a public holiday in Cuba?
- Yes, Christmas Day is observed, though more quietly than in most of Europe and North America. New Year is the larger occasion.
- What closes on a Cuban public holiday?
- Banks, state offices and non-airport government counters. Accommodation, restaurants, museums and most transport keep running on reduced schedules.