Zimbabwe has 12 to 13 gazetted public holidays a year, and a few of them reshape a trip more than visitors expect. Banks shut, cash machines run dry, intercity buses fill up, and lodge prices rise. The good news is that the tourism core keeps working: Victoria Falls, safari camps and most restaurants operate through almost every holiday. This guide lists the exact dates for 2026 and 2027, explains what closes on each one, and flags the dates worth planning around. Dates follow the official government gazette and standard calendars; confirm with your operator close to travel, as Zimbabwe occasionally declares extra one-off holidays at short notice.
Zimbabwe Public Holidays 2026 and 2027
| Holiday | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu 1 Jan | Fri 1 Jan |
| National Youth Day | Sat 21 Feb | Sun 21 Feb (Mon 22 Feb observed) |
| Good Friday | Fri 3 Apr | Fri 26 Mar |
| Easter Saturday | Sat 4 Apr | Sat 27 Mar |
| Easter Sunday | Sun 5 Apr | Sun 28 Mar |
| Easter Monday | Mon 6 Apr | Mon 29 Mar |
| Independence Day | Sat 18 Apr | Sun 18 Apr (Mon 19 Apr observed) |
| Workers’ Day | Fri 1 May | Sat 1 May |
| Africa Day | Mon 25 May | Tue 25 May |
| Heroes’ Day | Mon 10 Aug | Mon 9 Aug |
| Defence Forces Day | Tue 11 Aug | Tue 10 Aug |
| National Unity Day | Tue 22 Dec | Wed 22 Dec |
| Christmas Day | Fri 25 Dec | Sat 25 Dec |
| Boxing Day | Sat 26 Dec | Sun 26 Dec (Mon 27 Dec observed) |
Easter moves every year, so it is the date to check first. Easter Sunday is 5 April in 2026 and 28 March in 2027. Heroes’ Day is always the second Monday of August, with Defence Forces Day the next day. Fixed-date holidays that land on a Sunday normally shift to the Monday; those on a Saturday usually do not, which is why 2026 loses a few long weekends.
What Is Open and Closed on a Public Holiday
Banks and bureaux de change: closed on every gazetted holiday. This matters because Zimbabwe runs mostly on US dollars and cash is not always easy to find. Our Zimbabwe currency and money guide covers how much cash to carry; the short version is to withdraw before any long weekend.
ATMs: they work in principle but are frequently empty by the second day of a multi-day break. Treat Easter and Christmas as periods when you may have no cash access at all.
Shops and supermarkets: big chains such as OK Zimbabwe and TM Pick n Pay usually open on shortened hours, often 8am to 1pm. Independent shops, pharmacies and craft markets may close entirely on Christmas Day, Good Friday and Independence Day. Fuel stations on main roads stay open, but queues and shortages are more common over long weekends.
Government offices and the immigration desk: closed apart from border posts, which operate around the clock at Beitbridge, Victoria Falls and Chirundu. Expect longer queues at the border on the days either side of Easter, Christmas and Heroes’ Day. Visa questions are better settled in advance using our visa requirements guide.
Restaurants and hotels: most tourist-facing places in Victoria Falls, Harare and Bulawayo stay open, sometimes with a set menu on Christmas Day. Local eateries close more often. Book dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
National parks, the Falls and safari camps: open every day of the year. Hwange, Mana Pools, Matobo and the Victoria Falls rainforest do not close for holidays. Only the booking offices and some national park head office desks are shut, so book park fees and activities beforehand.
Public Transport and Roads
Intercity coaches, including the services between Harare, Bulawayo, Masvingo and Victoria Falls, sell out before Easter, Christmas and the August Heroes’ weekend. Buy tickets two to three days ahead. Minibus taxis run but charge higher fares and fill slowly. Flights between Harare and Victoria Falls get busy around the same dates, so book early. Roads out of Harare and Bulawayo carry heavy traffic on the day before a long weekend, and police checkpoints become more frequent. Our getting around Zimbabwe guide explains the options in detail.
Which Holidays Disrupt Travel Most
- Christmas to New Year (25 Dec to 1 Jan): the longest shutdown. Many Zimbabweans travel home to rural areas, buses are packed, banks are shut for several days, and Victoria Falls is at its most expensive. Book accommodation months ahead. See Zimbabwe in December.
- Easter weekend (Good Friday to Easter Monday): four days of closures, and a major domestic travel period. In 2026 it runs 3 to 6 April; in 2027 it runs 26 to 29 March.
- Heroes’ and Defence Forces Days (August): a two-day break with large ceremonies at the National Heroes Acre in Harare and the national stadium. Central Harare traffic is restricted on parade day. This falls in peak dry-season safari time, so see Zimbabwe in August for crowd and price expectations.
- Independence Day (18 April): in 2027 it falls on Sunday, so Monday 19 April becomes a long weekend with the usual bank closures. It overlaps with school holidays in some years, so Zimbabwe in April is worth reading.
The low-impact holidays for visitors are Africa Day, National Unity Day and Workers’ Day, which mainly mean closed banks and government offices for a day.
Practical Tips for Planning Around Holidays
- Carry enough USD cash in small notes before any long weekend. Cards are accepted at upmarket lodges and some Victoria Falls venues, but not reliably elsewhere. Our Zimbabwe budget guide has daily cost benchmarks.
- Book popular activities ahead on holiday weekends: the Devil’s Pool, sunset cruises, helicopter flights and Hwange game drives. You can compare options on Victoria Falls tours or browse tours across Zimbabwe.
- Reconfirm transfers and car hire for holiday arrivals. Drivers and rental desks run reduced hours.
- Avoid scheduling a border crossing on the afternoon before a long weekend, when queues peak at Beitbridge and Victoria Falls.
- Check for unannounced holidays. The government can declare a day of mourning or a one-off holiday at short notice. Your lodge or operator will know first.
- Respect the occasion. Heroes’ Day and Defence Forces Day are solemn national events. Photography near ceremonies and military personnel can be restricted, so ask before shooting.
For a wider look at the calendar, our best time to visit Zimbabwe guide shows how holidays line up with the wet and dry seasons, and the Victoria Falls guide covers how the town handles holiday crowds.