Public Holiday 2026 in Madagascar

1- Definition

A "paid public holiday" is a legal holiday on which the employee does not work (day off), but still receives their usual salary (paid). There is no loss of pay for this day, as salary maintenance is guaranteed.

If the public holiday falls on a regular day off (e.g., Sunday), it is generally not paid extra.

2- Annually, at the beginning of each year, the Malagasy State defines the paid and non-working days.

On January 8, 2026, the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Public Service of Madagascar decreed the public holidays and days off for 2026. The excerpt is below:

Decree No. 2026-006 establishing the list of public holidays, days off and paid for the year 2026.

After consultation with the National Labour and Employment Council; on the proposal of the Minister of Labour, Employment and the Civil Service; in the Council of Government, it is decreed:

Article 1

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 115 of Law No. 2024-014 of August 14, 2024, concerning the Labour Code, the following days are declared public holidays, days off and paid for the year 2026:

1. Thursday, January 1st – New Year's Day
2. Sunday, March 8 – International Women's Day (public holiday only for women)
3. Sunday, March 29 – Commemorative Day for those who died in the events of 1947
4. Sunday, April 5 – Easter
5. Monday, April 6 – Easter Monday
6. Friday, May 1st – Labour Day
7. Thursday, May 14 – Ascension
8. Sunday, May 24 – Pentecost
9. Monday, May 25 – Whit Monday
10. Friday, June 26 – National Independence Day
11. Saturday, August 15 – Assumption
12. Sunday, November 1st – All Saints' Day
13. Friday, December 25 – Christmas

Article 2

(Public holidays related to religious beliefs and culture)

The following days are also public holidays, days off with pay:

- Eid Al- Fitr [14. Friday, March 20 ] and Eid Al-Adha [15. Wednesday, May 27 ], according to the calendar set by the Muslim community;

- New Year or TAOM-BAOVAO MALAGASY [16. Friday, March 20 ], according to the schedule set during the national consultation.

Article 3

(National Culture Day)

The national day of culture is also a paid holiday, [17. Namely ] the date of which is set by the Ministry of Communication and Culture.

Article 4

Any other day, other than those provided for by this decree, which shall be declared a paid holiday, must be the subject of a decree published one week in advance.

event-related , and other circumstances )

Article 5

The aforementioned days are mandatory paid holidays. However, certain types of establishments and categories of workers whose work cannot be interrupted due to the nature of their activity are authorized to be exempt from the requirement to observe paid holidays. The list of establishment types and categories of workers mentioned in the preceding paragraph is established by order of the Minister of Labour and Employment.

The labor code, reformed in 2024, renews and specifies the increased pay for work on Sundays and public holidays:

For technical and exceptional reasons, as mentioned in Article 5 above, work performed on Sundays and public holidays is increased at a minimum rate of 100% (i.e., double pay) compared to the normal hourly rate, according to Decree No. 68-172 of April 18, 1968. For Sunday work specifically, some increase rates may reach 140%.

At Bloom'in , we respect and strictly apply the decrees and legislation in force in order to guarantee the interests and rights of our employees.