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Bank Holidays Colombia 2026: Full List & Guide

6 min read

Introduction to Bank Holidays in Colombia 2026

Planning a trip to Colombia in 2026? Understanding the country’s bank holidays – known locally as festivos or días no laborables – is essential, especially around April 2026 when Easter falls. These public holidays often create long weekends (puentes), boosting tourism but causing crowds, closed businesses, and adjusted transport schedules. As a UK-focused guide, we’ll list all Colombia bank holidays 2026, explain their significance, and compare them to UK bank holidays for British travellers, expats, or business professionals.

Colombia has around 12 national bank holidays annually, plus regional ones. Unlike the UK’s fixed eight bank holidays (varying by nation), Colombia’s include movable Christian feasts tied to Easter. The government sometimes shifts weekend holidays to Mondays for extended breaks – official decrees for 2026 will confirm this later, but here’s the provisional list based on standard dates.

This guide helps you avoid surprises, book flights from London or Manchester wisely, and enjoy festivals like Semana Santa (Holy Week) in April.

Full List of National Bank Holidays Colombia 2026

Here’s every national bank holiday in Colombia for 2026, with dates and weekdays. Banks, government offices, and most shops close; expect lively street celebrations.

  • New Year’s Day (Año Nuevo): Thursday, 1 January 2026. Fireworks and parties nationwide, like a mini Hogmanay but warmer.

  • Epiphany (Día de los Reyes Magos): Tuesday, 6 January 2026. Children receive gifts from the Three Kings; family parades in cities like Bogotá.

  • Saint Joseph’s Day (Día de San José): Thursday, 19 March 2026. Patron saint celebrations, especially in northern regions; potential puente if shifted.

  • Maundy Thursday (Jueves Santo): Thursday, 2 April 2026. Start of Semana Santa; solemn processions begin.

  • Good Friday (Viernes Santo): Friday, 3 April 2026. Major Christian holiday with Passion plays and fasting; beaches and cities packed.

  • Labour Day (Día del Trabajo): Friday, 1 May 2026. Protests and marches in cities; unions strong, similar to UK May Day but more vibrant.

  • Ascension Day (Ascensión del Señor): Thursday, 14 May 2026. Religious observances; quieter than Easter.

  • Corpus Christi: Thursday, 4 June 2026. Eucharistic processions; colourful street carpets in some towns.

  • Saint Peter and Saint Paul (San Pedro y San Pablo): Saturday, 29 June 2026. Fishermen and apostles honoured; may not shift as it’s weekend.

  • Independence Day (Batalla de Boyacá wait no, Independence is 20 July): Monday, 20 July 2026. Massive patriotic festivities, fireworks, parades – Colombia’s biggest party, like UK Trooping the Colour on steroids.

  • Battle of Boyacá: Saturday, 7 August 2026. Commemorates 1819 victory; regional events in Boyacá.

  • Immaculate Conception (Inmaculada Concepción): Monday, 8 December 2026. Religious and festive; novenas start early.

  • Christmas Day (Navidad): Friday, 25 December 2026. Family Nochebuena dinners, midnight mass; no Boxing Day equivalent.

Note: Saturdays like 29 June and 7 August may see no extra day off. Check the Ministry of Work (Ministerio del Trabajo) for 2026 decrees, typically announced late 2025. Regional holidays add more, e.g., Cartagena’s Independence Day (11 November).

Regional Bank Holidays and Long Weekends

Colombia federates holidays regionally, creating up to 18 days off yearly. Examples:

  • Barranquilla Carnival: February/March 2026 (pre-Lent, dates TBC; UNESCO-listed party rivaling Rio).
  • Bogotá Bridge Holiday: Often added Mondays.
  • Medellín Flower Festival: Early August, coincides with Battle of Boyacá.

Long weekends boost tourism: e.g., Easter (2-6 April) spans Thursday-Monday if bridges added.

Comparison: Colombia vs UK Bank Holidays 2026

Colombia offers more holidays (12+ national) than the UK’s 8-10, with stronger religious ties. Here’s the full UK 2026 list for context (source: gov.uk style):

  • New Year’s Day: Thursday, 1 January 2026 (all UK).
  • 2 January: Friday (Scotland only).
  • Good Friday: Friday, 3 April 2026 (all UK) – matches Colombia!
  • Easter Monday: Monday, 6 April 2026 (England, Wales, NI; not Scotland).
  • Early May: Monday, 4 May 2026 (all UK).
  • Spring: Monday, 25 May 2026 (all UK).
  • Summer (Scotland): Monday, 3 August 2026.
  • Summer (England, Wales, NI): Monday, 31 August 2026.
  • St Andrew’s Day: Monday, 30 November 2026 (Scotland).
  • Christmas: Friday, 25 December 2026; Boxing Day substitute: Monday, 28 December 2026.

Key differences:

  • Shared Good Friday (3 April), but Colombia adds Maundy Thursday and skips Easter Monday, extending Holy Week.
  • No UK equivalents for Colombia’s Independence (20 July) or Epiphany.
  • UK summer spread-out; Colombia clusters religious feasts.
  • UK fixed secular; Colombia movable Christian + patriotic.

For UK expats, Colombia’s extras mean more fiesta time but business disruptions.

Planning Around April 2026 Bank Holidays

April 2026 centres on Easter (Semana Santa, 2-5 April). UK travellers:

  • Book early: Flights from Heathrow to Bogotá/ Cartagena spike; BA or Avianca deals pre-holiday.
  • Expect crowds: Cartagena beaches, Medellín processions jammed. Opt for Salento coffee region for quiet.
  • Transport: Buses run reduced; airports busier. Rent cars outside cities.
  • Stay open: Supermarkets partial; street food thrives.
  • UK links: Same Good Friday off – jet lag-friendly for Easter escapes.

Significance and Celebrations

Each holiday has cultural depth:

  • Semana Santa: Bogotá’s silent processions vs UK’s chocolate eggs.
  • 20 July: Fireworks, aguardiente toasts to freedom from Spain.
  • Christmas: Extended season from November; UK-style lights meet Latin warmth.

History: Post-colonial mix of Catholic traditions and indigenous roots, unlike UK’s Protestant shifts.

Business and Practical Impacts

Banks closed all listed days; ATMs limited. Multinationals adjust. For UK firms trading with Colombia, note Q2 disruptions (Easter, Labour, Ascension).

Remote workers: Coworking in Bogotá open sometimes.

Travel Tips for Brits

  • Visas: 90 days visa-free.
  • Health: Yellow fever jab for Amazon.
  • Currency: Carry COP cash; cards accepted urban.
  • Best timing: Avoid Easter/20 July for deals; embrace Carnival.
  • From UK: 11-13hr flights; time holidays for value.

Conclusion

Colombia bank holidays 2026 offer festive escapes contrasting UK’s calmer breaks. With Easter in April aligning partially with UK dates, it’s prime for transatlantic plans. Monitor official updates, pack cultural curiosity, and enjoy! For UK bank holidays details, visit gov.uk.

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