Public holidays and school holidays in Cameroon 2026–2027
Updated on 12 November 2026 · 6 min read
Cameroon's public holidays are New Year (1 Jan), Youth Day (11 Feb), Good Friday, Labour Day (1 May), National Day (20 May), Ascension, Assumption (15 Aug), Christmas (25 Dec) and the two Eid festivals, whose dates follow the moon. For the 2026/2027 school year, children are off from 18 December 2026 to 4 January 2027 and from 25 March to 12 April 2027. Here are all the dates, and what they mean for your trip to Douala or Yaoundé.
Cameroon public holidays in 2027
| Date | Holiday | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 1 Jan | New Year's Day | Long weekend after the end-of-year festivities |
| Thu 11 Feb | Youth Day (Fête de la Jeunesse) | School and youth parades in every town |
| Tue 9 Mar (estimate) | Eid al-Fitr, end of Ramadan (Djouldé Soumaé, Korité) | Date depends on the moon |
| Fri 26 Mar | Good Friday | Start of the Easter weekend, during the school holidays |
| Sat 1 May | Labour Day | Falls on a Saturday in 2027 |
| Thu 6 May | Ascension Day | A bridge Friday is sometimes declared |
| Sun 16 May (estimate) | Eid al-Adha, Feast of the Sacrifice (Tabaski) | Date depends on the moon |
| Thu 20 May | National Day (Fête nationale) | Main parade in Yaoundé; busy weeks before and after |
| Sun 15 Aug | Assumption Day | Middle of the diaspora's summer holidays |
| Sat 25 Dec | Christmas Day | Peak season for diaspora returns |
Moving dates and extra days off
The two Eid dates above are estimates: the exact day depends on the sighting of the moon and is confirmed only shortly before. The government can also declare an extra day off, for example the Friday after Ascension, usually announced a few days in advance. Holidays are set by law n°73/5 of 7 December 1973 (amended in 1976). Easter Monday is not on the list of public holidays in the calendars we checked.
School holidays 2026/2027 in Cameroon
The school calendar for nursery, primary and secondary schools was set by a joint order of the Ministers of Basic Education and Secondary Education, made public on 14 August 2026.
| Period | Dates |
|---|---|
| Start of the school year | Monday 7 September 2026 |
| Christmas holidays | Friday 18 December 2026 (after classes) to Monday 4 January 2027 |
| Easter holidays | Thursday 25 March 2027 (after classes) to Monday 12 April 2027 |
| End of classes | Friday 11 June 2027 |
| Exam period (secondary) | 19 April to 30 July 2027 |
| Exam period (primary) | 10 May to 30 July 2027 |
| End of the school year | Friday 30 July 2027 |
Universities, private international schools and bilingual schools may follow their own calendar. Check with the school before you fix dates for a family visit.
What this means for your trip
- Christmas and New Year (mid-December to early January) is the busiest period of the year: the diaspora comes home, schools are closed and Douala hosts big events. See Douala in December and coming home for the holidays.
- Easter 2027 combines Good Friday (26 March) and two weeks of school holidays: a good window for a family trip, with children free on both sides.
- May 2027 is full: Labour Day, Ascension, the Feast of the Sacrifice and National Day fall within three weeks. Offices work short weeks; plan meetings around them.
- July and August bring the diaspora's summer holidays and the end of the exam season in Cameroon. Assumption (15 August) is in the middle.
Business trips, missions and embassy appointments
On public holidays, ministries and other public offices are closed, and so are most banks. If you come for a mission, a meeting with the administration or a visa appointment, avoid the holiday itself and the day after a long weekend, when queues are longest. Our guides to embassy appointments in Yaoundé and NGO and UN missions have more tips.
On 20 May, the National Day parade is held in the centre of Yaoundé: expect road closures and heavy traffic in the morning. On 11 February, youth parades take place in every town. Allow extra time to reach the airport on those mornings.
Family events and holidays
Many families plan funerals, traditional weddings and other ceremonies on long weekends and in the school holidays, so that relatives can travel. If you organise one, set the date early and book lodging for guests coming from abroad. See funerals and family events.
Can't travel for Christmas or Easter? Our team can buy groceries or gifts in Douala or Yaoundé and hand them to your family, with photo and receipts: gifts for family back home.
Frequently asked questions
What are the public holidays in Cameroon in 2027?
1 January, 11 February (Youth Day), Eid al-Fitr (around 9 March), Good Friday (26 March), 1 May, Ascension (6 May), Eid al-Adha (around 16 May), 20 May (National Day), 15 August and 25 December.
When are the Christmas school holidays in Cameroon in 2026?
From Friday 18 December 2026 after classes to Monday 4 January 2027, according to the official 2026/2027 school calendar.
When are the Easter school holidays in Cameroon in 2027?
From Thursday 25 March 2027 after classes to Monday 12 April 2027.
When does the 2026/2027 school year end in Cameroon?
Classes end on 11 June 2027 and the school year ends on 30 July 2027, after the exam period.
Is Easter Monday a public holiday in Cameroon?
No. Good Friday and Ascension are public holidays, but Easter Monday is not on the list in the calendars we checked.
Are banks and offices open on public holidays?
Public offices and most banks are closed. Plan administrative steps, bank visits and embassy appointments on working days.
- Journal du Cameroun — The government publishes the 2026/2027 school calendar (17 Aug 2026)
- Cameroun Online — 2026-2027 school year: classes start 7 September (22 Aug 2026)
- Cameroon Tribune — Ascension, the law on public holidays (loi n°73/5 of 7 Dec 1973, amended 1976)
- Office Holidays — Cameroon public holidays 2027
- Q++Studio — Cameroon public holidays 2026–2027