Public holidays in Aruba
11 days in 2026 · 11 in 2027
Back to ArubaNext public holiday
Christmas Day
Eerste Kerstdag
After it: St. Stephen's Day, Saturday 26 December
Friday, 25 December 2026
The Government of Aruba lists 11 public holidays for 2026. Two of them belong to the island alone: Betico Croes Day on 25 January, the birthday of the leader who took Aruba out of the Netherlands Antilles, and National Anthem and Flag Day on 18 March, the date in 1976 when the flag and the anthem Aruba Dushi Tera were adopted. A third, Carnival Monday, is the day of rest after the carnival's grand parades, on the Monday before Ash Wednesday.
The rest mixes the Dutch and the Christian calendars with one departure from the Netherlands. King's Day on 27 April is kept as in the rest of the Kingdom, and Christmas and the day after it are both days off, but Aruba also keeps Labour Day on 1 May, which the European Netherlands does not. In 2026 Betico Croes Day falls on a Sunday and the day after Christmas on a Saturday, and the government's list gives no substitute day for either.
- Days off in 2026
- 11Not counting Easter Sunday, always a Sunday
- On a weekday
- 9Monday to Friday
- On a weekend
- 2Saturday or Sunday
- Long weekends
- 5and 2 with one day of leave
2026
Public holidays in Aruba in 2026
- 1 January: New Year's DayNieuwjaarsdagNew Year's Day, Aña Nobo in Papiamento. It follows the night of Dande, when groups go from house to house singing wishes for the new year.Thursday
- 25 January: Betico Croes DayDag van Betico CroesThe birthday of Gilberto François Croes, born on 25 January 1938, who led the campaign for Aruba's separate status and died in 1986. He is remembered as the Libertador.Sunday
- 16 February: Carnival MondayCarnaval MaandagThe Monday before Ash Wednesday, after the weekend of the grand carnival parades, kept as a day of rest. Its date moves with Easter.MondayDate moves
- 18 March: National Anthem and Flag DayDag van het Volkslied en de VlagDia di Himno y Bandera marks the adoption of the flag and of the anthem Aruba Dushi Tera on 18 March 1976, a date Aruba Today links to the petition for autonomy submitted on 18 March 1948.Wednesday
- 3 April: Good FridayGoede VrijdagGood Friday, Bierna Santo in Papiamento, the Friday before Easter.FridayDate moves
- 6 April: Easter MondayTweede PaasedagEaster Monday, Dialuna Pasco, the second Easter day.MondayDate moves
- 27 April: King's DayKoningsdagKing's Day, Dia di Rey, the monarch's birthday, kept across the Kingdom of the Netherlands. If 27 April falls on a Sunday it is kept on the 26th.Monday
- 1 May: Labour DayDag van de ArbeidLabour Day, Dia di Labor, on 1 May. The European Netherlands has no such holiday.Friday
- 14 May: Ascension DayHemelvaartsdagAscension Day, Dia di Ascension, forty days after Easter.ThursdayDate moves
- 25 December: Christmas DayEerste KerstdagChristmas Day, the first of two Christmas days, Pasco di Nacemento.Friday
- 26 December: St. Stephen's DayTweede KerstdagThe second day of Christmas, 26 December, called Boxing Day in the government's English list.Saturday
Long weekends
Long weekends in Aruba in 2026
Runs of three days or more off, with weekends counted, and the working days that join a holiday to a weekend when taken as leave.
- 4daysThu 1 Jan to Sun 4 JanWith Fri 2 Jan taken as leave · New Year's Day
- 3daysSat 14 Feb to Mon 16 FebCarnival Monday
- 4daysFri 3 Apr to Mon 6 AprGood Friday, Easter Monday
- 3daysSat 25 Apr to Mon 27 AprKing's Day
- 3daysFri 1 May to Sun 3 MayLabour Day
- 4daysThu 14 May to Sun 17 MayWith Fri 15 May taken as leave · Ascension Day
- 3daysFri 25 Dec to Sun 27 DecChristmas Day, St. Stephen's Day
2027
Public holidays in Aruba in 2027
- 1 January: New Year's DayNieuwjaarsdagFriday
- 25 January: Betico Croes DayDag van Betico CroesMonday
- 8 February: Carnival MondayCarnaval MaandagMondayDate moves
- 18 March: National Anthem and Flag DayDag van het Volkslied en de VlagThursday
- 26 March: Good FridayGoede VrijdagFridayDate moves
- 29 March: Easter MondayTweede PaasedagMondayDate moves
- 27 April: King's DayKoningsdagTuesday
- 1 May: Labour DayDag van de ArbeidSaturday
- 6 May: Ascension DayHemelvaartsdagThursdayDate moves
- 25 December: Christmas DayEerste KerstdagSaturday
- 26 December: St. Stephen's DayTweede KerstdagSunday
Several celebrations that shape the island's year are not days off. Dera Gai, the harvest festival of St John's Day, falls on 24 June; the carnival season opens at 11:11 on 11 November; Sinterklaas arrives by boat in Oranjestad and gives presents on 5 December; and Kingdom Day on 15 December, the anniversary of the Charter of 1954, is a day for flying the flag on public buildings.
The 2027 dates come from the holiday provider and follow the same pattern. In 2027 three of the fixed days fall on a weekend: Labour Day on Saturday 1 May, Christmas Day on Saturday 25 December and the day after on Sunday 26 December.
Common questions
Questions about public holidays in Aruba
How many public holidays does Aruba have in 2026?
Eleven, according to the list published by the Government of Aruba: New Year's Day, Betico Croes Day, Carnival Monday, National Anthem and Flag Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, King's Day, Labour Day, Ascension Day, Christmas Day and the day after Christmas. Betico Croes Day falls on Sunday 25 January and the day after Christmas on Saturday 26 December, so nine fall on weekdays.
Who was Betico Croes?
Gilberto François Croes, known as Betico, was born in Santa Cruz on 25 January 1938 and founded the Movimiento Electoral di Pueblo in 1971. He led the campaign that separated Aruba from the Netherlands Antilles on 1 January 1986, but was injured in a traffic accident the night before and died on 26 November 1986. His birthday is a national holiday.
Why is Carnival Monday a holiday in Aruba?
It gives the island a day of rest after the grand carnival parades, which are held on the weekend before Ash Wednesday, at the end of a season that runs from early January. The date moves with Easter: Monday 16 February in 2026 and Monday 8 February in 2027, each making a three-day weekend.
What does National Anthem and Flag Day commemorate?
The adoption of Aruba's flag and its anthem, Aruba Dushi Tera, on 18 March 1976. Aruba Today connects the date with 18 March 1948, when a petition for autonomy from Curaçao signed by 2,147 Arubans was submitted to Queen Wilhelmina, and the day is marked with events across the island.
Is Dera Gai a public holiday?
No. Dera Gai, the burying of the rooster, is celebrated on St John's Day, 24 June, with folk dance and song, but it is not on the government's list of days off. The Wikipedia list of Aruban holidays counts it among the cultural celebrations beside Sinterklaas and Kingdom Day.
Does Aruba celebrate King's Day?
Yes. King's Day, Dia di Rey, falls on 27 April and is a day off, as in the rest of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. When 27 April is a Sunday it is kept on Saturday the 26th. In 2026 it falls on a Monday and in 2027 on a Tuesday.
Which holidays does Aruba keep that the Netherlands does not?
Three are Aruba's own: Betico Croes Day, Carnival Monday and National Anthem and Flag Day, all tied to the island's campaign for separate status or to its carnival. Aruba also keeps Labour Day on 1 May, which is not a holiday in the European Netherlands, while sharing King's Day, Easter, Ascension Day and the two Christmas days with it.
Dates from Nager.Date, read 2026-09-30. The page counts from Thursday, 1 October 2026, the day it was built.