Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is a Balkan gem combining Ottoman heritage, Habsburg architecture, Adriatic mountain scenery, and one of the lowest costs of living in Europe.
Capital: Sarajevo
Region: Europe
Language: Bosnian
Currency: BAM (KM)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 27)
Emergency: 112
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Public Holidays 2026
18 holidays in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Some may vary by region.
January 2026
Thu 1
New Year's Day Public Holiday
Nova godina
Public holiday in both entities (FBiH and RS). Most businesses closed.
Fri 2
New Year's Day (second day) Public Holiday
Nova godina (drugi dan)
Public holiday in both entities. Banks, offices and most shops closed.
Wed 7
Orthodox Christmas Public Holiday
Božić (Pravoslavni)
Public holiday across BiH. Celebrated by Serbian Orthodox Christians — shops in RS largely closed; FBiH mixed.
Wed 14
Orthodox New Year Public Holiday
Srpska Nova Godina
Public holiday primarily in Republika Srpska. Not a federal holiday in FBiH.
Fri 9
Republic Day — Republika Srpska Public Holiday
Dan Republike Srpske
Republika Srpska entity holiday only. Controversial — the Constitutional Court of BiH has ruled it unconstitutional but RS continues to observe it.
March 2026
Sun 1
Independence Day — FBiH Public Holiday
Dan nezavisnosti BiH
Federal holiday in FBiH (marks 1992 independence referendum result). Not observed in RS.
Fri 20
Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan) Public Holiday
Ramazanski Bajram
2026 estimated date (Islamic calendar — exact date confirmed by moon sighting). Two days of public holiday in FBiH; one day in RS. Major celebration — offices close, family gatherings, special sweets (baklava, tulumbe).
Sat 21
Eid al-Fitr (second day) Public Holiday
Ramazanski Bajram (drugi dan)
Second day of Eid al-Fitr in FBiH. Estimated date — confirm annually.
April 2026
Mon 6
Catholic Easter Monday Public Holiday
Uskrsni ponedjeljak (Katolički)
Easter Monday for Catholic communities. Public holiday in FBiH. 2026 date: Easter Sunday 5 April + Monday 6 April.
Mon 13
Orthodox Easter Monday Public Holiday
Vaskrsni ponedjeljak (Pravoslavni)
Orthodox Easter Monday. Public holiday in RS and for Orthodox community in FBiH. Orthodox Easter 2026 falls on 12 April.
May 2026
Fri 1
Labour Day Public Holiday
Međunarodni praznik rada
Public holiday in both entities. Celebrated with outdoor gatherings, roštilj (barbecue) and family events.
Sat 2
Labour Day (second day) Public Holiday
Praznik rada (drugi dan)
Second day of Labour Day holiday in both entities.
Sat 9
Victory Day Public Holiday
Dan pobjede
Observed primarily in Republika Srpska (WWII Victory over Nazism). FBiH has variable observance.
Wed 27
Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) Public Holiday
Kurban Bajram
2026 estimated date. Two days public holiday in FBiH; observed differently in RS. One of the two most important Islamic holidays — marked with prayers, animal sacrifice and community feasting.
Thu 28
Eid al-Adha (second day) Public Holiday
Kurban Bajram (drugi dan)
Second day of Kurban Bajram in FBiH. Estimated date.
November 2026
Wed 25
Statehood Day Public Holiday
Dan državnosti BiH
Marks the 1943 founding of the Anti-Fascist Council of National Liberation of Yugoslavia (AVNOJ) session in Jajce. Public holiday across BiH though political interpretation varies between entities.
December 2026
Fri 25
Catholic Christmas Public Holiday
Božić (Katolički)
Public holiday in both entities. Christmas for Catholic communities (Bosnian Croats). FBiH shops mostly closed; RS mixed.
Sat 26
Catholic Christmas (second day) Public Holiday
Sv. Stjepan
St. Stephen's Day / Boxing Day — second day of Christmas in FBiH.
Note: Some holidays in Bosnia and Herzegovina apply only to specific regions or states. Check local regulations for your area.