Public holidays

Colombia observes nineteen national public holidays annually, as established under Colombian labor law. These holidays include New Year's Day, Epiphany, Saint Joseph's Day, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Labor Day, Assumption Day, Battle of Boyacá, Independence Day, Independence of Cartagena, Columbus Day, All Saints' Day, Immaculate Conception, Christmas Day, and Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Day. As of 2026, July 9 was added as an official public holiday in honor of the Virgin of Chiquinquirá, bringing the total to nineteen recognized dates.

Public holidays in Colombia are governed by the Colombian Labor Code and related statutory decrees issued by the Ministry of Labor. These dates are mandatory non-working days for most employees, and work performed on these days typically entitles workers to additional compensation or compensatory time off, depending on the employment contract and applicable collective agreements.

The addition of July 9 as a new official holiday represents a recent statutory change, effective from 2026 onward. This expansion reflects Colombia's recognition of religious and historical observances within its national calendar.

Employers and payroll teams operating in Colombia must ensure that all nineteen public holidays are observed and that employees are not required to work on these dates without appropriate legal compensation. Payroll systems must be configured to recognize each holiday and calculate any applicable premium pay or time-off benefits according to Colombian labor regulations. Failure to comply with public holiday requirements can result in penalties and legal disputes with employees or labor authorities.