Chilean Holidays You Need To Know Before Traveling Or Moving to Chile (2026)
If you are planning a trip to Chile or you have recently moved here, one of the first things you need to get familiar with is the Chilean holiday calendar. Chileans take their holidays seriously. This means you can find yourself accidentally showing up to a government office that is closed, discovering popular attractions are operating on limited hours, or sitting in unforgettable traffic on your way to a weekend adventure.
Our mistake can now be your free travel tip. On one long weekend, we decided to take a day trip to Cajón del Maipo. What should have been a simple one hour drive turned into a five hour gridlock disaster. Cars were parked on the actual road. Drivers had abandoned their vehicles to play in the snow, while groups of people tried to physically lift cars by hand. Others were pushing vehicles one by one to squeeze through any space they could find. We wish it were a joke. It was complete chaos, and it taught us one important lesson: long weekends in Chile are a wild experience and you need to know what you are walking into.
After that day, we started taking holiday planning seriously. Now we track which holidays are national, which are regional, which are renunciable, and which are irrenunciable. These categories matter a lot, especially for expats working in Chile or tourists planning weekends in places like Valparaíso, Cajón del Maipo, the coast, or wine country.
Below is a full breakdown of the types of holidays you will see in Chile, why they matter, and a complete list of the holidays for 2026. Chile has 17 holidays in 2026. For comparison, the United States has 11 federal holidays. Those extra days mean more closures, more traffic, and more opportunities for Chileans to travel within the country or spend time with family.
Why Chilean Holidays Matter For Travelers And Expats
1. Closures
Government offices almost always close. Museums sometimes close. Banks close. Courthouses close. Tourist attractions may operate on limited hours. Malls and grocery stores usually stay open but not always during irrenunciable holidays.
2. Crowds
Chileans love using long weekends for quick getaways. High traffic areas such as Cajon del Maipo, Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Pomaire, and Maipo Valley fill up fast. If you do not plan ahead, you can spend hours stuck in traffic or arrive to completely full restaurants and viewpoints.
3. Higher Travel Costs
Hotels, cabins, and Airbnbs raise prices during long weekends. Buses and domestic flights book up earlier than usual. Rental cars can sell out.
4. Work And School Scheduling
If you are working in Chile, you need to know the difference between renunciable and irrenunciable holidays because employers are legally prohibited from requiring work on certain dates.
Understanding these holidays will help you avoid headaches, plan your trips better, and actually enjoy the long weekends like a local.
Types of Holidays in Chile
Irrenunciable Holidays
These are mandatory holidays where most businesses are legally required to close. Supermarkets, malls, retail stores, and many services shut down completely. Only essential services such as hospitals, pharmacies on duty, and a few transportation services stay open.
Examples include:
- Año Nuevo
- Día del Trabajo
- Fiestas Patrias
- Navidad
If you need groceries or errands done, plan in advance because you will not find much open.
Renunciable Holidays
Employees may still be scheduled to work, but they have the right to request the day off. Many businesses remain open, and regular city life continues with only minor changes.
Regional Holidays
These apply only to certain regions or comunas. If you are traveling around Chile, keep an eye on these because they can still impact closures, local events, and traffic.
Chile’s Official Holidays for 2026
Here is the complete list of holidays for Chile in 2026 with their respective categories. This list includes national, regional, renunciable, and irrenunciable holidays.
January
- Thursday 1: New Year’s Day (irrenunciable)
April
- Friday 3: Good Friday
- Saturday 4: Holy Saturday
May
- Friday 1: Labor Day *(*renunciable)
- Thursday 21: Navy Day
June
- Sunday 7: Assault and Capture of Morro de Arica (Regional)
- Saturday 20: National Day of Indigenous Peoples
- Monday 29: Saint Peter and Saint Paul
July
- Thursday 16: Our Lady of Mount Carmel
August
- Saturday 15: Assumption of the Virgin
- Thursday 20: Birth of Bernardo O’Higgins (Regional)
September
- Friday 18: Fiestas Patrias *(*irrenunciable)
- Saturday 19: Army Day (irrenunciable)
October
- Monday 12: Meeting of Two Worlds (formerly Columbus Day)
- Saturday 31: National Day of Evangelical and Protestant Churches
November
- Sunday 1: All Saints’ Day
December
- Tuesday 8: Immaculate Conception
- Friday 25: Christmas (irrenunciable)
Long Holiday Weekends (By Holiday Clusters)
- Holy Week: Friday, April 3 to Sunday, April 5
- Labor Day Weekend: Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 3
- Fiestas Patrias Weekend: Friday, September 18 to Sunday, September 20
- Christmas Weekend: Friday, December 25 to Sunday, December 27
If you plan to visit popular areas during one of these weekends, leave early, book early, and avoid peak hours if you can.
⭐️ Tips To Survive Chilean Holidays
1. Plan Your Errands Early
During irrenunciable holidays, most stores close. Stock up on groceries, medications, and essentials at least one day before.
2. Avoid Peak Travel Times
If you plan to travel, leave very early in the morning or after rush hour in the evening. Google Maps will not always warn you about holiday-specific congestion.
3. Double Check Operating Hours
Even tourist attractions you assume will be open sometimes close on national holidays. Check official websites or Instagram pages for updates.
4. Book Accommodations Ahead
Prices rise quickly for cabins, hotels, and transport. Reserving early saves money and stress.
5. Stay Flexible
Chileans take advantage of these dates. Expect crowds in coastal cities, wine regions, and mountains.
Chilean holidays shape the rhythm of life in the country. They influence travel, business hours, nightlife, transportation, and even grocery store schedules. Once you understand the holiday calendar and how seriously Chile treats its long weekends, you can plan better and enjoy your time without surprises. Whether you are an expat living here or a traveler exploring Santiago and beyond, knowing these holidays will help you navigate the country with confidence.
If you want to get the most out of your time in Chile, bookmark this holiday list, plan ahead, and embrace the festive spirit that makes Chile such a lively and exciting place to live or visit.
