Christmas in the Philippines is already a big deal, but the 2026 calendar makes the holiday season even better for anyone hoping to spend more time with family, travel, or simply take a proper break from work.
And yes, there is an official Christmas long weekend in 2026.
Christmas Eve falls on Thursday, December 24, and has been declared an additional special non-working day. Christmas Day follows on Friday, December 25, which is a regular holiday. Add the Saturday and Sunday immediately after Christmas, and many Filipinos working a traditional Monday-to-Friday schedule can enjoy four consecutive days off without filing a single vacation leave.
But that isn’t even the best part.
The combination of Rizal Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and the weekend means there’s another five-day break immediately before and after New Year. And if you’re willing to use just two vacation leave days between Christmas and New Year, you could potentially turn the holidays into an 11-day vacation.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Christmas holidays in the Philippines for 2026.
Content
Christmas Holidays 2026 Philippines: Quick Look
These are the important nationwide holidays around Christmas and New Year:
| Date | Day | Holiday | Classification |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 8, 2026 | Tuesday | Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary | Special Non-Working Day |
| December 24, 2026 | Thursday | Christmas Eve | Additional Special Non-Working Day |
| December 25, 2026 | Friday | Christmas Day | Regular Holiday |
| December 30, 2026 | Wednesday | Rizal Day | Regular Holiday |
| December 31, 2026 | Thursday | Last Day of the Year / New Year’s Eve | Special Non-Working Day |
| January 1, 2027 | Friday | New Year’s Day | Regular Holiday |
The December 2026 dates are included in Proclamation No. 1006, signed on September 3, 2025, which declared the regular holidays and special days for 2026.
Meanwhile, January 1, 2027 is officially listed as New Year’s Day and a regular holiday under the government’s 2027 holiday proclamation.
That gives Filipinos several opportunities for long weekends during the Christmas season.
Is December 24, 2026 a Holiday in the Philippines?
Yes.
Thursday, December 24, 2026 — Christmas Eve — is officially an additional special non-working day nationwide.
The proclamation specifically explains that making December 24 a non-working day provides Filipinos with more time for traditional Christmas activities, strengthens family ties, and helps promote domestic tourism.
This is important because Christmas Eve isn’t automatically a regular holiday every year. Its classification depends on the official holiday proclamation.
For 2026, though, it is definitely a special non-working day.
Is December 25, 2026 a Holiday?
Yes.
Christmas Day falls on Friday, December 25, 2026, and it is a regular holiday nationwide.
That Friday placement is what creates one of the best Christmas weekends of the year.
Christmas Long Weekend 2026
For employees who normally have Saturdays and Sundays off, the official Christmas long weekend looks like this:
Thursday, December 24
Christmas Eve — Special Non-Working Day
Friday, December 25
Christmas Day — Regular Holiday
Saturday, December 26
Weekend
Sunday, December 27
Weekend
That means:
December 24–27, 2026: 4 Days Off
No vacation leave is required for a typical Monday-to-Friday employee.
You finish work on Wednesday, December 23, and potentially don’t return until Monday, December 28.
That’s a very convenient four-day Christmas break.
For Filipinos planning to go home to the province, visit relatives, book a staycation, or take a short trip, this will probably be one of the busiest travel periods of December.
What Happens After Christmas?
Monday, December 28 and Tuesday, December 29 are not nationwide holidays under the official calendar.
That means they are regular working days unless your company, school, or government agency announces a separate break.
Then another series of holidays begins.
Wednesday, December 30
Rizal Day — Regular Holiday
Thursday, December 31
Last Day of the Year — Special Non-Working Day
Friday, January 1, 2027
New Year’s Day — Regular Holiday
Saturday, January 2
Weekend
Sunday, January 3
Weekend
So for many employees:
December 30, 2026–January 3, 2027: 5 Days Off
That’s five consecutive days covering Rizal Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and the first weekend of 2027.
And you don’t necessarily need to use vacation leave.
How to Get an 11-Day Christmas Vacation Using Only 2 Leave Days
This is probably the most useful part of the 2026 Christmas calendar.
Look at the gap between the Christmas long weekend and the New Year break:
December 24 – Holiday
December 25 – Holiday
December 26 – Saturday
December 27 – Sunday
December 28 – Working day
December 29 – Working day
December 30 – Holiday
December 31 – Holiday
January 1 – Holiday
January 2 – Saturday
January 3 – Sunday
If your schedule is Monday to Friday, simply file vacation leave for:
- Monday, December 28
- Tuesday, December 29
You’ll potentially get:
December 24, 2026 to January 3, 2027 — 11 Straight Days Off
Two vacation leave days for an 11-day break is a pretty good deal.
If you’re planning a longer domestic vacation, going home to your province, or traveling abroad, these are probably the two most valuable leave dates to reserve for the entire Christmas season.
Of course, approval still depends on your employer and staffing requirements.
Want an Even Longer Christmas Vacation?
If you have more leave credits available, there’s another option.
Take vacation leave on:
- December 21, Monday
- December 22, Tuesday
- December 23, Wednesday
- December 28, Monday
- December 29, Tuesday
With weekends and holidays included, a Monday-to-Friday employee could potentially be away from work from:
December 19, 2026 to January 3, 2027
That’s 16 consecutive days off using only five vacation leave days.
Here’s how it works:
| Date | Status |
|---|---|
| Dec. 19–20 | Weekend |
| Dec. 21–23 | File Vacation Leave |
| Dec. 24 | Christmas Eve Holiday |
| Dec. 25 | Christmas Day |
| Dec. 26–27 | Weekend |
| Dec. 28–29 | File Vacation Leave |
| Dec. 30 | Rizal Day |
| Dec. 31 | New Year’s Eve Holiday |
| Jan. 1 | New Year’s Day |
| Jan. 2–3 | Weekend |
That’s almost half a month away from work.
Naturally, Christmas is also one of the most requested leave periods in many companies, so employees hoping to do this should probably submit their leave requests as early as their company’s policies allow.
December 8, 2026 Is Also a Holiday
There’s another December holiday worth remembering.
Tuesday, December 8, 2026 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary.
It is officially classified as a special non-working day nationwide.
Because it falls on a Tuesday, employees who take Monday, December 7 as vacation leave could create another mini-long weekend:
Saturday, December 5
Sunday, December 6
Monday, December 7 — Vacation Leave
Tuesday, December 8 — Holiday
That’s four consecutive days away from work using one leave day.
So technically, December 2026 offers several opportunities for a quick vacation even before Christmas arrives.
Best Leave Dates for Christmas 2026
If you’re already planning your vacation leaves, these are the dates I’d keep an eye on.
Best option: December 28–29
Use two vacation leave days.
Potential break:
December 24 to January 3
Total:
11 consecutive days.
Longer Christmas vacation: December 21–23 and December 28–29
Use five vacation leave days.
Potential break:
December 19 to January 3
Total:
16 consecutive days.
Early December long weekend: December 7
Use one vacation leave day.
Potential break:
December 5 to December 8
Total:
Four days.
For most employees, the December 28–29 option probably gives the best value because you’re spending just two leave credits for a much longer vacation.
Christmas Break for Students in the Philippines in 2026
There’s also good news for public school students.
Beginning with School Year 2026–2027, DepEd is implementing its three-term school calendar.
Under the calendar, Term 2 runs until December 18, 2026, while Term 3 begins on January 4, 2027.
That means students in DepEd schools following the calendar essentially have their year-end break beginning after December 18, with classes resuming on Monday, January 4, 2027.
So for students, the main Christmas and New Year vacation period is effectively:
December 19, 2026 to January 3, 2027
Term 3 starts on January 4.
Schools can still be affected by subsequent DepEd issuances or local adjustments, so parents and students should always check announcements from their individual schools before making travel arrangements.
Private schools also aren’t necessarily required to use exactly the same calendar and may set different Christmas vacation dates.
Are December 28 and 29 Holidays?
No.
As of the official national holiday calendar, Monday, December 28 and Tuesday, December 29, 2026 are ordinary working days.
This is worth emphasizing because they’re surrounded by holidays.
The schedule is:
December 24 — Holiday
December 25 — Holiday
December 26–27 — Weekend
December 28 — Working day
December 29 — Working day
December 30 — Holiday
December 31 — Holiday
January 1 — Holiday
Unless another proclamation, company announcement, or office-specific suspension is issued, employees should assume December 28 and 29 are working days.
Is December 30, 2026 a Holiday?
Yes.
Wednesday, December 30 is Rizal Day, a regular holiday.
Rizal Day is one of the country’s nationally recognized regular holidays and commemorates the life and martyrdom of Dr. José Rizal.
For 2026, its Wednesday placement connects nicely with the New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day holidays.
Is December 31, 2026 a Holiday?
Yes.
Thursday, December 31, 2026 — the Last Day of the Year or New Year’s Eve — is officially a special non-working day.
Because New Year’s Day falls the following Friday, Filipinos with Saturday-Sunday weekends can enjoy a particularly long New Year break.
Is January 1, 2027 a Holiday?
Yes.
Friday, January 1, 2027 is New Year’s Day and is a regular holiday nationwide under the official 2027 holiday calendar.
It also creates a natural three-day weekend by itself:
Friday, January 1
Saturday, January 2
Sunday, January 3
When combined with Rizal Day and December 31, however, the continuous break actually begins on Wednesday, December 30.
Christmas 2026 Holiday Calendar
Here’s an easy calendar to save:
December 2026
December 19 – Saturday
December 20 – Sunday
December 21 – Working Day
December 22 – Working Day
December 23 – Working Day
December 24 – Christmas Eve, Special Non-Working Day
December 25 – Christmas Day, Regular Holiday
December 26 – Saturday
December 27 – Sunday
December 28 – Working Day
December 29 – Working Day
December 30 – Rizal Day, Regular Holiday
December 31 – Last Day of the Year, Special Non-Working Day
January 2027
January 1 – New Year’s Day, Regular Holiday
January 2 – Saturday
January 3 – Sunday
January 4 – Monday / First regular Monday after the holiday period and start of DepEd Term 3
Will Offices and Businesses Be Closed During the Holidays?
Not necessarily all of them.
National holidays don’t mean every business completely shuts down.
Government offices and many traditional workplaces normally suspend regular operations on non-working holidays, but essential services, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, malls, transportation companies, airports, tourism businesses, BPOs, contact centers, and other industries may continue operating.
Employees working during holidays may also be covered by applicable holiday pay rules depending on the holiday classification and circumstances.
If you work in an industry that operates 24/7, it’s always better to check your actual work schedule instead of assuming that you’ll automatically have the day off.
Expect Heavy Christmas Travel
Anyone traveling around December 23–24 or returning after January 1 should prepare for heavier-than-usual passenger volume.
Christmas is traditionally one of the busiest travel seasons in the Philippines.
Provincial bus terminals, airports, seaports, expressways, and major roads can become extremely busy as Filipinos travel home to spend Christmas with their families.
If you’re flying, taking a ferry, or traveling by bus, booking early makes sense—especially if your trip falls around the four-day Christmas weekend.
The same applies to hotels and resorts.
The December 24–27 weekend is an obvious opportunity for staycations and short trips, while the December 30–January 3 stretch could attract travelers planning New Year vacations.
Where Can You Go During the Christmas Long Weekend?
Four days is enough time for plenty of trips from Metro Manila.
Popular possibilities include:
Tagaytay and Cavite for food trips and staycations.
Batangas for beaches and resorts.
Laguna for hot springs and family resorts.
Rizal for nature trips and mountain destinations.
Quezon for beaches and road trips.
Baguio for cool Christmas weather.
La Union for beaches, restaurants, and nightlife.
Subic and Clark for family-friendly attractions and staycations.
Those taking the full 11-day break from December 24 to January 3 could obviously travel farther—whether that’s Palawan, Cebu, Bohol, Boracay, Siargao, Iloilo, Bacolod, Davao, or even an international destination.
Just remember that holiday airfare and hotel rates can be considerably different from ordinary travel periods, especially as Christmas gets closer.
Christmas Holidays 2026 FAQ
When is Christmas Day 2026 in the Philippines?
Christmas Day falls on Friday, December 25, 2026.
It is a regular holiday nationwide.
Is December 24, 2026 a holiday?
Yes. Christmas Eve on Thursday, December 24 is an additional special non-working day under Proclamation No. 1006.
Is there a Christmas long weekend in 2026?
Yes.
For people who normally don’t work on Saturdays and Sundays, December 24 to 27 creates a four-day Christmas long weekend.
How many days is the Christmas long weekend?
Four days:
Thursday, December 24 through Sunday, December 27.
Is December 28 a holiday?
No. December 28, 2026 is a regular working day unless another applicable declaration or employer policy says otherwise.
Is December 29 a holiday?
No. December 29 is also a regular working day.
Is December 30 a holiday?
Yes. December 30 is Rizal Day and a regular holiday.
Is December 31 a holiday?
Yes. December 31 is the Last Day of the Year and a special non-working day.
Is January 1, 2027 a holiday?
Yes. New Year’s Day is a regular holiday.
What are the best vacation leave dates for Christmas 2026?
For many Monday-to-Friday employees, December 28 and 29 are the best leave dates.
Using those two leave credits could give you an uninterrupted break from December 24 through January 3.
When is the DepEd Christmas break for 2026?
Under DepEd’s three-term calendar for School Year 2026–2027, Term 2 ends on December 18, 2026 and Term 3 begins January 4, 2027.
Individual school announcements should still be checked because schedules can be adjusted.
Final Thoughts
The Christmas holiday calendar for 2026 is actually one of the better setups we’ve had for planning a year-end vacation.
Christmas Eve lands on Thursday and is officially a special non-working day. Christmas Day is Friday. That immediately creates a four-day Christmas weekend through Sunday.
Then only two ordinary working days—December 28 and 29—separate that break from another five-day stretch covering Rizal Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, and the weekend.
For employees with a standard Monday-to-Friday schedule, filing just two leave days on December 28 and 29 could potentially turn the whole thing into an 11-day Christmas and New Year vacation from December 24, 2026 through January 3, 2027.
That’s the combination I’d remember.
And if you’re already thinking about going home to the province or booking a Christmas vacation, it might be worth planning early. With this kind of holiday calendar, I wouldn’t be surprised if December 24–27 and December 30–January 3 become some of the busiest travel periods of the entire year.
