Cambodia Public Holidays 2026: Dates, Rules, and What Closes

Introduction

What This Guide Covers

This guide explains Cambodia public holidays for 2026, with a practical focus on statutory public holidays, national holidays, paid holidays, and the effects on work, schools, banks, government offices, and planning. It is not a travel-package guide or a general festival calendar.

Cambodia's annual holiday calendar combines civil, historical, royal, Buddhist, and cultural observances. Some holidays fall on the same Gregorian date every year, while others are confirmed annually because they follow religious or traditional calendars. For 2026, current published calendars from Cambodian embassy, labour, and banking sources make it possible to list the official dates with reasonable confidence. For later years, readers should check the latest annual announcement before making payroll, school, travel, or administrative plans.

Cambodia Public Holidays 2026 at a Glance

Official Calendar Sources for 2026

Cambodia's public holiday calendar is published through official government and labour-related instruments. For 2026, the holiday list is tied to Sub-Decree No. 167 and is reflected in practical calendars published by institutions such as the Royal Embassy of Cambodia and major Cambodian banks. The Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Berlin lists the 2026 public holidays and notes their basis in Sub-Decree No. 167 on its Recberlin public holiday page.

Employer-facing guidance also describes the 2026 list as an official paid holiday calendar under Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training guidance. Bank calendars are useful practical confirmations because bank branches normally need to follow the national holiday calendar for customer-facing closures. Still, for compliance decisions, employers should prioritize current government and Ministry of Labour notices over older summary pages.

2026 Public Holiday Dates

The 2026 Cambodia public holiday calendar totals 21 official days off when multi-day holidays are counted by day and holidays sharing the same date are not double-counted as separate days off. The following table lists the main 2026 dates in a planning-friendly format.

Major Cambodian banks publish similar practical holiday calendars. For example, KB PRASAC Bank and ACLEDA Bank list Cambodia's 2026 public holidays for customer planning.

Fixed-Date and Moveable Holidays

Some Cambodia national holidays normally recur on the same Gregorian date each year. Examples include International New Year Day, Victory over Genocide Day, International Women's Day, King Norodom Sihamoni's Birthday, Queen Mother's Birthday, Constitutional Day, Independence Day, and Cambodia's Peace Day. These are usually easier to plan around because the date is stable, although the official annual calendar should still be checked.

Other holidays are moveable or annually confirmed. Khmer New Year, Visak Bochea Day, the Royal Plowing Ceremony, Pchum Ben Festival, and the Water Festival may fall on different civil-calendar dates from year to year. This is especially important for employers, schools, banks, and travelers because a holiday that falls midweek one year may create a longer break or different closure pattern in another year.

Public Holiday Rules for Workers and Employers

Paid Public Holidays Under the Labour Calendar

The 2026 calendar is widely described as Cambodia's official paid holiday calendar for employees where Cambodian labour rules apply. Employer guidance referencing Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training Prakas No. 216/25 explains the paid-holiday framing for the 2026 calendar; see the summary from Making It Easy Cambodia.

In practical terms, employers should treat listed public holidays as paid holidays for covered employees and plan payroll, staffing, production, customer service, and office closures accordingly. Application can vary for organizations with special calendars, diplomatic missions, international organizations, or businesses that operate across borders. Employers and employees with compliance questions should consult the latest Ministry of Labour guidance or qualified legal advice rather than relying only on a general holiday article.

Sunday Holidays and Substitute Days

A key rule for current planning is that Cambodia public holidays falling on Sunday should not automatically be assumed to move to Monday. Legal commentary on a Labour Ministry clarification states that public holidays falling on a Sunday are no longer automatically substituted with a holiday on the next working day; SokSiphana summarizes this clarification and its legal context.

This matters for payroll teams, workers, students, and anyone planning administrative errands. A calendar that once led people to expect a Monday substitute may not do so now. Individual employers may still offer extra leave or internal benefits, but those company policies should be separated from the statutory public holiday calendar.

Recent Changes to the Holiday Calendar

Cambodia has adjusted the size of its public holiday calendar in recent years. Background reporting notes that Cambodia reduced its holiday count from 28 to 22 days in 2020, partly in response to productivity and business concerns; Activpayroll provides a concise summary of that change. The 2026 calendar totals 21 official paid holiday days based on current published calendars.

The practical lesson is simple: do not reuse an old Cambodia holiday calendar for a new year. The government can add, remove, rename, or reclassify holidays, and moveable holidays must be checked annually.

Major Cambodia National Holidays and Their Meaning

Khmer New Year

Khmer New Year is one of Cambodia's most important multi-day public holidays. In 2026, the official public holiday period is April 14-16. It is associated with cultural renewal, family gatherings, temple visits, and domestic travel, so its practical effects can extend beyond the exact legal dates.

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For planning, Khmer New Year is one of the most important periods to watch. Government offices, many schools, banks, and many private offices are likely to close for the official dates, and some businesses may operate with reduced staffing before or after the holiday. Travelers and residents should avoid leaving essential paperwork, bank visits, or time-sensitive appointments until the last moment.

Pchum Ben and the Water Festival

Pchum Ben and the Water Festival are major multi-day holidays whose Gregorian dates change by year. In 2026, Pchum Ben is listed for October 10-12, and the Water Festival is listed for November 23-25.

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Pchum Ben is commonly understood as an ancestor-focused Buddhist observance and a major family period. The Water Festival is associated with water, river, and seasonal traditions. In Phnom Penh, the Tonle Sap River is especially relevant to Water Festival traditions, but event details, crowd patterns, and transport arrangements should be checked locally for the specific year.

These holidays are good examples of why the legal public holiday period and the broader social impact are not always identical. The official days off may be three days, while travel demand, business slowdowns, or family obligations can affect the days around the holiday as well.

Historical, Royal, and Civic Holidays

Cambodia's calendar includes more than religious and cultural festivals. Historical and civic holidays include Victory over Genocide Day, Constitutional Day, Independence Day, and Cambodia's Peace Day. Royal holidays include King Norodom Sihamoni's Birthday, Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk's Birthday, the Commemoration Day of Late King Father Norodom Sihanouk, and the King's Coronation Day.

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These holidays are generally easier to schedule because many fall on fixed dates. They may still affect government services, banks, schools, and official appointments, so residents, businesses, and visitors should treat them as real closure dates rather than symbolic entries on a calendar.

What Usually Closes on Cambodia Public Holidays

Government Offices and Administrative Services

Government offices generally close on national public holidays in Cambodia. This can affect immigration visits, visa-related errands, civil registration, courts, tax or permit offices, and other administrative services. Hours and reopening procedures can vary by office, so time-sensitive visits should be checked with the relevant ministry, embassy, or local authority.

Multi-day holidays can also create bottlenecks. Offices may be busy shortly before Khmer New Year, Pchum Ben, or the Water Festival, and backlogs may continue immediately after reopening. If a deadline matters, complete paperwork early or allow extra processing time.

Banks, Schools, Shops, and Transport

Banks usually follow the national public holiday calendar for branch closures. Online banking, mobile apps, cards, and ATMs may remain available, but availability depends on each bank's systems and maintenance schedules. For large transfers, loan disbursements, trade documentation, or cash needs, check directly with the bank before a public holiday period.

Schools generally close on national public holidays, but term calendars, private school schedules, and international school calendars can differ. Parents and students should check the school's own calendar, especially when a Cambodian public holiday falls close to an international-school break.

Shops, restaurants, malls, clinics, and private services vary by city, business type, and holiday importance. In Phnom Penh and other urban areas, some retail and hospitality businesses may stay open while offices close, but staffing and hours can change. Transport demand can rise around Khmer New Year, Pchum Ben, and the Water Festival, but exact bus, flight, ferry, and road conditions require direct confirmation from operators. Booking ahead, keeping payment backups, and avoiding essential errands during major closure periods are sensible precautions.

How to Use a Cambodia Holiday Calendar Safely

Check Annual Announcements Before Planning

Annual confirmation matters. Even familiar holidays can be affected by new government announcements, changes in duration, or shifts in paid-holiday treatment. For official planning, prioritize current annual calendars from the Royal Government of Cambodia, the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, Cambodian embassies, and major banks that publish customer-facing closure calendars.

Searches for future years should be treated as provisional until official annual sources are available. A 2025 calendar should not be used to plan 2026 payroll, and a 2026 calendar should not be assumed to settle 2027 dates.

Separate Public Holidays From Festivals and Local Events

Cambodia has many cultural, religious, and local observances, but not every observance is a statutory public holiday. This article's calendar focuses on official public holidays and paid holiday days, not every festival, ceremony, tourism event, or local celebration.

The distinction is important because statutory public holidays are the dates most likely to affect government offices, banks, schools, and employment calendars. Cultural participation, festival events, and local ceremonies may require separate local information even when they are not listed as national public holidays.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many public holidays does Cambodia have in 2026?

Cambodia has 21 official public holiday days in 2026 when multi-day holidays are counted by day and holidays sharing the same date are not double-counted as separate days off.

Are public holidays in Cambodia paid holidays for employees?

Yes, the 2026 calendar is treated as an official paid holiday calendar for covered employees under Cambodian labour rules. Specific application can vary by employment situation, so employers should check current labour guidance for compliance questions.

Do Cambodia public holidays move to Monday if they fall on Sunday?

Do not assume a Monday substitute. Current legal commentary notes that public holidays falling on Sunday are no longer automatically substituted with a holiday on the next working day. Individual employers may offer additional leave, but that is separate from the statutory rule.

Which Cambodia public holidays change dates each year?

Moveable or annually confirmed holidays include Khmer New Year, Visak Bochea Day, the Royal Plowing Ceremony, Pchum Ben Festival, and the Water Festival. Their Gregorian dates should be checked in the official annual calendar.

Are banks, schools, and government offices closed on Cambodia public holidays?

Government offices, banks, and schools generally close on national public holidays, though exact arrangements can vary. Shops, restaurants, clinics, malls, and transport services may operate on different schedules, especially in Phnom Penh and other busy areas.

Conclusion

Key Takeaways for Planning Around Cambodia Public Holidays

Cambodia's 2026 public holiday calendar includes 21 official paid holiday days. The calendar includes fixed-date civic, historical, royal, and international holidays, plus moveable Buddhist and cultural holidays such as Khmer New Year, Pchum Ben, and the Water Festival.

For safe planning, check the annual official calendar, do not assume Sunday holidays automatically move to Monday, and allow extra time around major multi-day holidays. This is especially important before booking travel, running payroll, scheduling school activities, arranging bank transactions, or visiting government offices in Cambodia.