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Public holidays in Tanzania are in accordance with the Public Holidays Ordinance (Amended) Act,^[1] 1966 and are observed throughout the nation.

Background

The Public Holidays Ordinance (Amended) Act, 1966 lists twelve public holidays in its schedule. At present, Tanzania has a total of seventeen public holidays:^[2] eight religious holidays, three national holidays, two commemorating the death anniversaries of the inaugural leaders of its constituent states and the remaining four of other national importance.

The President of Tanzania may declare additional holidays at his or her discretion, for example, during the general election day. The President of Zanzibar may do the same within the semi-autonomous islands of Zanzibar.^[3] A recent example of this was on 4 November 2015 where President Kikwete announced a national holiday for the next day to celebrate Magufuli winning the presidential election.^[4]

General list^[5]^[6]

Key
		Religious holiday
		National holiday

Date	Name
1 January	New Year's Day
12 January	Zanzibar Revolution Day Zanzibar Revolutionary Day (End of the Sultanate of Zanzibar)
7 April	Karume Day Sheikh Abeid Amani Karume Day (Assassination of Zanzibari President Abeid Karume)
Friday before Easter	Good Friday
Monday after Easter	Easter Monday
26 April	Union Day (The unification of Tanganyika and the People's Republic of Zanzibar in 1964)
1 May	Labour Day International Worker’s Day
7 July	Saba Saba Day Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair Day Industry’s Day^[7]
8 August	Nane Nane Day Farmer’s Day Wakulima ya Nane Nane Peasant’s Day
14 October	Nyerere Day Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Day (Death anniversary of Julius Nyerere, the father of the nation)
9 December	Independence Day (End of British rule in 1961)
25 December	Christmas Day
26 December	Boxing Day
12 Rabi' al-awwal	Maulid Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday
1 Shawwal	Eid al-Fitr End of Ramadan
10 Dhu al-Hijja	Eid al-Adha Feast of Sacrifice
Total: 17 days

List for 2020

Key		National holiday
		Religious holiday

Date	Name	Notes
1 January	New Year's Day
12 January	Zanzibar Revolution Day	Marking the end of the Sultanate of Zanzibar
7 April	Karume Day	Commemoration of the assassination of Zanzibari President Abeid Karume
Friday of Holy Week March or April	Good Friday	Commemorating the Crucifixion of Jesus
Monday after Easter March or April	Easter Monday	Day compensating for the Sunday commemoration of the resurrection of Christ
26 April	Union Day	The unification of Tanganyika and the People's Republic of Zanzibar in 1964
1 May	Labour Day
1 Shawwal	Eid al-Fitr	Marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan Breaking of the Fast
7 July	Saba Saba Day^[8]	Climax of the annual Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair
8 August	Nane Nane Day	Farmers' Day
14 October	Nyerere Day	Commemoration of the death anniversary of Julius Nyerere, the father of the nation
12 Rabi' al-awwal	Maulid	Observance of the birth anniversary of the Islamic prophet Muhammad
9 December	Independence Day	Celebrating the end of British rule in 1961
25 December	Christmas Day	Commemoration of the birth of Jesus
26 December	Boxing Day

List for 2016

Key		National holiday
		Religious holiday

Date	Name	Notes
1 January	New Year's Day
12 January	Zanzibar Revolution Day	Marking the end of the Sultanate of Zanzibar
25 March	Good Friday	Commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus
28 March	Easter Monday	Commemorating the resurrection of Jesus
7 April	Karume Day	Commemoration of the assassination of Zanzibari President Abeid Karume
26 April	Union Day	The unification of Tanganyika and the People's Republic of Zanzibar in 1964
1 May	Labour Day
7 July	Saba Saba Day	Climax of the annual Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair
6 July*	Eid al-Fitr	Marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan (2 days)
8 August	Nane Nane Day	Farmers' Day
12 September*	Eid al-Adha
14 October	Nyerere Day	Commemoration of the death anniversary of Julius Nyerere, the father of the nation
9 December	Independence Day	Celebrating the end of British rule in 1961
24 December*	Maulid	Observance of the birth anniversary of Muhammad
25 December	Christmas Day	Commemoration of the birth of Jesus
26 December	Boxing Day

* denotes subject to the sighting of the moon

References

^ "The Public Holidays Ordinance (Amended) Act, 1966" (PDF). Parliament of Tanzania. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
^ "PUBLIC HOLIDAYS IN TANZANIA 2017". Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania Washington D.C. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
^ "JK: It's public holiday to celebrate Z'bar Revolution". The Guardian. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
^ "Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania - Tovuti Rasmi ya Rais". ikulu.go.tz. Retrieved 2015-11-04.
^ "Public Holidays 2023" (PDF). Bank of Tanzania. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
^ "Public Holidays". Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
^ "Saba Saba Day in Tanzania in 2021". Office Holidays. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
^ "Saba Saba Day in Tanzania in 2021". Office Holidays. Retrieved August 23, 2020.