Cyprus Public Holidays 2026: The Expat & Investor’s Planning Guide

Authored by Oliver Bennett, a 16-year Cyprus resident and relocation consultant. I’ve personally navigated two property purchases and a business setup around the island’s holiday schedule, so I know exactly where the roadblocks appear. This guide is based on that firsthand experience.

Cyprus Public Holidays 2026: Official At-a-Glance Calendar

Before you plan a single viewing trip or book a meeting with a lawyer, you need this list. These dates, based on the official government gazette, form the backbone of your relocation or investment timeline. Pin this somewhere you can see it, as the official Cyprus calendar of closures is non-negotiable.

Date	Day	Holiday Name	Type
1 Jan	Thursday	New Year’s Day	Bank
6 Jan	Tuesday	Epiphany	Bank
16 Mar	Monday	Green Monday	Movable, Bank
25 Mar	Wednesday	Greek Independence Day	Bank
1 Apr	Wednesday	EOKA Day	Bank
30 Apr	Thursday	Good Friday (Orthodox)	Movable, Bank
1 May	Friday	Labour Day	Bank
3 May	Sunday	Easter Sunday (Orthodox)	Movable, Bank
4 May	Monday	Easter Monday (Orthodox)	Movable, Bank
22 Jun	Monday	Pentecost Monday (Kataklysmos)	Movable, Bank
15 Aug	Saturday	Assumption Day	Bank
1 Oct	Thursday	Cyprus Independence Day	Bank
28 Oct	Wednesday	OHI Day	Bank
25 Dec	Friday	Christmas Day	Bank
26 Dec	Saturday	Boxing Day	Bank

Official Bank Holidays (Fixed Dates)

These fixed bank holidays occur on the same date each year, making them easy to mark on your calendar well in advance. On these days, you can expect banks, government offices, the Land Registry, and most private businesses to be completely shut. Property transactions and residency appointments must be scheduled carefully around these dates, as a one-day holiday can easily cause a week-long delay if documents are not processed in time.

Movable Feasts 2026 (Orthodox Easter Cycle)

The Orthodox Easter cycle is the most significant period of disruption for business and administration in Cyprus. For 2026, the key dates are: Green Monday on March 16th, Good Friday on April 30th, Easter Sunday on May 3rd, Easter Monday on May 4th, and Pentecost Monday (Kataklysmos) on June 22nd. These movable dates create long weekend closures that halt everything from legal services and developer meetings to immigration processing. I always advise clients to treat the entire Holy Week as a “blackout period” for any critical tasks.

Key School Holiday Periods 2026

For families considering a move, aligning with the school calendar is essential. The main Cyprus holidays for schools in 2026 are the Christmas break (approx. December 23, 2025 – January 6, 2026), the Easter break (approx. April 27 – May 10, 2026), and the long summer break (late June to early September). Planning property viewings or school tours during these times can be challenging, as many professionals are on leave and traffic patterns change dramatically. The definitive term dates are published annually by the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth of Cyprus.

Strategic Planning for Expats & Investors: Navigating Closures

Successfully navigating the bureaucracy of living in Cyprus means treating public holidays not as inconveniences, but as fixed deadlines you must work around. Government departments, banks, and the Land Registry close on every single bank holiday listed above. There are no exceptions. This means immigration appointments, property title transfers, and company registrations stop completely. For more general advice on settling in, our Cyprus expat blog is a great starting point.

Critical Deadlines: Government, Legal & Financial Services Shutdowns

My experience has shown that you need to give yourself a wide berth around any public holiday. To avoid multi-week delays, book residency permit appointments at least three to four weeks before the Easter or August 15th periods. When you want to buy property in Cyprus, ensure your lawyer submits all Land Registry documents no later than ten business days before any major holiday.

Holiday Blackout Checklist for Buyers:

• Confirm Lawyer Availability: Check with your lawyer two weeks before any holiday to ensure they will be working and can handle last-minute issues.
• Submit Land Registry Papers: Get all documents to the Land Registry at least 10 business days prior to a closure. The backlog after a holiday can be substantial.
• Clear Funds: Ensure your funds are cleared with the bank and you have written confirmation before the last business day. A transfer stuck over a 4-day weekend is a stressful experience.
• Arrange Nicosia Document Runs: If critical documents must be submitted in the capital, arrange a reliable courier well in advance, as their services also become limited.

Scheduling Property Viewings & Professional Consultations

While you can always find someone to show you a property, serious negotiations and due diligence grind to a halt during peak holiday seasons. Real estate agents and developers significantly reduce or pause operations around Easter week and for much of August. While viewings might be possible in tourist-heavy areas, getting a lawyer on the phone for an urgent contract review becomes nearly impossible. My trusted partners at the DOM real estate agency confirm that they advise clients to complete all legal checks before these periods begin.

“My #1 rule for clients: never schedule a property closing within 5 business days of Easter or August 15th. The system grinds to a halt, and what seems like a small delay can become a multi-week problem that jeopardizes the entire deal.” – Oliver Bennett, Cyprus Relocation Consultant

The Impact on Daily Life & Business Operations

Beyond official closures, public holidays in Cyprus transform the rhythm of daily life. Understanding these shifts in shop hours, transport timetables, and general activity will save you a lot of frustration, whether you’re here on a visit or have already made the move.

Retail & Services: Navigating Opening Hours

Supermarkets generally operate with reduced hours on most bank holidays but will be completely closed on Easter Sunday and Christmas Day—plan your grocery shopping accordingly. Major shopping malls and high-street retail stores also remain shut on major religious holidays. Your best bet for essentials is the local kiosk, or periptero, as many stay open. Pharmacies operate on a rota system, so you’ll need to check local listings for the one on duty in your area.

Transport & Mobility: Reduced Schedules

Public transport is significantly affected. Intercity buses do not run at all on Easter Sunday, Christmas Day, or New Year’s Day. On other holidays, they operate on a limited Sunday schedule. City buses also run fewer routes. Taxis and app-based services like Bolt remain available but are in high demand, so booking in advance is crucial, especially for airport transfers around Easter and August.

The “August Shutdown” Phenomenon Explained

While August 15th is the only official holiday, it triggers a much longer, unofficial “August shutdown.” Many local businesses, particularly in construction, legal services, and their supply chains, close for one to three weeks. This is a deeply ingrained cultural tradition driven by the summer heat and the holiday season. For anyone trying to complete a renovation or finalize a business deal, August effectively becomes a non-working month.

Employer Obligations & Business Planning (2026 Legal Guide)

For business owners and managers in Cyprus, navigating the legal requirements for public holidays is crucial for maintaining good employee relations and avoiding penalties. The law is quite clear and protects employee rights firmly.

The Legal Framework: Employee Rights & Pay

Under Cyprus labour law, all the dates listed in the calendar are treated as paid days off for full-time employees if they fall on a normal working day. If an employee is required to work on a public holiday, they must consent and be compensated at a rate of 1:2, meaning double their standard daily wage.

Strategic Staff & Operations Planning for Key Sectors

Planning is everything. Hospitality and retail businesses, which often see higher demand on holidays, must build premium pay into their budgets and manage staff rosters carefully to ensure coverage. For office-based companies, my advice is to schedule project buffers around the major holiday periods, especially Easter and August. This means adding at least two “non-working” weeks to any project timeline that crosses these months to manage client expectations and prevent team burnout.

Cultural Deep Dive: The Meaning Behind the Holidays

To truly understand living in Cyprus, it helps to appreciate the cultural weight behind these dates. They aren’t just days off; they are cornerstones of national identity, religious devotion, and family life, which explains why the entire island collectively hits pause.

The Great National Days: March 25, April 1, October 1 & 28

These four dates are steeped in history and patriotism. March 25th marks Greek Independence Day. April 1st commemorates the start of the EOKA struggle for independence from British rule. October 1st celebrates the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus. Finally, October 28th is “OHI Day” (No Day), remembering Greece’s rejection of Mussolini’s ultimatum in 1940. You’ll see proud military and student parades in all major cities.

The Orthodox Easter & Lent: The Island’s Biggest Celebration

Easter is, without a doubt, the biggest event on the Cypriot calendar. The period begins with Green Monday, a day for family picnics and kite-flying that marks the start of Lent. Holy Week builds with solemn Epitaphios processions on Good Friday evening, where communities carry a bier representing Christ’s tomb through the streets. The celebration culminates on Easter Sunday, when the air fills with the smell of lamb souvla roasting on charcoal as families gather for massive feasts with red-dyed eggs and traditional flaounes cheese pies.

Summer & Religious Festivals: Kataklysmos & Assumption Day

The summer brings two more major celebrations. Kataklysmos, the Festival of the Flood, coincides with Pentecost Monday (June 22nd in 2026) and is celebrated with gusto in coastal towns, especially Larnaca, with water-throwing, games, and outdoor fairs. Then, on August 15th, Assumption Day serves as the “Easter of the summer.” It’s one of the most important religious dates, and a time when many Cypriots travel to their ancestral villages for church services and family reunions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are the quick answers to the most common questions I get from clients about planning around Cyprus holidays.