What Are The Public Holidays in The Philippines in 2026?

List of Public Holidays in The Philippines (2026)

The Philippine government classifies holidays as regular holidays and special (non-working) days, with final dates and any additional one-off holidays confirmed each year by presidential proclamation. Below is an indicative list of the main nationwide public holidays for 2026 to help you start planning staffing and leave.

Do Employers Have to Provide Paid Leave on Public Holidays?

Yes, Philippine labor law generally requires employers to provide paid leave on regular holidays for eligible employees, while special non-working days follow a different pay formula. For regular holidays, an employee who does not work is entitled to 100% of the basic daily wage, provided they are present or on paid leave on the workday immediately preceding the holiday. If the employee works on a regular holiday, they are typically entitled to 200% of the basic daily wage for the first eight hours, with higher rates if the work falls on a rest day or involves overtime.

For special non-working days, the “no work, no pay” principle usually applies, unless a more favorable company policy, collective bargaining agreement, or individual contract grants payment. If an employee works on a special non-working day, they are generally entitled to at least 130% of the basic daily wage for the first eight hours, with higher rates if the day is also a rest day or overtime is worked.

Observed days can shift when a holiday falls on a Sunday, with the following Monday sometimes declared a special non-working day by presidential proclamation. Your company should always check the official annual holiday proclamation for the exact list of paid days and any additional one-off holidays. Part-time and probationary employees are covered by the same statutory rules, but their pay is calculated based on their agreed daily or hourly rate and actual schedule.

Legal Penalties for Not Providing Paid Holiday Leave

Failure to comply with Philippine holiday pay rules can expose your company to monetary claims, government inspections, and reputational risk. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), through its regional offices and labor inspectors, enforces compliance with holiday pay and other minimum labor standards. Employees can file complaints with DOLE or bring claims before the National Labor Relations Commission for underpayment or non-payment of holiday pay.

Non-compliance can result in orders to pay back wages, holiday pay differentials, and related benefits, plus potential damages and attorney's fees in litigation. In serious or repeated cases, DOLE may impose administrative sanctions and, in some circumstances, recommend criminal prosecution under the Labor Code. Common employer mistakes include misclassifying regular holidays as special days, failing to pay the correct premium when employees work on a holiday, and applying the “no work, no pay” rule to regular holidays where employees are actually entitled to holiday pay.

How Do Holidays Affect Overtime Thresholds?

Philippine law treats work performed on holidays as subject to premium rates, and overtime rules apply on top of those premiums. The standard workday is eight hours; any work beyond eight hours on a holiday is overtime and must be paid with an additional overtime premium on top of the holiday rate. For example, if an employee works more than eight hours on a regular holiday, the hours beyond eight are typically paid at 200% of the basic wage plus at least 30% overtime premium, resulting in a higher composite rate.

When a holiday coincides with an employee's scheduled rest day, both the rest day premium and the holiday premium may apply, again with overtime layered on top for hours beyond eight. Because the exact computation can be complex and DOLE guidance may be updated, your company should maintain clear timekeeping records, apply DOLE's published pay matrices, and seek local legal or payroll advice for edge cases such as night shift differentials, compressed workweeks, or irregular schedules.

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