What Are The Public Holidays in Venezuela in 2026?

List of Public Holidays in Venezuela (2026)

Venezuela’s public holidays combine fixed national dates and movable religious observances tied to the Catholic calendar. Use the table below to plan staffing, leave, and payroll for your Venezuelan team in 2026.

Do Employers Have to Provide Paid Leave on Public Holidays?

Yes, Venezuelan labor law generally treats national public holidays as mandatory paid rest days for employees, meaning your company must pay employees their regular salary even when they do not work on those days. The core rules are set at national level, so the main public holidays apply across the country, although some states and municipalities may add local observances that you should confirm with a local advisor or collective agreement.

If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, it is usually observed on that calendar date without an automatic move to Monday, but some employers voluntarily grant a substitute day off based on company policy or collective bargaining. Where a holiday falls on a normal working day for a part‑time employee, they are entitled to paid rest for the hours they would ordinarily have worked; if the holiday falls on a non‑working day for them, there is typically no extra entitlement unless a contract or collective agreement provides otherwise.

If your employees must work on a public holiday due to the nature of your operations, Venezuelan law requires premium pay on top of the normal daily wage, plus compensatory rest. Exact multipliers and conditions can vary by sector and collective agreement, so you should confirm the applicable rate and rest‑day arrangements with local counsel or your employer of record before scheduling holiday work.

Legal Penalties for Not Providing Paid Holiday Leave

Failing to respect public holidays as paid rest days can expose your company to back‑pay claims, administrative fines, and potential labor inspections. The main enforcement authority is the Venezuelan labor inspectorate, which can investigate complaints, order corrective measures, and impose monetary penalties when employers do not pay holiday wages or premium rates correctly.

Common mistakes include treating national holidays as unpaid leave, misclassifying employees as independent contractors to avoid holiday obligations, or paying only the base wage when employees work on a holiday without the required premium and compensatory rest. Disputes can lead to claims for unpaid wages, surcharges, and interest, and in some cases reputational risk or disruption to operations if inspectors order immediate corrective action. Because enforcement practices and fine levels can change, you should always verify current rules locally and keep clear payroll records showing how holiday pay was calculated.

How Do Holidays Affect Overtime Thresholds?

In Venezuela, work performed on a public holiday is generally treated as work on a special rest day and is compensated at a higher rate than ordinary hours. Holiday work is usually paid at a premium percentage over the normal hourly rate, and these hours may also count toward daily or weekly overtime thresholds, depending on the employee’s schedule and any applicable collective agreement.

In practice, this means you should track three elements when employees work on a public holiday: their regular wage for the day, the holiday premium for working on a rest day, and any additional overtime premium if they exceed standard daily or weekly limits. Because the exact calculations and stacking of premiums can be technical and may vary by sector, the safest approach is to use local payroll expertise or an employer‑of‑record platform to ensure your overtime and holiday pay formulas align with current Venezuelan law and practice.

Stay 100% Compliant with Leave Regulations Using Playroll

Managing Venezuelan public holidays on your own can be challenging, especially when you are juggling shifting religious dates, regional practices, and evolving labor rules. Playroll helps you stay compliant by handling local employment, payroll, and leave administration for your Venezuelan team so you can focus on running the business.

When you hire through Playroll in Venezuela, we act as your employer of record and:

1. Calculate and pay the correct public holiday wages and premiums based on local law and practice.
2. Track national and local holidays so your team’s schedules and leave balances stay accurate.
3. Apply the right rules for part‑time, full‑time, and shift workers, including compensatory rest where required.
4. Keep you updated when Venezuelan labor regulations change, reducing the risk of fines or disputes.
5. Consolidate payroll, benefits, and compliance for Venezuela and your other countries into one simple platform.

If you are planning to hire or already employ people in Venezuela, Playroll gives you a straightforward way to stay on top of public holiday rules, overtime, and leave compliance without building an in‑house legal team. You get local‑grade compliance with global‑level visibility and control.