Lifestyle

Public holidays in Sint Maarten and Saint-Martin

The Dutch and French sides of the island follow different public holiday calendars. Here are the 2026 and 2027 dates for each side, from the Government of Sint Maarten and Service-Public.fr.

By SXM Daily · October 14, 2026

Last checked: 13 October 2026

Next check: 1 December 2026

The two sides of the island keep different public holiday calendars. Sint Maarten, the Dutch side, follows the schedule published by the Government of Sint Maarten. Saint-Martin, the French side, follows French legal holidays.

Photo: Kevin Gabbert / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Dutch side (Sint Maarten)

Dates are from the Government of Sint Maarten's Public Holiday Schedule. Constitution Day is the second Monday of October.

2026

New Year's Day: Thursday 1 January
Good Friday: Friday 3 April
Easter Sunday: Sunday 5 April
Easter Monday: Monday 6 April
King's Day: Monday 27 April
Carnival Day: Thursday 30 April
Labour Day: Friday 1 May
Ascension Day: Thursday 14 May
Whit Sunday: Sunday 24 May
Emancipation Day: Wednesday 1 July
Constitution Day: Monday 12 October
St. Maarten's Day: Wednesday 11 November
Christmas Day: Friday 25 December
Boxing Day: Saturday 26 December

2027

New Year's Day: Friday 1 January
Good Friday: Friday 26 March
Easter Sunday: Sunday 28 March
Easter Monday: Monday 29 March
King's Day: Tuesday 27 April
Carnival Day: Friday 30 April
Labour Day: Saturday 1 May
Ascension Day: Thursday 6 May
Whit Sunday: Sunday 16 May
Emancipation Day: Thursday 1 July
Constitution Day: Monday 11 October
St. Maarten's Day: Thursday 11 November
Christmas Day: Saturday 25 December
Boxing Day: Sunday 26 December

Whit Monday, Liberation Day and Carnival Monday are not on the government's list.

French side (Saint-Martin)

These are the French legal holidays for Saint-Martin, as listed on Service-Public.fr.

2026

New Year's Day (Jour de l'An): Thursday 1 January
Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques): Monday 6 April
Labour Day (Fête du Travail): Friday 1 May
Victory in 1945 (Victoire 1945): Friday 8 May
Ascension: Thursday 14 May
Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte): Monday 25 May
Abolition of slavery: 27 or 28 May; awaiting an official Préfecture or Collectivité notice
National Day (Fête nationale): Tuesday 14 July
Assumption (Assomption): Saturday 15 August
All Saints' Day (Toussaint): Sunday 1 November
Armistice 1918: Wednesday 11 November
Christmas (Noël): Friday 25 December

2027

New Year's Day (Jour de l'An): Friday 1 January
Easter Monday (Lundi de Pâques): Monday 29 March
Labour Day (Fête du Travail): Saturday 1 May
Victory in 1945 (Victoire 1945): Saturday 8 May
Ascension: Thursday 6 May
Whit Monday (Lundi de Pentecôte): Monday 17 May
Abolition of slavery: 27 or 28 May; awaiting an official Préfecture or Collectivité notice
National Day (Fête nationale): Wednesday 14 July
Assumption (Assomption): Sunday 15 August
All Saints' Day (Toussaint): Monday 1 November
Armistice 1918: Thursday 11 November
Christmas (Noël): Saturday 25 December

The abolition date is unconfirmed. Official French texts, including Service-Public.fr and the relevant decree, list 27 May for Saint-Martin. Local outlets Soualiga Post, Le Pélican and Le97150 report that Saint-Martin commemorates the abolition on 28 May, and that the Préfecture has treated 28 May as a holiday since a 2018 circular.

Good Friday, 26 December and Carnival are not French-side legal holidays.

Holidays on both sides

11 November is a holiday on both sides. It is St. Maarten's Day on the Dutch side and Armistice Day, the legal holiday, on the French side. Saint-Martin Day is celebrated across the island.

Good Friday, Carnival Day, King's Day and Boxing Day are holidays only on the Dutch side.

Practical notes

Days off on the French side: according to Service-Public.fr, only 1 May must be a day off for employees. Other holidays are days off only if an agreement or the employer says so.
Opening hours: whether shops, banks and offices close on a holiday varies, so check with the business.

FAQ

Q: When is Constitution Day in Sint Maarten?

A: On the second Monday of October: 12 October 2026 and 11 October 2027.

Q: Is Emancipation Day a public holiday?

A: Yes, on the Dutch side, every 1 July.

Q: When is Carnival Day on the Dutch side?

A: 30 April in both 2026 and 2027.

Q: Is 11 November a holiday on both sides?

A: Yes. It is St. Maarten's Day on the Dutch side and Armistice Day on the French side.

Q: Is Good Friday a holiday on the French side?

A: No. Good Friday (3 April 2026, 26 March 2027) is a holiday only on the Dutch side.

Q: When does Saint-Martin commemorate the abolition of slavery?

A: Locally on 28 May, but official French texts list 27 May. We are awaiting an official Préfecture or Collectivité notice.

Q: Is Whit Monday a holiday?

A: On the French side, yes (25 May 2026, 17 May 2027). The Dutch side observes Whit Sunday instead.

Q: Is Boxing Day a holiday?

A: Only on the Dutch side (26 December).

Sources

https://www.sintmaartengov.org/Pages/Public-Holiday-Schedule.aspx
https://www.sintmaartengov.org/Ministries/Departments/Pages/Events.aspx
https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F2405
https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/JORFTEXT000025743756
https://www.soualigapost.com/fr/actualite/47054/d%C3%A9cryptage/le-28-mai-est-un-jour-f%C3%A9ri%C3%A9-mais-pas-forc%C3%A9ment-ch%C3%B4m%C3%A9
https://www.lepelican-journal.com/abolition-de-l-esclavage-le-28-mai-a-saint-martin-jour-ferie/
https://www.le97150.fr/vie-locale/commemoration-de-l-abolition-de-l-esclavage-le-28-mai-%C2%AB-considere-%C2%BB-comme-ferie

Source: https://www.sintmaartengov.org/Pages/Public-Holiday-Schedule.aspx