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Long Weekend Coming! Here are the Holidays for April 2026

Whether you’re planning your Holy Week vacation or filing a leave to make a long weekend, here are the dates you should know for April 2026

By Pie Gonzaga March 24, 2026

holy week beach boracay — While going to the beach on Good Friday is generally frowned upon among Filipino Catholics, it didn’t stop Boracay’s visitors from flocking to the beach in 2025. Photo from Malay-Boracay Tourism Office/Facebook

Holy Week is approaching, and you might be wondering when you can file your leaves to extend your vacation. Thankfully, the first two weeks of April are full of holidays. And if you schedule your vacation leave right, you might even get two long weekends.

This year, Holy Week falls in the first week of April.

Here are the holidays declared by Malacañang:

April 2, Maundy Thursday
April 3, Good Friday
April 4, Black Saturday

April 2 and April 3 have been declared regular holidays, while April 4 has been declared a special non-working holiday, in which businesses may choose to suspend work on a no-work-no-pay scheme.

Additionally, April 9, Thursday, also marks the Day of Valor or Araw ng Kagitingan, another regular holiday. Regular holidays are mandatory paid non-working days.

For the full list of regular, special non-working, and special working holidays for the year, check out Rolling Stone Philippines’ holiday pay guide for 2026.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is Holy Week in the Philippines for 2026?

Holy Week 2026 in the Philippines falls during the first week of April. Maundy Thursday is on April 2, Good Friday is on April 3, and Black Saturday is on April 4. Easter Sunday falls on April 5, 2026.

Is Maundy Thursday and Good Friday a regular holiday in the Philippines?

Yes. Both Maundy Thursday (April 2, 2026) and Good Friday (April 3, 2026) are declared regular holidays by Malacañang. Employees who do not work receive 100% of their daily wage, while those who work receive 200%.

Is Black Saturday a regular or special non-working holiday?

Black Saturday (April 4, 2026) is designated as a special non-working holiday in the Philippines. Under Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) rules, the “no work, no pay” principle applies unless a favorable company policy or collective bargaining agreement exists.

When is Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) in 2026?

Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) falls on Thursday, April 9, 2026. It is a nationwide regular holiday honoring the heroism of Filipino and American soldiers during World War II, entitling covered employees to full holiday pay.

How can workers maximize vacation leaves for two long weekends in April 2026?

Employees can create two four-day long weekends by taking leave on Monday, April 6, or Friday, April 10. Filing leaves around April 2–4 (Holy Week) and April 9 (Araw ng Kagitingan) allows extended vacation periods with minimal leave credits used.

Pie Gonzaga

State of Affairs Writer

Pie Gonzaga is the State of Affairs Writer of Rolling Stone Philippines, covering politics and social issues. Her work with Rolling Stone Philippines includes interviews with figures inside and outside of governance, from congressmen to activists. Aside from politics, she has also written various culture and music stories, such as album reviews, TV show recaps, and explainers for internet/pop culture phenomena.

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