Cambodia Public Holidays in 2026: Banks, Schools, Offices and Travel Planning

Prepared by the NovAsia Editorial Team

Cambodia's 2026 public holiday calendar matters for everyday life, not only for cultural awareness. It affects government offices, banks, schools, legal deadlines, domestic travel, clinic schedules, home services and even how quickly a courier or repair technician can respond.

In 2026 the official calendar contains 21 non-working calendar dates. The longest breaks are Khmer New Year on 14-16 April, Pchum Ben on 10-12 October and the Water Festival on 23-25 November. Government offices and most ordinary bank branches close on these dates. Hotels, restaurants, shopping centres, transport services, hospitals, convenience stores and some bank branches may still operate, but not always with a full staff or normal processing times.

For residents, investors and families, the practical rule is simple: do not plan a critical payment, document submission, visa matter, medical appointment or domestic trip as if the holiday date were the only day affected. Around the largest family holidays, Cambodia often slows down before the official break and returns to normal after it.

Cambodia's official public holiday calendar for 2026

The holiday calendar for civil servants and employees is set by the government, while the Ministry of Labour also issues instructions for paid holidays in enterprises, companies and factories.

One detail can cause confusion: 1 May 2026 is both International Labour Day and Visak Bochea. These are two holiday reasons, but one calendar date. That is why some summaries may describe 22 holiday occasions, while the practical number of official non-working dates is 21.

This list should not be reused for another year. Buddhist and traditional holidays move, and the government can adjust the official schedule.

For planning, separate three layers:

1. The official public holiday date.
2. The actual schedule of the specific organisation you need.
3. The informal slowdown before and after a major family holiday.

For example, the official Khmer New Year break is three days. A small business may close earlier because staff travel to their home provinces, and it may not operate normally again until after the following weekend.

What closes and what usually keeps operating

A Cambodian public holiday does not mean Phnom Penh shuts down completely. The city continues to function, but different services operate at different levels.

Usually available in some form:

• airports and border checkpoints;
• hotels and guesthouses;
• restaurants and cafes;
• shopping centres and supermarkets;
• convenience stores;
• private clinics and hospitals;
• taxis, tuk-tuks and ride-hailing apps;
• food delivery apps;
• ATMs and mobile payments.

But availability is not the same as full service. A hospital may have emergency care while a planned specialist clinic is closed. A bank app may allow a transfer request while compliance checks or international settlement wait until the next working day. A courier may collect parcels but not process customs paperwork.

Before a critical task, do not rely only on the word open on a map listing. Check the official website or app, look for a recent announcement, message customer support and confirm the exact branch you intend to use.

This is especially important before Khmer New Year, Pchum Ben and the Water Festival. One-day holidays tend to disrupt private services less, although government offices and standard bank branches still close.

Banks, payments and deadlines

The National Bank of Cambodia publishes a bank holiday calendar. Most ordinary bank branches follow it and close on public holidays.

There are exceptions. Some commercial banks operate selected branches in major shopping centres on holidays. ACLEDA, for example, distinguishes ordinary branches from branches in AEON shopping centres. Other banks have their own extended-hour branches. The question is therefore not simply whether a bank brand is open, but whether the exact branch and service you need are available.

A mobile app may show that an instruction was submitted successfully. That does not always mean the money has been finally credited, checked or released. Interbank, international, high-value and compliance-sensitive transactions can depend on working days and manual processing.

Complete these ahead of a major holiday:

• property deposits and completion payments;
• bank certificates;
• large international transfers;
• card replacement or limit changes;
• corporate document signing;
• cash withdrawal for travel;
• rent or loan payments with fixed due dates.

Do not assume a contract deadline automatically moves because an office is closed. If the agreement does not expressly extend the deadline, paying earlier is usually safer than arguing later.

Government offices, visas and official paperwork

Ministries, municipal departments, cadastral offices, tax authorities and most government counters do not receive ordinary visitors on official public holidays.

The practical pause may be longer than the calendar date. Before a large holiday, fewer staff may be available. After the holiday, applications, certificates and appointments can accumulate.

Avoid scheduling the following on the last working day before a holiday:

• visa or immigration submissions;
• tax payments requiring counter service;
• land or cadastral checks;
• notarisation or translation certification;
• driver's licence procedures;
• company documents;
• permit collection;
• registration matters.

An electronic portal may accept an application at any hour, but a human review may not begin until staff return. The submission date and the processing date are not always the same thing.

Airports and border crossings continue to operate, but administrative services at or around them can have their own schedules. A duty officer being present does not mean an unusual visa or document problem can be solved immediately.

Schools, nurseries and children's activities

A national holiday is not the same thing as a school calendar. Public schools, private schools and international schools may arrange the academic year differently.

International schools in Phnom Penh publish their own academic calendars. These include public holidays, school breaks, semester dates, staff training days and sometimes campus closures. The dates can differ not only between schools, but also between two academic years at the same school.

Parents should check:

• the last teaching day before a break;
• the first day back;
• school office hours;
• bus service;
• after-school activities;
• sports clubs;
• holiday camps;
• access to the campus or pool.

A school may close for a full week around Khmer New Year even though the official public holiday block is three days. Another holiday may mean one day off only. Summer and winter holidays are separate from the national public holiday list.

For family planning, copy the school calendar into your household calendar as soon as it is published. A phone calendar containing national holidays is not enough.

Shops, restaurants, laundry, water delivery and home services

Large shopping centres, supermarkets, restaurants and chain stores often remain open because holidays create demand. Smaller family-run businesses behave differently. Owners and staff may travel to their home provinces and close for several days.

This matters most around:

• Khmer New Year;
• Pchum Ben;
• the Water Festival.

Before these periods, consider doing the following:

• collect clothes from the laundry;
• pick up repaired items;
• refill prescription medicines;
• confirm water delivery;
• finish urgent home repairs;
• check pet food and pet-care arrangements;
• confirm cleaner, helper or nanny schedules;
• top up phone credit and transport apps.

There is no need to stockpile for every one-day holiday. Phnom Penh does not become inaccessible. The goal is simply to avoid relying on a specific small service at the exact moment it is closed.

Delivery apps and ride-hailing services usually operate, but driver availability, restaurant choice and wait times can change. Around major departures from the city, there may be fewer drivers or higher demand.

Travel around Cambodia during public holidays

Major holidays are peak domestic travel periods. Many Phnom Penh residents leave for their home provinces, visit pagodas or travel with family.

The main risks are not total transport shutdowns, but:

• sold-out convenient departure times;
• traffic leaving Phnom Penh;
• higher demand for private cars and taxis;
• fully booked hotels;
• reduced customer support;
• changed pick-up locations;
• delayed last-mile transfers.

Buy bus, train or flight tickets early if travelling before or after Khmer New Year or Pchum Ben. Confirm the exact departure point. Bus companies often use their own offices, not one single central station.

If you remain in Phnom Penh during Khmer New Year, the city can feel quieter because many residents leave. During the Water Festival, the opposite may happen: central riverfront areas can become crowded, with traffic restrictions and public events.

Do not use normal airport travel time on a Water Festival evening or a large ceremonial day. Ask your hotel, driver or building management about road closures and leave a buffer.

The three biggest holiday periods

Khmer New Year: the most important annual pause

In 2026, Khmer New Year falls on 14, 15 and 16 April, from Tuesday to Thursday.

It is the country's major family holiday. People visit relatives, pagodas and home provinces. Many small services close earlier than the official start date and reopen gradually afterwards.

Practical effects:

• transport tickets sell out early;
• roads out of Phnom Penh are busy;
• some offices close before 14 April;
• small cafes and workshops may be closed;
• official procedures stop;
• staff may not all return at the same time.

Do not assume that Friday 17 April will be a completely normal working day. Some companies may combine it with the weekend or operate with a reduced team.

If a property transaction, rental move, bank transfer or visa action is due in April, complete the key step several working days before the holiday block, not the afternoon before it.

April is also one of the hottest periods of the year. Outdoor celebrations, water games and long daytime activities require attention to hydration, sun protection and electronic devices.

Pchum Ben: family visits and pagodas

In 2026, Pchum Ben officially runs from 10 to 12 October, Saturday to Monday.

Pchum Ben is associated with remembrance of ancestors and visits to pagodas. For many families it is one of the most important travel periods of the year.

Practical effects:

• more travel to provinces;
• family-run businesses close;
• staff schedules change;
• pagodas are busy, especially in the morning;
• transport demand rises.

Although 11 October is a Sunday, there is no automatic additional holiday after the approved three-day block. Monday 12 October is already part of the official holiday.

Visitors to pagodas should dress and behave respectfully. Covered shoulders and knees, quiet behaviour and asking before close-up photography are basic courtesy.

Water Festival: local disruption in the centre

In 2026, the Water Festival falls on 23-25 November, Monday to Wednesday.

Bon Om Touk is associated with boat races, riverside ceremonies, illuminated floats and evening crowds. When the main celebrations are held in Phnom Penh, the central riverfront can become very busy.

Practical effects may include:

• traffic restrictions;
• parking closures;
• security checks;
• crowds near the river;
• changed taxi and tuk-tuk routes;
• higher hotel demand;
• evening noise and fireworks.

Do not schedule an important meeting near the riverfront without checking access. A short distance on the map can become a long walk if vehicle routes are closed.

Residents in central buildings should warn visitors and delivery drivers in advance. Building reception may tighten guest access, and drivers may refuse to enter restricted zones.

What happens when a holiday falls on Sunday

Older articles about Cambodia often say that if a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is automatically a day off. This is outdated.

A 2021 amendment changed Article 162 of the labour law. The automatic extra Monday is no longer the general rule.

This matters in 2026 because International Women's Day falls on Sunday 8 March. Monday 9 March is not a national public holiday merely because of that overlap.

A company may still offer an additional day, a substitute day or a more favourable internal rule. That is a company policy, collective agreement or employment condition, not an automatic national rule.

Employees and work on holidays

The Ministry of Labour's holiday order applies to paid holidays for workers covered by the labour framework. If a business cannot fully stop, the employer may organise staff rotation. In some cases, work on an official holiday and rest on another day can be arranged under the applicable procedures.

Workers should not rely on a manager's informal statement that “we do not have holidays.” Ask for:

• the internal calendar;
• shift schedule;
• compensation method;
• substitute rest day;
• written confirmation;
• overtime or holiday-work treatment.

Foreign employees working under a Cambodian contract should not assume that the holiday calendar of their home country replaces the Cambodian one. The employment contract, applicable law and internal company policy matter.

This section is general information, not employment-law advice. A dispute about forced holiday work, pay or leave should be checked with a Cambodian labour-law professional.

Healthcare, pharmacies and urgent services

Emergency departments and hospitals do not close like ordinary offices. But planned doctors, laboratories, insurance departments and non-urgent procedures may have holiday schedules.

Before a major holiday, check:

• whether your treating doctor is available;
• laboratory hours;
• pharmacy stock;
• insurance pre-authorisation;
• children's urgent-care options;
• planned admission dates;
• medication refills.

If a medicine is prescription-only, uncommon or temperature-sensitive, refill a reasonable amount in advance. Do not wait until the evening of a major holiday to search for a rare medicine.

Insurance assistance may have a 24-hour emergency line, while reimbursement departments work only on business days. In a medical emergency, follow the medical need and policy emergency procedures; do not delay urgent care because an administrative team is closed.

Mail, couriers and international shipments

Cambodia Post and commercial carriers have their own holiday schedules. A parcel may continue moving internationally while local sorting, customs handling or last-mile delivery waits.

Holiday periods can mean:

• earlier cut-off times;
• reduced counter hours;
• postponed delivery;
• delayed customs processing;
• parcel backlogs after reopening.

Do not send a time-critical document assuming a normal delivery window if three public holidays sit in the middle of the route. Also consider holidays in the sending and transit countries.

For valuable parcels, confirm whether building reception can accept them if you travel. Do not ask a courier informally to “hold it for a few days” without an official service confirmation.

How to build a practical holiday calendar

A useful household calendar has three layers.

The first layer is the national public holiday list. The second layer is the schedule of organisations you rely on: school, bank, building management, clinic, visa agent, accountant, cleaner, nanny, water delivery, laundry, pet service and pharmacy. The third layer is your own deadlines: rent, visa, tax, loan payment, international transfer, document collection, medical appointment and travel.

A simple template:

Holiday: 14-16 April

Last confirmed bank day:

Last school day:

Helper or nanny schedule:

Required payments:

Documents to collect:

Medicines and household services:

Travel bookings:

For Khmer New Year and Pchum Ben, check this list at least a week ahead. The goal is not emergency preparation; it is avoiding dependence on one closed service.

Common mistakes foreigners make

The most common mistakes are practical:

• using last year's holiday calendar;
• assuming Monday is automatically a substitute day after a Sunday holiday;
• leaving a bank transfer until the last working afternoon;
• buying bus tickets just before Khmer New Year;
• assuming an international school follows only national dates;
• trusting old map opening hours;
• scheduling documents just before a large holiday;
• expecting normal traffic on the riverfront during the Water Festival;
• not asking household staff about family travel;
• assuming the whole city is closed when large commercial services are still operating.

The right balance is neither panic nor improvisation. Confirm the few services that matter to your household and handle formal tasks early.

Bottom line

Cambodia's 2026 official calendar contains 21 non-working holiday dates. The largest practical breaks are Khmer New Year, Pchum Ben and the Water Festival.

Government offices and most standard bank branches close, while digital payments, shopping centres, hotels, transport and emergency healthcare continue in some form. Schools, clinics, couriers and small businesses follow their own schedules.

For residents and investors, the safest habit is to complete official documents, bank transfers and key household tasks before the last working day. Around major holidays, always confirm the exact branch, school, clinic, transport provider or service you need.

Sources

1. Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training — Prakas No. 216/25 on public holidays for 2026, dated 18 September 2025.
2. Royal Government of Cambodia — Sub-Decree No. 167 on the holiday calendar for civil servants and workers/employees for 2026, dated 5 September 2025.
3. National Bank of Cambodia — Public Holidays 2026. Checked 25 June 2026.
4. Royal Code NS/RKM/1021/011 — amendments to Cambodia's labour law, including the revised Article 162, dated 5 October 2021.
5. Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training — Prakas No. 112/25 on overtime work, work on paid holidays and suspension of weekly day off, dated 6 May 2025.
6. ACLEDA Bank — Business Hours. Branch and mall-branch schedules checked 25 June 2026.
7. International School of Phnom Penh and Australian International School Phnom Penh — official academic calendars for 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.

Frequently asked

How many official public holiday dates does Cambodia have in 2026?

The 2026 calendar contains 21 non-working calendar dates, although one date carries two holiday reasons. The calendar should be checked again every year.

Are banks closed on Cambodian public holidays?

Most standard bank branches are closed, but some mall branches and digital services may continue to operate. Important transfers, certificates and manual banking procedures should be completed in advance.

Should I plan travel early for Khmer New Year?

Yes. Demand for buses, taxis, flights and hotels rises around major family holidays, and smaller businesses may close earlier than the official dates and reopen later.