2026 is set to be a historic year for the labor calendar in Colombia. With a total of 15 long weekends, the year will tie a record that has historically occurred on only 9 occasions. This figure exceeds the usual average of 12.5 long weekends per year, offering exceptional opportunities for rest and tourism.
The combination of public holidays falling on specific days of the week, together with the application of the Emiliani Law, generates this favorable distribution of long weekends throughout the year. Below we explore the details behind this record, the distribution of long weekends in 2026, and strategies to maximize vacation time during this year.
The numbers behind the record
How rare is this record?
Reaching the figure of 15 long weekends in a year is a rare phenomenon that has historically been recorded on only 9 occasions.
The last time Colombia had 15 long weekends was in 2023. The year 2020 also reached this record, but the COVID-19 pandemic prevented Colombians from fully taking advantage of these extended breaks. Previously, the record had been registered up to 2 times per decade, for the first time in 1989 and then in 1995, 1998, 2006, 2009, 2015, and 2017.
According to current holiday calculation rules, the next year with 15 long weekends will be 2028. However, after that, we will have to wait until 2034 to see this record again. In the entire decade of the 2030s, this phenomenon will only occur twice: in 2034 and 2037.
The distribution of these record years is not uniform: sometimes they occur in close years (as in 2023, 2026, and 2028), while in other periods 6 or more years may pass between one and another. Interestingly, there have never been consecutive years with 15 long weekends. Additionally, during the entire 21st century, the current decade (2020-2029) is the one in which this record of 15 long weekends in a single year will be reached the most times, with 4 occasions.
Comparison with other years
To put the magnitude of this year into perspective:
- Record: 15 long weekends (tied 10 times in total, including 2026).
- Average: 12.5 long weekends per year.
- Historical minimum: 10 long weekends (recorded in 2011 and 2019).
Comparing 2026 with nearby years:
| Year | Long Weekends | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | Below average |
| 2026 | 15 | Record tied 🏆 |
| 2027 | 12 | Within usual range |
| 2028 | 15 | Record tied, leap year |
| 2029 | 13 | Within usual range |
| 2030 | 10 | Next year with the minimum |
The 15 long weekends of 2026
2026 stands out not only for the quantity but also for the strategic distribution of its long weekends throughout the year.
Monthly distribution
The distribution of breaks is quite balanced, although June takes the spotlight:
- January: 1 long weekend (Epiphany).
- March: 1 long weekend (Saint Joseph's Day).
- April: 1 long weekend (Holy Week - 4 days).
- May: 2 long weekends (Labor Day, Ascension).
- June: 3 long weekends (Corpus Christi, Sacred Heart, Saint Peter and Saint Paul).
- July: 1 long weekend (Independence Day).
- August: 2 long weekends (Battle of Boyacá, Assumption).
- October: 2 long weekends (Day of the Race, All Saints' Day).
- November: 1 long weekend (Independence of Cartagena).
- December: 1 long weekend (Christmas).
June is the standout month with 3 long weekends, while February and September are the only months without prolonged breaks.
Complete chronological list
- Epiphany Long Weekend: from Saturday, January 10 to Monday, January 12.
- Saint Joseph's Long Weekend: from Saturday, March 21 to Monday, March 23.
- Holy Week Long Weekend: from Thursday, April 2 to Sunday, April 5.
- Labor Day Long Weekend: from Friday, May 1 to Sunday, May 3.
- Ascension Long Weekend: from Saturday, May 16 to Monday, May 18.
- Corpus Christi Long Weekend: from Saturday, June 6 to Monday, June 8.
- Sacred Heart Long Weekend: from Saturday, June 13 to Monday, June 15.
- Saint Peter and Saint Paul Long Weekend: from Saturday, June 27 to Monday, June 29.
- Independence Day Long Weekend: from Saturday, July 18 to Monday, July 20.
- Battle of Boyacá Long Weekend: from Friday, August 7 to Sunday, August 9.
- Assumption Long Weekend: from Saturday, August 15 to Monday, August 17.
- Day of the Race Long Weekend: from Saturday, October 10 to Monday, October 12.
- All Saints' Long Weekend: from Saturday, October 31 to Monday, November 2.
- Independence of Cartagena Long Weekend: from Saturday, November 14 to Monday, November 16.
- Christmas Long Weekend: from Friday, December 25 to Sunday, December 27.
The longest weekend of the year
Holy Week: April 2-5 (4 days). With 2 consecutive public holidays (Maundy Thursday and Good Friday) added to the weekend through to Easter Sunday, this will be the only long weekend of the year with 4 days. Like every year, this is an ideal long weekend for short trips, or it can even be combined with vacation days to extend the break even further.
Why do some years have more long weekends?
The number of long weekends varies each year due to the nature of the Gregorian calendar, the lunar calendar for calculating religious holidays, and the application of the Emiliani Law.
Emiliani Law (Law 51 of 1983)
This law establishes that 10 of the 18 public holidays of the year are moved to the following Monday when they do not naturally fall on that day. This guarantees a base number of long weekends with three days of rest (Saturday, Sunday, and Monday) for workers who follow a standard Monday-to-Friday work week.
The calendar alignment
The total number of long weekends in a year depends on how weekends align with public holidays.
When a public holiday falls on a Monday, a "long weekend" is automatically generated with 3 consecutive days of rest (Saturday, Sunday, and Monday). Similarly, if a public holiday falls on a Friday, a long weekend is also created, provided that Saturday is a rest day.
In some contexts, the word puente is used solely to refer to weekends ending with a Monday holiday, excluding others (like those starting with a Friday holiday) even though they also form 3 or more consecutive days of rest. Under that counting method, 2026 would have 11 puentes and would not set a record; the maximum would be 13, reached in 1989, 1995, 2006, 2017, and 2023, with the next repetition in 2028.
2026 is special because the alignment of public holidays and weekends generates 15 opportunities for extended breaks.
How to make the most of this record
Having 15 long weekends is a great opportunity, but the true advantage lies in knowing how to combine them strategically with vacation days. With smart planning, it is possible to double or triple total rest days in the year.
For exact strategies on how to turn 15 vacation days into 40 days of total rest or more, consult the detailed guide: How to maximize vacation time in 2026.
Key opportunities of the year
Although the whole year offers possibilities to rest, there are three moments that stand out for their potential to extend free time:
- Holy Week: Being the longest long weekend (4 days), adding just a couple of vacation days allows you to create a full week of disconnection.
- The "Triple June": With three long weekends in a single month, it is the ideal time for those who prefer taking multiple short trips or combining holidays for a medium-length trip.
- Year-end: The proximity of the December holidays allows connecting Christmas and New Year efficiently.
Advance planning
Beyond the dates, taking advantage of rest opportunities requires anticipation. Long weekends are usually periods of high tourist demand.
- Book early: Flights and hotels for the April and June long weekends tend to sell out quickly.
- Budget: With 15 travel opportunities, it is important to balance expensive trips with local rest so that the budget lasts all year.
For those looking for a personalized strategy that maximizes rest time according to available vacation days, the Vacation Optimizer is the ideal tool.
Economic and social impact
The coincidence of 15 long weekends in 2026 maximizes the effects foreseen by the Emiliani Law, designed to organize the work week and encourage economic development.
In addition to avoiding productive interruptions mid-week, the law had the explicit objective of incentivizing domestic tourism by creating long weekends. In a record year with 15 long weekends, this stimulating effect is boosted:
- Economic stimulation: Value chains are activated, including hotels, gastronomy, transport, road tolls, and local commerce.
- Benefited destinations: Places located a few hours from large cities (such as towns in Boyacá, Santander, the Coffee Region (Eje Cafetero), or vacation centers in Cundinamarca and Tolima) receive constant flows of visitors who do not rely solely on long vacation seasons.
- Continuity in demand: Months like June, with three long weekends, allow the tourism sector to maintain high occupancy levels outside traditional seasons like January or Holy Week.