Hiring remote talent in Panama gives U.S. companies a strong nearshore advantage: aligned working hours, business-friendly communication, and access to skilled professionals across operations, finance, customer support, sales, marketing, and tech.
But once you manage a Panama-based employee, the holiday calendar becomes part of workforce planning.
Panama has a few holiday patterns employers should know. Carnival can affect several days in February, Good Friday shifts each year, November is packed with national celebrations, and December includes both festive and solemn dates. Some holidays apply broadly across the private sector, while others may mainly affect banks, government offices, schools, or local schedules.
This guide breaks down the 2026 Panamanian holidays, including official public holidays, observed dates, bank and government closures, cultural observances, and what U.S. employers should know when planning meetings, PTO, deadlines, and customer coverage.
For more context on hiring across the region, you can also read our guide to hiring remote talent in Latin America.
Panamanian Holidays 2026: Full Calendar for Employers
Mandatory Holidays vs. Bank, Government, and Cultural Observances in Panama
Not every important date in Panama works the same way for employers. Some holidays are mandatory paid rest days, while others may mainly affect banks, government offices, schools, or local activity.
For U.S. companies hiring remote talent in Panama, the difference matters because it helps you understand which dates should be treated as core days off and which dates may simply require extra scheduling awareness.
Here’s the simple breakdown:
- Mandatory holidays are the main dates employers should build into the company calendar.
- Bank and government holidays may affect local services, even if private-sector employees are working.
- Cultural observances can influence travel, family plans, school schedules, and employee availability.
- National mourning days may carry both legal and cultural importance.
Mandatory Public Holidays
Mandatory holidays are the dates most likely to affect Panama-based employees across the private sector.
In 2026, the key mandatory holidays include:
- New Year’s Day: Thursday, January 1
- Martyrs’ Day: Friday, January 9
- Carnival Tuesday: Tuesday, February 17
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Labor Day: Friday, May 1
- Separation Day: Tuesday, November 3
- Colón Day: Thursday, November 5
- Los Santos Uprising Day: Tuesday, November 10
- Independence Day from Spain: Saturday, November 28
- Mother’s Day: Tuesday, December 8
- Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
MITRADEL has also emphasized that workers who work on national holidays such as November 3, 5, 10, and 28 are entitled to special pay rules, including an additional surcharge.
Bank and Government Holidays
Some dates may not always operate as standard private-sector holidays, but they can still affect local operations.
These include:
- Carnival Monday
- Ash Wednesday
- Flag Day / National Symbols Day
- Christmas Eve
- New Year’s Eve
For remote teams, these dates may not always mean your employee is offline. However, banks, public offices, schools, vendors, or local services may reduce hours or close. That can matter if you depend on payroll processing, local paperwork, equipment delivery, or administrative support.
Carnival Week
Carnival is one of Panama’s biggest seasonal events. While Carnival Tuesday is the main mandatory rest day, many schedules slow down around the surrounding dates.
In 2026, the key Carnival dates are:
- Carnival Monday: February 16
- Carnival Tuesday: February 17
- Ash Wednesday: February 18
If your Panama-based team member works in customer support, finance, sales, or operations, confirm availability before Carnival week instead of assuming the week will run like normal.
November Holidays
November is one of the most important holiday periods in Panama. It includes several national dates tied to the country’s history and identity.
The most important November dates are:
- November 3: Separation Day
- November 5: Colón Day
- November 10: Los Santos Uprising Day
- November 28: Independence Day from Spain
Because several holidays fall close together, November can affect travel, school schedules, local events, and work availability. MITRADEL has referred to these November dates as national holidays with specific pay treatment for employees who work on them.
What This Means for U.S. Companies
If you’re managing a Panama-based employee, don’t rely only on a generic holiday list. Build a practical calendar that shows:
- Which Panamanian holidays your company observes
- Which dates are bank or government closures
- Whether your employee is expected to work around Carnival
- How November holiday coverage will be handled
- Who covers urgent work if part of the team is offline
This keeps expectations clear and helps your U.S. team plan around Panama’s busiest holiday periods without last-minute confusion.
Major Panamanian Holidays Explained
Panama’s holiday calendar includes national holidays, religious dates, Carnival-related closures, and several patriotic celebrations in November. For U.S. employers, the most important thing is knowing which holidays are likely to affect regular work, local services, and employee availability.
Here are the main Panamanian holidays to understand when working with Panama-based talent.
New Year’s Day
Date in 2026: Thursday, January 1
Type: Official public holiday
New Year’s Day is a national holiday in Panama. Most offices, banks, schools, government agencies, and many private businesses close for the day. Timeanddate lists January 1, 2026, as a national holiday in Panama.
For remote teams, this is a simple date to block off. Avoid scheduling onboarding calls, urgent reviews, finance deadlines, or customer handoffs on January 1.
Martyrs’ Day
Date in 2026: Friday, January 9
Type: National day of mourning / official public holiday
Martyrs’ Day commemorates the events of January 9, 1964, connected to the Canal Zone. It is one of Panama’s most solemn national dates and is treated as a national holiday.
Because it falls on a Friday in 2026, it creates an early-year long weekend. If your Panama-based employee supports customer service, operations, or finance workflows, confirm coverage before that week.
Carnival Tuesday
Date in 2026: Tuesday, February 17
Type: Official public holiday
Carnival is one of Panama’s biggest holiday periods. While Carnival Monday and Ash Wednesday may affect banks, government offices, schools, or local schedules, Carnival Tuesday is the key mandatory rest day.
In 2026, Carnival Tuesday falls on February 17. MITRADEL reminded employers that workers who work on Carnival Tuesday are entitled to extraordinary pay treatment under the Labor Code.
For U.S. employers, it’s best to treat Carnival week as a planning window, not just a one-day holiday. Confirm availability before scheduling important meetings or deadlines around February 16–18.
Good Friday
Date in 2026: Friday, April 3
Type: Official public holiday
Good Friday is a national holiday in Panama and one of the main Holy Week dates. The U.S. Embassy in Panama lists Good Friday on April 3, 2026 as a Panama holiday.
Many employees may travel, attend religious services, or take extra time around the Easter period. If your Panama-based team handles customer support or operations, plan coverage before the week begins.
Labor Day
Date in 2026: Friday, May 1
Type: Official public holiday
Labor Day is a national public holiday in Panama. In 2026, it falls on a Friday, creating a long weekend.
Avoid scheduling major launches, performance reviews, payroll deadlines, or client handoffs on this date. If your U.S. team is still working, make sure coverage expectations are clear ahead of time.
Separation Day
Date in 2026: Tuesday, November 3
Type: Official public holiday
Separation Day commemorates Panama’s separation from Colombia in 1903. It is one of the country’s most important national holidays and marks the beginning of Panama’s major November holiday period. Timeanddate lists November 3, 2026, as a national holiday.
For remote teams, this is a key date to block off. Avoid important meetings, launches, or urgent deliverables on November 3.
Flag Day / National Symbols Day
Date in 2026: Wednesday, November 4
Type: Government/bank holiday
Flag Day, also known as National Symbols Day, is widely recognized in Panama, but it may not operate like a standard private-sector holiday. Public agencies, schools, banks, and local institutions may close or reduce activity.
For U.S. companies, this means your employee may still work depending on your policy, but local services may be slower. It’s worth noting in the calendar, especially if you rely on banks, vendors, or administrative processes in Panama.
Colón Day
Date in 2026: Thursday, November 5
Type: Official public holiday
Colón Day is another important November holiday. It commemorates the events in Colón that helped consolidate Panama’s separation from Colombia.
Because it falls just two days after Separation Day in 2026, the first week of November may feel interrupted for business planning. Avoid placing time-sensitive work across November 3–5 unless coverage is already confirmed.
Los Santos Uprising Day
Date in 2026: Tuesday, November 10
Type: Official public holiday
Los Santos Uprising Day, also known as the First Cry of Independence from Spain, commemorates the independence movement that began in La Villa de Los Santos. It is one of Panama’s major national holidays.
For employers, this is another November date to keep on the calendar. Since it falls on a Tuesday in 2026, some employees may request Monday off to create a longer break.
Independence Day from Spain
Date in 2026: Saturday, November 28
Type: Official public holiday
November 28 marks Panama’s independence from Spain in 1821. It is a national holiday and part of Panama’s broader November patriotic season.
Because it falls on a Saturday in 2026, it may not affect every Monday-to-Friday remote schedule directly. Still, employers should confirm whether any company policy or local rule affects compensatory time.
Mother’s Day
Date in 2026: Tuesday, December 8
Type: Official public holiday
Mother’s Day is a national holiday in Panama, which makes it different from how the date is handled in many other countries. In 2026, it falls on Tuesday, December 8.
For U.S. teams, this is an easy date to miss because Mother’s Day is not usually treated as a work holiday in the United States. Add it clearly to the Panama calendar so managers don’t schedule major meetings or deadlines on that day.
National Day of Mourning
Date in 2026: Sunday, December 20
Type: National day of mourning / official public holiday
Panama’s National Day of Mourning commemorates the victims of the 1989 U.S. invasion. It is now included in Panama holiday calendars as a national holiday.
Because it falls on a Sunday in 2026, it may not affect a standard weekday work schedule, but it should still be included in the article for accuracy and cultural context.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Date in 2026: Thursday, December 24 and Friday, December 25
Type: Partial/bank observance and official public holiday
Christmas Eve is widely observed, and many businesses may reduce hours or close early. Christmas Day is an official public holiday, and most businesses close. Timeanddate lists December 25, 2026, as a national holiday in Panama.
For remote teams, plan December coverage early. Employees may also request additional PTO around the final week of the year.
New Year’s Eve
Date in 2026: Thursday, December 31
Type: Partial/bank observance
New Year’s Eve is not always treated like a full public holiday, but many businesses reduce hours, close early, or slow down ahead of celebrations.
If your company has year-end customer support, finance, or operations work, avoid leaving critical approvals or deadlines for the afternoon of December 31.
November Holidays and Fiestas Patrias in Panama
November is one of the most important months in Panama’s holiday calendar. It includes several national holidays tied to the country’s history, independence, and national identity.
For U.S. companies hiring remote talent in Panama, this is the month that requires the most scheduling awareness. Even when holidays don’t fall on consecutive days, November can still affect meetings, deadlines, school calendars, travel, and local business activity.
Why November Is Different in Panama
Panama’s November holidays are often referred to as Fiestas Patrias, or national celebrations. These dates commemorate key moments in Panama’s separation from Colombia, independence from Spain, and national identity.
The main November holidays are:
- November 3: Separation Day
- November 4: Flag Day / National Symbols Day
- November 5: Colón Day
- November 10: Los Santos Uprising Day
- November 28: Independence Day from Spain
Panama’s Ministry of Labor has specifically noted special pay treatment for private-sector employees who work on November 3, 5, 10, and 28, which makes those dates especially important for employer planning.
November 3: Separation Day
Separation Day marks Panama’s separation from Colombia in 1903. It is one of the country’s biggest national holidays and usually creates a major pause in business activity.
In 2026, it falls on Tuesday, November 3. U.S. teams should avoid scheduling important launches, client calls, performance reviews, or urgent project milestones on this date.
November 4: Flag Day / National Symbols Day
Flag Day, also known as National Symbols Day, is observed on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
This date may affect schools, banks, government offices, and local celebrations. Some calendars list it as a national holiday, while other employer-focused sources treat it more cautiously for the private sector, so companies should confirm how they’ll handle it internally. Timeanddate lists November 4, 2026, as National Symbols Day in Panama.
November 5: Colón Day
Colón Day is observed on Thursday, November 5, 2026. It commemorates events in Colón that helped secure Panama’s separation from Colombia.
Because it falls close to November 3 and November 4, this first week of November may feel fragmented for business planning. If your Panama-based employee has customer-facing responsibilities, it’s better to confirm coverage before the week begins.
November 10: Los Santos Uprising Day
Los Santos Uprising Day falls on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. It commemorates the First Cry of Independence from Spain in La Villa de Los Santos.
Since it lands on a Tuesday, some employees may request Monday off to create a longer break. That’s especially important for teams with coverage-heavy roles like customer support, operations, account management, or technical support.
November 28: Independence Day from Spain
Independence Day from Spain falls on Saturday, November 28, 2026. Even though it lands on a weekend, it is still one of Panama’s major national holidays.
For Monday-to-Friday remote teams, this may not directly interrupt the workweek, but it can still affect travel plans, local events, and employee availability around the weekend.
What Employers Should Do in November
For Panama-based employees, November should be treated as a special planning month.
A simple approach:
- Add all November holidays to your shared calendar.
- Confirm which dates are company holidays.
- Avoid major deadlines during the first half of November.
- Plan customer coverage before November 3.
- Ask employees to submit PTO requests early.
- Confirm whether weekend holidays create any internal compensatory policy.
The goal is not to overcomplicate the calendar. It’s to make sure your U.S. team doesn’t accidentally schedule critical work during one of Panama’s busiest holiday periods.
How Panamanian Holidays Affect Remote Teams
Panamanian holidays are easy to manage when they’re planned into the calendar early. The main thing U.S. companies need to watch for is that Panama has a few holiday-heavy periods, especially Carnival, November, and the end of the year.
Because Panama works in a U.S.-friendly time zone, day-to-day collaboration is usually simple. But local holidays can still affect availability, response times, payroll timing, and customer coverage.
Project Deadlines
If a deadline falls near a Panamanian holiday, give your team extra room. This is especially important around dates that may create long weekends or slower workweeks.
Key 2026 dates to plan around include:
- Martyrs’ Day: Friday, January 9
- Carnival Tuesday: Tuesday, February 17
- Good Friday: Friday, April 3
- Labor Day: Friday, May 1
- Separation Day: Tuesday, November 3
- Colón Day: Thursday, November 5
- Mother’s Day: Tuesday, December 8
- Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
If you have a product launch, client presentation, finance deadline, or internal review, avoid placing it directly on these dates or immediately after a long holiday period.
Customer Support Coverage
If your Panama-based employees support U.S. customers, holiday planning becomes even more important.
Some U.S. companies may operate normally on Panamanian holidays, which can create coverage gaps if expectations are unclear. This matters most for roles like:
- Customer support reps
- Technical support specialists
- Account managers
- Sales development reps
- Operations assistants
- Virtual assistants
- Finance support roles
Before major holidays, confirm who is off, who is covering, and which requests need same-day attention.
Carnival Week
Carnival can affect more than one day. Even though Carnival Tuesday is the key public holiday, the surrounding dates may also feel slower because of travel, local celebrations, school closures, and reduced business activity.
For 2026, keep an eye on:
- Carnival Monday: February 16
- Carnival Tuesday: February 17
- Ash Wednesday: February 18
If you manage a Panama-based employee, don’t assume that week will run like a normal workweek. Confirm availability in advance.
November Scheduling
November is the biggest planning month in Panama’s holiday calendar. With several national dates close together, meetings and deadlines can easily become harder to coordinate.
This is especially true during the first half of the month, with:
- November 3: Separation Day
- November 4: Flag Day / National Symbols Day
- November 5: Colón Day
- November 10: Los Santos Uprising Day
For remote teams, the best approach is to avoid major deadlines during the first half of November unless coverage is already confirmed.
Payroll and Local Operations
Panamanian holidays can also affect banks, public offices, vendors, schools, and local services. Even if your team is fully remote, these closures can still affect practical tasks.
Build extra time around holidays for:
- Payroll processing
- Invoice approvals
- Contract signatures
- Background checks
- Local paperwork
- Equipment delivery
- Vendor communication
This is especially important around Carnival, November holidays, and the final week of December.
PTO Planning
Employees may also request extra time off around major holiday periods. This is common around Carnival, November celebrations, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve.
To avoid last-minute conflicts, ask team members to submit PTO requests early and keep one shared calendar that includes:
- Panamanian public holidays
- Bank and government holidays
- U.S. company holidays
- Planned PTO
- Coverage needs
- Role-specific exceptions
The Simple Rule for U.S. Employers
If you’re hiring in Panama, treat holidays as a planning detail, not a complication.
A clear calendar, early PTO conversations, and simple coverage rules are usually enough to keep work moving while respecting local holidays. That way, your Panama-based team members know what to expect, and your U.S. team can plan meetings, deadlines, and customer coverage with fewer surprises.
Best Practices for Managing Holidays With Panama-Based Employees
Managing holidays with Panama-based employees is mostly about planning around the country’s busiest calendar moments: Carnival, November holidays, and the December holiday season.
Here are a few simple ways U.S. companies can keep work organized while respecting local time off.
Build a Panama-Specific Holiday Calendar
At the start of the year, create a shared calendar that includes:
- Panamanian public holidays
- Carnival-related dates
- Bank and government holidays
- November national holidays
- U.S. company holidays
- Planned PTO
- Coverage needs
This helps managers avoid scheduling important work on dates when Panama-based employees may be offline or local services may be closed.
Clarify Which Holidays Your Company Observes
Some Panamanian holidays are mandatory rest days, while others may mainly affect banks, schools, government offices, or local schedules.
Your policy should clearly explain:
- Which Panamanian holidays are paid days off
- Which U.S. holidays also apply
- Whether Carnival Monday or Ash Wednesday are observed
- How Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are handled
- What happens if a holiday falls on a weekend
This keeps expectations clear for both the U.S. team and the Panama-based employee.
Plan Ahead for Carnival
Carnival is one of the most important scheduling periods in Panama. In 2026, the key dates are:
- Carnival Monday: Monday, February 16
- Carnival Tuesday: Tuesday, February 17
- Ash Wednesday: Wednesday, February 18
Even if your company only observes Carnival Tuesday, the surrounding days may be slower. Confirm availability early, especially for customer support, operations, sales, or finance roles.
Treat November as a Major Planning Month
November has several national holidays, which can make schedules feel more fragmented than usual.
Key 2026 dates include:
- Separation Day: Tuesday, November 3
- Flag Day / National Symbols Day: Wednesday, November 4
- Colón Day: Thursday, November 5
- Los Santos Uprising Day: Tuesday, November 10
- Independence Day from Spain: Saturday, November 28
If possible, avoid major launches, client handoffs, or urgent internal deadlines during the first half of November.
Prepare Coverage for Customer-Facing Roles
If your Panama-based employee works in customer support, sales, account management, technical support, operations, or finance support, create a simple coverage plan before major holidays.
Your plan should answer:
- Who is off?
- Who is covering?
- Which tasks can wait?
- Which tasks need same-day attention?
- Who should be contacted for urgent issues?
A simple plan is usually enough to avoid service gaps.
Ask About Local or Personal Observances
Some employees may observe local, religious, or family traditions that are not always listed as official holidays.
During onboarding, ask:
“Are there any local, cultural, or personal dates in Panama that you usually observe and would like us to keep in mind?”
This makes holiday planning more respectful without making the process complicated.
Put the Holiday Policy in Writing
A written policy helps distributed teams avoid confusion.
Include:
- Observed company holidays
- PTO request rules
- Coverage expectations
- Bank/government holiday guidance
- Weekend holiday policy
- Year-end availability expectations
This is especially helpful if your team includes employees in Panama and other Latin American countries.
Don’t Leave December Planning Until the Last Minute
December includes Mother’s Day, National Day of Mourning, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve. Even when some dates don’t affect the full workday, the month can still feel slower because of school breaks, family plans, travel, and reduced local business activity.
For smoother planning, confirm December PTO and coverage before the month begins.
Keep the Process Simple
You don’t need a complex holiday system. A shared calendar, a written policy, and early coverage conversations can solve most issues.
The goal is to help Panama-based employees enjoy local holidays while giving your U.S. team enough visibility to plan deadlines, meetings, and customer support.
The Takeaway
Panamanian holidays are simple to manage when your team knows what to expect ahead of time.
For U.S. companies hiring in Panama, the main thing is to plan around the country’s busiest holiday periods: Carnival, November’s Fiestas Patrias, and the December holiday season. These dates can affect meetings, project deadlines, customer support coverage, local services, and employee availability.
In 2026, the key dates to keep on your calendar are January 1, January 9, February 17, April 3, May 1, November 3, November 5, November 10, November 28, December 8, December 20, and December 25. It’s also worth noting Carnival Monday, Ash Wednesday, Flag Day, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve, since those dates may affect banks, government offices, schools, or local business hours.
The easiest approach is to create one shared calendar, clarify which holidays your company observes, and confirm coverage before major holiday periods arrive.
At South, we help U.S. companies hire skilled remote professionals across Panama and Latin America, from customer support reps and virtual assistants to finance specialists, marketers, operations talent, and software developers. You get access to pre-vetted candidates who work in U.S.-aligned hours and can integrate smoothly into your team.
Want to hire remote talent from Panama without guessing your way through local hiring details? Schedule a free call with South and we’ll help you find the right fit.
