Mauritius Public Holidays 2027: What Visitors Need to Know

Last checked: 28 September 2026.

Quick Answer: What Are the Public Holidays in Mauritius in 2027?

Mauritius observes around sixteen public holidays in 2027. The dates most likely to affect a visitor are New Year on 1 and 2 January, Thaipoosam Cavadee on Friday 22 January, Maha Shivaratree on Saturday 6 March, Independence and Republic Day on Friday 12 March, Ganesh Chaturthi on Sunday 5 and Monday 6 September, Divali on Friday 29 October, All Saints Day on Monday 1 November, Arrival of Indentured Labourers on Tuesday 2 November and Christmas on Saturday 25 December. Eid-Ul-Fitr, provisionally Wednesday 10 March, depends on moon sighting and remains subject to confirmation.

Mauritius Public Holidays 2027

Sixteen dates, as currently indicated. Last checked 28 September 2026. Dates marked as confirmed appear in the Stock Exchange of Mauritius official 2027 list; the others are consistently reported but not yet traceable to an official document.

•        Friday 1 January — New Year. Confirmed.

•        Saturday 2 January — New Year, second day. Reported.

•        Friday 22 January — Thaipoosam Cavadee. Confirmed.

•        Monday 1 February — Abolition of Slavery. Confirmed.

•        Saturday 6 February — Chinese Spring Festival. Reported.

•        Saturday 6 March — Maha Shivaratree. Reported.

•        Wednesday 10 March — Eid-Ul-Fitr. Confirmed, but subject to moon sighting. The Stock Exchange notes that "the exact day of this festival is subject to confirmation as its celebration depends on visibility of the moon on the eve".

•        Friday 12 March — Independence and Republic Day. Confirmed.

•        Wednesday 7 April — Ougadi. Confirmed.

•        Saturday 1 May — Labour Day. Reported.

•        Sunday 15 August — Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Unresolved. In the Act and in the 2026 list, but absent from every 2027 source found.

•        Sunday 5 September — Ganesh Chaturthi. Reported.

•        Monday 6 September — additional holiday following Ganesh Chaturthi. Confirmed; this is the date the Stock Exchange lists.

•        Friday 29 October — Divali. Confirmed.

•        Monday 1 November — All Saints Day. Confirmed.

•        Tuesday 2 November — Arrival of Indentured Labourers. Confirmed.

•        Saturday 25 December — Christmas Day. Reported.

Remaining Public Holidays in Mauritius in 2026

As of 28 September 2026, three official public holidays remain in Mauritius. These dates matter most if you are planning banks, museums, markets, independent restaurants, shopping or cultural visits rather than simply staying at a resort.

•        Monday 2 November 2026 — Arrival of Indentured Labourers. Government offices and banks close. Aapravasi Ghat normally closes on public holidays, so do not plan a standard museum visit there on 2 November; the national commemoration may take place at the site, but public access arrangements should be checked separately. If you want to visit Aapravasi Ghat as a visitor, schedule it on another weekday.

•        Sunday 8 November 2026 — Divali. This is one of the most visually distinctive evenings of the year, with lamps, lights, rangoli and sweets shared across communities. No additional public holiday was declared for Monday 9 November in 2026, so the Sunday-to-Monday rule did not operate for this date. Expect some businesses to use public-holiday hours and approach residential celebrations respectfully.

•        Friday 25 December 2026 — Christmas Day. Hotels and resorts generally continue operating and many run festive programmes, but independent restaurants, museums, shops and attractions can close or shorten their hours. Reserve any Christmas lunch, dinner or excursion that matters to you and verify opening hours directly.

Across all three dates, do not assume that the whole island shuts down — and do not assume normal hours either. Government offices and banks generally close; shopping centres often use shorter public-holiday hours; markets may finish around lunchtime; museums and state heritage sites may close; while hotels, resorts and many tourism businesses continue operating. Verify the specific place you depend on.

The festive period then rolls directly into two more public holidays: Friday 1 January and Saturday 2 January 2027. If you are staying across New Year, plan the whole transition as one peak-season period rather than treating 1 January as a single isolated date. Hotels may impose minimum stays, restaurants can fill early, and festive programmes can affect availability.

The New Sunday-to-Monday Rule

This is the reason Ganesh Chaturthi appears twice. The Budget Speech 2026-2027 states, at paragraph 346: "Ninth, where a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the immediately following Monday will be declared a public holiday." The Public Holidays Act was subsequently amended by the Economic and Financial Measures (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2026, whose arrangement of sections includes "Public Holidays Act amended". Budget Speech · Act 13 of 2026

Two honest caveats. The rule did not operate in 2026 — Divali fell on Sunday 8 November 2026 and no following Monday was declared. And the operative statutory wording and the commencement date could not be read in full, so this guide does not state when the rule formally takes effect. The practical consequence for 2027 is that Ganesh Chaturthi produces a long weekend, and that 15 August's Sunday status is an open question.

What a Public Holiday Actually Means for Visitors

Not much, if you are at a resort. Quite a lot, if you had planned on a museum, a bank or the Central Market. The single most useful principle: do not assume the island closes, and do not assume anything runs normally either. Verify the specific thing you depend on.

•        Hotels and resorts operate normally and often add a programme. This is the one category you can rely on.

•        Government offices and most administrative services close.

•        Banks issue holiday-specific closure notices rather than publishing a blanket rule. One Mauritian bank's published communiqué states that on its closure days "no securities transactions, foreign exchange deals and transaction requests will be processed or settled during this period and will instead be handled on the next business day". Another's notice recorded that its airport counter and ATMs stayed open while branches closed. Check your own bank, and plan around cash and cards rather than counters.

•        Shopping centres open, but close early. This is consistent and useful: Tribeca Mall publishes public holidays at 09:30 to 17:00; the Ascencia malls, including Bagatelle, Phoenix, Riche Terre and Bo'Valon, publish Sundays and public holidays with shops 09:30 to 17:00 and the hypermarket 09:00 to 19:00; Grand Baie La Croisette publishes shops 09:30 to 16:00 with its food pavilion running to 22:00; Cascavelle publishes shops 09:30 to 15:00 with the food court to 22:00. Ascencia adds its own warning that individual shops' hours may differ from mall hours. Tribeca · Ascencia · La Croisette · Cascavelle

•        Markets shut at lunchtime. The Municipal City Council of Port Louis publishes Central Market hours on Sundays and public holidays as 05:00 to 12:00 in summer and 05:30 to 12:00 in winter, against 18:00 on ordinary days. A holiday morning at the market is fine; a holiday afternoon is a closed building. Municipal hours · Markets guide

•        Museums and state heritage sites close. The Blue Penny Museum publishes that it is closed on Sundays and public holidays, and closed from 1 to 3 January. Aapravasi Ghat publishes the same rule. Blue Penny

•        Gardens and private nature parks stay open. The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden at Pamplemousses publishes opening Monday to Sunday including public holidays, 08:30 to 17:30 — with the notable detail that entry is free on Sundays and public holidays for Mauritians only, non-Mauritians paying the usual Rs 300. La Vanille publishes that it opens on public holidays but closes on 25 December and 1 January. Botanic Garden · La Vanille

•        Restaurants and excursions are mixed. Resort and tourist-area restaurants generally open; independent ones may not. Excursions usually run, but pick-up times and traffic can shift.

Public Transport on Public Holidays

This is where blanket statements are most dangerous, because two official sources currently disagree with each other.

Metro Express publishes that it "operates from Monday to Sunday, including public holidays, from 6:00 to 19:00", every ten minutes, across 20 stations from Port Louis to Curepipe, adding that this is "subject to change at the discretion of the company". Separately, a Cabinet decision of 12 June 2026 records agreement "to the suspension of Light Rail Vehicle operations by Metro Express Ltd on public holidays along Line 2 (Rose Hill Central to Mahatma Gandhi, Réduit), as from the upcoming public holiday on Saturday 15 August 2026". The operator's website had not been updated to reflect that when this guide was checked. Metro Express · Cabinet decision

So: the main Port Louis to Curepipe service is published as running on public holidays, while the Réduit branch is subject to a Cabinet-agreed suspension. Neither the National Land Transport Authority nor the national bus operator publishes anything about bus services on public holidays. If you depend on a specific route on a holiday, verify it the day before — or take a taxi. Our taxi page covers booking, and note that a rental car removes the problem entirely on holiday days. Transfers

The 2027 Dates That Matter Most for Trip Planning

New Year: Friday 1 and Saturday 2 January

Mauritius observes two public holidays for New Year, which is unusual and worth knowing if you are arriving in the 2026/27 festive window. This sits inside the busiest resort fortnight of the year: hotels impose minimum stays, gala dinners are often compulsory, and restaurants book out. Nothing about the public holidays themselves will trouble you at a resort; the pricing and availability will. Christmas and New Year hotel programmes · New Year's Eve guide

Thaipoosam Cavadee: Friday 22 January

A Tamil festival in honour of Muruga, and one of the island's most visually striking religious observances. The Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority describes devotees carrying "the Cavadee, an arc covered with flowers, and sacred milk to the temple", after ten days of vegetarianism, with piercing and fire-walking among the observances.

Falling on a Friday, it creates a three-day weekend for many residents, so expect beaches and roads to be busier on the Saturday and Sunday. If you visit a kovil, dress modestly, remove footwear where indicated, keep back from the processions and ask before photographing anyone. This is devotion, not a parade. Festival descriptions

Abolition of Slavery: Monday 1 February

Not a celebration. The tourism board is explicit that it is "an important day to reflect on and honour the enslaved Mauritians", and points to the Slave Route Monument at the foot of Le Morne. A quiet, appropriate day to visit Le Morne and understand why the mountain is UNESCO-listed.

Chinese Spring Festival: Saturday 6 February

Chinese New Year, centred on Port Louis' Chinatown, with lion dancing, firecrackers and red envelopes. No dated 2027 public programme had been published when this guide was checked, and past years' event listings have carried inconsistent dates, so check locally in the week beforehand rather than travelling on the strength of an article. Chinatown guide

Maha Shivaratree: Saturday 6 March

The most logistically significant date in the Mauritian calendar, and the one to plan around properly. Pilgrims walk to Grand Bassin — Ganga Talao — from across the island over several days, many in white, many carrying kanwars. Roads through the south and the central highlands carry heavy pedestrian traffic.

No Mauritian authority publishes a road-closure map, diversion plan or traffic advisory for it. What is published is that the Road Development Authority has undertaken drainage works at Ganga Talao so that "devotees [can] undertake their pilgrimage and prayers in optimal conditions", and that "commercial activities are prohibited at Ganga Talao during the festival to ensure order and discipline". RDA

The practical advice: if you are driving anywhere near Grand Bassin, Black River Gorges or the southern highlands that weekend, allow far more time than the map suggests, or choose another day. If you do go, go as a respectful observer — worship takes priority over sightseeing, and the site is not a viewpoint. Our Grand Bassin guide covers visiting at any other time of year.

Eid-Ul-Fitr: Wednesday 10 March, Subject to Confirmation

Marking the end of Ramadan. The date is moon-dependent and every official source carries that caveat, so it may shift by a day. Expect a quiet morning, family gatherings and mosque attendance rather than public spectacle.

Independence and Republic Day: Friday 12 March

The national day. In recent years the official ceremony has been held at Champ de Mars in Port Louis, with a 21-gun salute, fly-pasts, a march-past, a cultural programme and a drone show. No 2027 programme had been published when this guide was checked — these are typically announced only days beforehand. Another Friday holiday, so another long weekend and busier beaches. Office of the President

Ougadi: Wednesday 7 April

The Telugu new year, marked with house-cleaning, temple visits and dishes built around neem, mango and tamarind. A family and religious observance rather than a public event, and it should not be sold to visitors as a spectacle.

Labour Day: Saturday 1 May

Political rallies and gatherings rather than festivities. Falling on a Saturday in 2027, its practical effect on a visitor is close to nil.

Ganesh Chaturthi: Sunday 5 and Monday 6 September

The most interesting date of 2027 structurally, because it is the clearest test of the new Sunday-to-Monday rule: the festival falls on a Sunday and Monday 6 September is the date the Stock Exchange lists as a holiday. Expect a genuine long weekend, with residents travelling and coastal areas busy.

The festival involves carrying clay statues of Ganesh in procession to be immersed in water, at riverbanks and beaches. No authority publishes immersion locations or access arrangements, so if you encounter a procession, give it room, do not drive into it, and photograph people only with permission. Coastal and riverside roads near procession routes can get busy in the afternoon.

Divali: Friday 29 October

The most visually distinctive night of the Mauritian year: lamps along walls and driveways across the island, rangoli at doorsteps, sweets shared between neighbours of every community. The tourism board describes homes "decorating with lights, preparing traditional sweets and drawing colourful rangolis".

For a visitor this is a genuine reason to be in Mauritius rather than something to avoid. The etiquette is simple: walk a residential street after dark and look, accept sweets if they are offered, and do not photograph inside anyone's home or garden without being asked in. Expect closures on the day itself and a busy weekend after it.

All Saints Day: Monday 1 November

A Catholic observance, marked by visits to cemeteries with flowers and candles. Quiet, and a day when cemeteries are genuinely full — worth leaving to the families using them.

Arrival of Indentured Labourers: Tuesday 2 November

The date that explains modern Mauritius. It commemorates the arrival of indentured workers, most of them from India, who came through the depot at Aapravasi Ghat in Port Louis after the 1834 abolition of slavery — nearly half a million people between 1834 and 1920, according to UNESCO.

A practical trap worth knowing. Aapravasi Ghat publishes that it is closed on Sundays and public holidays — and 2 November is itself a public holiday. The official commemoration takes place at the site, with a wreath-laying ceremony, speeches, cultural items and an exhibition in recent years, but public access on the day is not published. If you want to visit the Ghat, go on another weekday, when it opens 09:00 to 16:00 with free entry. Aapravasi Ghat hours · Commemoration precedent · Our Aapravasi Ghat guide

Christmas: Saturday 25 December

Christmas is a public holiday and falls on a Saturday in 2027. Do not assume a Monday holiday follows — the new rule as announced concerns holidays falling on Sundays, and no source lists 27 December 2027. Resort guests should verify the hotel's festive programme, whether gala dinners are compulsory and which restaurants are open separately, since those are commercial arrangements rather than holiday rules. Mauritius in December

The 29 October to 2 November Holiday Cluster

This is the most consequential sequence of 2027, and the most rewarding for a visitor who plans for it. Divali falls on Friday 29 October, the weekend follows, All Saints Day is Monday 1 November and Arrival of Indentured Labourers is Tuesday 2 November. That is five days in which most Mauritians are not at work.

•        What it means practically. Domestic travel peaks, beaches and coastal roads are busy, banks and offices are shut at both ends, markets run mornings only on the holidays, and malls close early. Hotels operate normally but restaurants fill.

•        What it means culturally. You could hardly pick a better five days to see the island as it actually is: Divali lights on the Friday night, families at cemeteries on the Monday, and a national commemoration of indenture on the Tuesday. Three entirely different Mauritius in one week.

•        How to plan it. Book accommodation and any restaurant you care about well ahead. Do your Port Louis day — market, Chinatown, Aapravasi Ghat — on the Thursday or the Wednesday after, not during the holidays. Keep the holiday days themselves for beaches, walking, resort time and Divali-watching. Port Louis walking tour · Cultural places

•        One caution. This is also inside the cyclone season, which officially opens on 15 November but whose early edges reach into late October. Cyclone season · Rainy season

Respectful Visiting: A Short Etiquette Note

Most Mauritian public holidays are religious observances belonging to living communities, not events staged for visitors. The etiquette is not complicated.

•        Dress modestly at temples, kovils, mosques and churches: shoulders and knees covered, footwear off where indicated.

•        Ask before photographing people, and never photograph anyone at prayer or mid-devotion without clear permission. Put the phone down at a piercing or a fire-walk.

•        Keep back from processions. Do not drive into one, do not walk alongside for photographs, and give pilgrims the road.

•        Accept hospitality graciously. Being offered sweets at Divali or food at Eid is a kindness; taking it is the right answer.

•        Do not call it a show. Nothing on this page is a performance, and the visitors who enjoy these days most are the ones who arrive as guests rather than as an audience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the public holidays in Mauritius in 2027?

Around sixteen, from New Year on 1 and 2 January to Christmas on 25 December, including Thaipoosam Cavadee, Abolition of Slavery, Chinese Spring Festival, Maha Shivaratree, Eid-Ul-Fitr, Independence and Republic Day, Ougadi, Labour Day, Ganesh Chaturthi, Divali, All Saints Day and Arrival of Indentured Labourers. The full dated list is above.

How many public holidays are there in Mauritius in 2027?

Sixteen are currently indicated, plus an unresolved question over Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Sunday 15 August. The official count will be settled when the Prime Minister's Office publishes its 2027 General Notice.

Is 2 January a public holiday in Mauritius?

Yes. Mauritius observes two public holidays for New Year, 1 and 2 January. In 2027 those fall on a Friday and a Saturday.

Is Chinese New Year a public holiday in Mauritius?

Yes, as Chinese Spring Festival, indicated for Saturday 6 February 2027. The main celebrations are in Port Louis' Chinatown, though no dated 2027 public programme has been published.

Is Maha Shivaratree a public holiday in Mauritius?

Yes, indicated for Saturday 6 March 2027. It is also the most disruptive date of the year for driving in the south and central highlands, because of the pilgrimage to Grand Bassin.

When is Divali in Mauritius in 2027?

Friday 29 October 2027, confirmed in the Stock Exchange of Mauritius official 2027 list. It opens a five-day holiday sequence running through to Tuesday 2 November.

When is Ganesh Chaturthi in Mauritius in 2027?

Sunday 5 September 2027, with Monday 6 September also a public holiday. Monday 6 September is the date that appears in the official Stock Exchange list.

Is 6 September 2027 a public holiday in Mauritius?

Yes. It follows Ganesh Chaturthi, which falls on a Sunday, and under the rule announced in the Budget Speech 2026-2027 the following Monday is declared a public holiday.

Is 2 November a public holiday in Mauritius?

Yes — Arrival of Indentured Labourers, Tuesday 2 November 2027, confirmed in the official Stock Exchange list. Note that Aapravasi Ghat publishes closure on public holidays, so it is not the day to visit the site.

Is Christmas Day a public holiday in Mauritius?

Yes. In 2027 it falls on Saturday 25 December. No following Monday is listed as a holiday, so do not plan on one.

Are shops open on public holidays in Mauritius?

Many are, with shorter hours. Supermarkets and convenience shops generally open; independent shops vary. Assume earlier closing and verify anything you specifically need.

Are shopping malls open on public holidays in Mauritius?

Yes, but they close early. Published public-holiday hours run from 09:30 to 17:00 at Tribeca and the Ascencia malls, 09:30 to 16:00 for shops at Grand Baie La Croisette, and 09:30 to 15:00 at Cascavelle. Food courts and restaurants usually run later than the shops.

Do buses run on public holidays in Mauritius?

Services do operate, but neither the transport authority nor the national bus operator publishes public-holiday timetables, so frequencies may differ from a normal day. If you depend on a specific route, check it the day before or use a taxi.

Does Metro Express run on public holidays?

Metro Express publishes service Monday to Sunday including public holidays, 06:00 to 19:00, on its Port Louis to Curepipe line. A Cabinet decision of June 2026 suspended operations on public holidays along the Rose Hill Central to Réduit branch, so check the branch you need.

Are banks open on public holidays in Mauritius?

Generally not. Mauritian banks publish holiday-specific closure notices rather than a blanket rule, and one has published that ATMs and its airport counter stayed open while branches closed. Plan around cards and cash rather than counters.

Are tourist attractions open on public holidays in Mauritius?

It depends on the type. Museums and state heritage sites such as the Blue Penny Museum and Aapravasi Ghat publish closure on public holidays; the Pamplemousses Botanic Garden and private nature parks publish opening. Always check the specific attraction.

Should tourists avoid Grand Bassin during Maha Shivaratree?

If sightseeing is your purpose, yes — go another day. The site belongs to the pilgrims that weekend, roads nearby are heavily used, and commercial activity is prohibited there during the festival. Respectful observers are not unwelcome, but nobody should treat it as an attraction that day.

Is Mauritius busy during Divali?

Yes, pleasantly so. Domestic travel peaks, roads and beaches are busier, and the five-day sequence to 2 November amplifies it. It is one of the best weeks of the year to be on the island as long as you have booked ahead.