The June 30 holiday, recognized as Army Day in Guatemala, will generate a long weekend in 2026.
According to Guatemalan legislation, the holiday corresponding to this date will be moved to Monday, June 29, because June 30 will fall on a Tuesday.
In 2018, the Congress of the Republic approved a reform to the Law that Promotes Domestic Tourism, Decree 19-2018, so that three holidays could be longer by moving them to Monday or Friday.
“In order to promote national tourism, when the holiday falls on a Tuesday, it will be enjoyed on the previous Monday; if it falls on a Wednesday or Thursday, it will be enjoyed on the immediate Friday; if it falls on a Saturday or Sunday, it will not be modified,” the law says.
An article from Prensa Libre describes that for these breaks it must be taken into account that, since April 16, 2020, the Constitutional Court (CC) annulled the provision that allowed the holidays to be moved from May 1 to October 20, so only June 30, Army Day, can be changed.
The idea of the “long weekend” arose to stimulate internal tourism in the country, so many Guatemalans take advantage of these periods to travel to different tourist centers.
Thus, when a day off coincided with Tuesday or Wednesday, it would be enjoyed on the immediately preceding Monday; and if it occurred on Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday, it would be moved to the immediately following Monday.
This break corresponds to the celebration of Army Day. In accordance with the Labor Code, employees in the public and private sectors have the right to paid leave during this civic holiday.
According to newspaper data from Prensa Libre, former President Juan José Arévalo issued a government agreement on June 21, 1945, by which December 22 was established as the date to commemorate Army Day.
However, this provision was modified over time. During the government of Miguel Ydígoras Fuentes, June 30 was made official as the date of Army Day. At that time it was called “Soldier’s Day”, a name that was later replaced.