The first half of the year is about to end and closes with one of the official holidays for workers in the public and private sectors: Army Day, celebrated every June 30. A few days before this break, the question arises as to whether the date will be moved, since in 2026 it will fall on a Tuesday.
With this break, Guatemala remembers the role of the Armed Forces in the military movement of 1871, which is why various formal events are held by the Guatemalan Army. Although in 2026 the date will fall on a Tuesday and the work week will begin, current legislation allows its transfer.
As regulated by article 127 of the Labor Code, workers have the right each year to 10 holidays and two half-days of rest, corresponding to December 24 and 31. These must be granted to the worker or, failing that, paid in an extraordinary manner, according to the time worked. Some of these holidays are not transferable.
However, the current legislation contained in the Law that Promotes Domestic Tourism of Guatemala, established in Decree 42-2010 and reformed by Decree 19-2018, provides that holidays that occur on Tuesday or Wednesday will be moved to the immediately preceding Monday.
Therefore, this celebration would be moved to Monday, June 29, which would give workers the opportunity to enjoy an extended rest or a long weekend. Decree 42-2010 and its 2018 reform establish this measure in favor of domestic tourism.
The regulations also determine that holidays that fall on Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday will be enjoyed on the following Monday. According to the Law that Promotes Internal Tourism of Guatemala, this transfer would be applicable to June 30.
The law excludes from the transfer the breaks corresponding to January 1, Holy Wednesday, Holy Thursday and Good Friday; May 10; September 15; November 1; noon on December 24; December 25; noon on December 31, and the day of the holiday of each locality. In Guatemala City, this celebration corresponds to August 15.
The holidays of May 1 and October 20, which were initially included in this transfer system to promote long weekends and promote domestic tourism, were revoked by the Constitutional Court in March 2020.
What are the holidays for the second half of 2026?
From July to December, Guatemalans will be able to enjoy other holidays recognized by labor legislation. Of them, only one will generate a long weekend:
- Tuesday, September 15: Independence Day
- Tuesday, October 20: Revolution Day
- Sunday, November 1: All Saints’ Day
- Thursday, December 24 (noon onwards): Christmas Eve
- Friday, December 25: Christmas
- Thursday, December 31 (noon onwards): New Year’s Eve