Insight · CalendarNovember 7, 20262 min read
Every working day of 2026
2026 has 261 weekdays and 12 weekday public holidays, leaving 249 working days. Month by month, what that means for daily pay, leave and planning, plus a first look at 2027.
Six numbers that tell the story
Payroll runs on calendars. Daily rates, leave balances, overtime and project plans all depend on how many days people actually work. In 2026 the answer is 249.
How the year adds up
| Days | |
|---|---|
| Days in the year | 365 |
| Saturdays and Sundays | 104 |
| Weekdays | 261 |
| Public holidays on weekdays | 12 |
| Working days | 249 |
Month by month
May is the short month: Workers’ Day on Friday 1 May and Eid-el-Kabir on Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 May leave 18 working days. July has no public holidays at all and runs to 23.
The holidays
Nigeria's public holidays in 2026
- 1Jan
New Year's Day
Thursday
- 19Mar
Eid-el-Fitr
19 to 20 March · Thursday and Friday, declared by the FG
- 3Apr
Good Friday
Friday
- 6Apr
Easter Monday
Monday
- 1May
Workers' Day
Friday
- 27May
Eid-el-Kabir
27 to 28 May · Wednesday and Thursday, declared by the FG
- 12Jun
Democracy Day
Friday
- 25Aug
Eid-ul-Mawlid
Tuesday, declared by the FG
- 1Oct
Independence Day
Thursday
- 25Dec
Christmas Day
Friday
- 26Dec
Boxing Day
Saturday. Check for a declared Monday work-free day
Islamic holidays move with the lunar calendar and are declared by the Federal Government shortly before each one. For 2026 the government declared two days each for Eid-el-Fitr and Eid-el-Kabir. See the full list, with 2027, on our public holidays page.
What it means for pay
Employers who pay a daily rate, or prorate a monthly salary for new starters and leavers, need a method and the discipline to apply it every month. Two common methods give different answers in short months:
| Method | Daily rate on ₦300,000 in May | Daily rate on ₦300,000 in July |
|---|---|---|
| Working days in the month | ₦16,667 (18 days) | ₦13,043 (23 days) |
| Fixed 22 days | ₦13,636 | ₦13,636 |
Neither is wrong. What matters is that the method is written into contracts or policy, used the same way for everyone, and explained on the payslip when it changes the number.
A first look at 2027
2027 has 261 weekdays. On the dates currently expected, seven public holidays fall on weekdays, which would leave 254 working days. Several 2027 holidays, including Workers’ Day, Democracy Day and Christmas, fall on weekends, and substitute days are often declared, so plan on a slightly lower figure. Islamic holiday dates are provisional until declared.
How we made this
Working days are Monday to Friday, less public holidays that fall on a weekday. Holiday dates are those declared by the Federal Government for 2026, including two days each for Eid-el-Fitr (19 and 20 March) and Eid-el-Kabir (27 and 28 May) and Eid-el-Maulud on 25 August. Company-specific closures are not included.
Employee management made easy
Keep employee records, attendance, leave, payroll and performance in one connected system.
Sources
- Federal Ministry of Interior public holiday declarations, 2026
- Public Holidays Act
