Holiday

Carnival: when it is in 2026 and 2027

Carnival is not on the list of national holidays in Law 662 of 1949: the day off comes from an order, a local decree and each industry's collective bargaining agreement.

When is Carnival

Next date

Calculating the next occurrence…

2026

16FebCarnival (Monday)MondayFederal optional day off
17FebCarnival (Tuesday)TuesdayFederal optional day off
18FebAsh WednesdayWednesday, until 14:00Federal optional day off

2027

8FebCarnival (Monday)MondayMovable date
9FebCarnival (Tuesday)TuesdayMovable date
10FebAsh WednesdayWednesdayMovable date

In 2026, Carnival Monday and Tuesday fall on days 16 and 17 of February, and Ash Wednesday on day 18. For federal agencies, MGI Order No. 11,460, dated 29 December 2025, set both days as optional days off, with office hours only until 14:00 on Wednesday, which extends the break from Saturday through Tuesday for those who follow that calendar. In 2027, Carnival Monday and Tuesday fall on days 8 and 9 of February, and Ash Wednesday on day 10. The Ministry of Management's order listing the optional days off for 2027 has not been published yet (checked on 15 October 2026); it usually comes out at the end of the previous year. Until then, the situation in the federal civil service remains unsettled; in the private sector, each industry's collective bargaining agreement applies.

How the date is set

The date changes every year because it depends on Easter. By RaisLife's calculations, checked against BrasilAPI, Carnival Tuesday falls 47 days before Easter Sunday, and Ash Wednesday falls 46 days before.

What the law says

No federal law declares Carnival a national holiday. For federal agencies, the Ministry of Management's annual order sets the optional days off (pontos facultativos): in 2026, MGI Order 11.460/2025 set days 16 and 17 of February and Ash Wednesday until 14:00. States and municipalities may declare an optional day off for their own employees (Law 662/1949, art. 3); a local holiday is allowed only in the cases covered by Law 9.093/1995.

For people who work at a private company, what counts is the industry's collective bargaining agreement and whatever the employer decides. In the federal civil service, the year's order applies; in states and municipalities, the local decree.

What about people who work on the holiday?

Law 605, of 1949, prohibits work on civil and religious holidays, except where the company’s technical requirements make the work necessary, and guarantees the employee pay for the day (art. 8). When work cannot be suspended, article 9 requires the day to be paid double, unless the employer grants another day off. In retail in general, Law 10,101, of 2000 (art. 6-A), allows work on holidays as long as a collective bargaining agreement authorizes it and municipal legislation is observed. The specific rule depends on the worker’s category, and the collective agreement is the first place to check.

Keep in mind, too, that a long weekend and a bridge day assume a Monday-to-Friday workweek. People who work shifts, such as in retail and health care, may not get this time off, and the federal optional day off does not apply to the private sector.

Other holidays

What about holidays in my state and my city?

This page lists only the holidays national. State and municipal holidays vary by location: Law 9.093/1995 lets each state set its principal date, and lets each municipality declare the start and end days of its founding centennial year and up to four religious holidays, including Good Friday. To find out yours, check with your city hall or state government.

Sources

Dates calculated by RaisLife (Easter using the Meeus/Jones/Butcher algorithm) and checked against BrasilAPI for the years generated (2024 to 2030); the classification of each date follows federal law and the ordinances of the Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services. For information only: it does not replace consulting the law, your professional category’s collective bargaining agreement, or your state and city calendar.