The Macao government has released its list of public holidays in 2025, which amounts to 20 days for most people – that’s three more than Hong Kong gets. Plus there’s an added five days of “compensatory rest” days for public servants.
However, only 10 of the public holidays are “obligatory” under Macao law. As such, employers have discretion over whether their staff are entitled to days off on non-obligatory public holidays. Employers can also designate the following working day off when a public holiday falls on a rest day, as the Tung Ng Festival (Dragon Boat Festival) does next year. Public servants get these days automatically (that’s what compensatory rest means).
Thanks to its joint Chinese and Portuguese heritage, Macao gets an eclectic range of holidays – from the Buddha’s birthday to Chong Yeung Festival to the Feast of Immaculate Conception. None of the Western holidays, including Easter and Christmas, are obligatory holidays.
[See more: Where can I fly to from Macao? Here’s a list of places you can reach directly]
The most highly anticipated holiday, of course, tends to be Lunar New Year. In 2025, its festivities fall across 29-31 January (a Wednesday, Thursday and Friday). Tacking on the weekend gives a five-day break, which can be extended into nine days by taking the prior Monday and Tuesday off.
These are Macao’s public holidays for 2025 (those with an * are obligatory)
*January 1 – Wednesday – New Year’s Day
*January 29 – Wednesday – Lunar New Year’s Day
*January 30 – Thursday – The second day of the Lunar New Year
*January 31 – Friday – The third day of the Lunar New Year
*April 4 – Friday – Cheng Ming Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day)
April 18 – Friday – Good Friday
April 19 – Saturday – The Day before Easter
*May 1 – Thursday – Labour Day
May 5 – Monday – The Buddha’s Birthday (Feast of Buddha)
May 31 – Saturday – Tung Ng Festival (Dragon Boat Festival)
*October 1 – Wednesday – National Day of the People’s Republic of China
October 2 – Thursday – The Day following National Day of the People’s Republic of China
*October 7 – Tuesday – The Day following Chong Chao (Mid-Autumn) Festival
*October 29 – Wednesday – Chong Yeung Festival (Festival of Ancestors)
November 2 – Sunday – All Souls’ Day
December 8 – Monday – Feast of Immaculate Conception
*December 20 – Saturday – Macao S.A.R. Establishment Day
December 21 – Sunday – Winter Solstice
December 24 – Wednesday – Christmas Eve
December 25 – Thursday – Christmas Day
