List of National Holidays and Collective Leave Days in April 2026: How Many Red Dates Are There?
As April 2026 approaches, public attention turns to the national calendar, particularly regarding holidays. Following a busy early-year period with major religious and national observances such as New Year, Chinese New Year, Nyepi, and Eid al-Fitr, April arrives as a relatively lighter month but still holds several important dates.
The determination of national holidays and collective leave is no trivial matter. The government, through coordination among three ministries—the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Manpower, and the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform—officially establishes them via a joint decision that serves as a national guideline. This list applies broadly and serves as a reference across various sectors, from government and education to the workforce.
Understanding the holiday calendar in detail is crucial, not only for planning vacations but also for organising work strategies, business activities, and family events. By knowing the pattern of red dates in advance, the public can be more precise in utilising time, especially when long weekends present opportunities.
So, how many national holidays and collective leave days does April 2026 have? How many red dates fall within the fourth month of the Gregorian calendar? Find the complete information in the following explanation!
National Holidays and Collective Leave in April 2026
Based on the Joint Decree of the Minister of Religious Affairs No. 1497 of 2025, the Minister of Manpower No. 2 of 2025, and the Minister of PANRB No. 5 of 2025, April 2026 features only two national holidays. These two dates are:
Friday, 3 April 2026: Good Friday
Sunday, 5 April 2026: Easter (Resurrection of Jesus Christ)
Both commemorations hold profound significance in Christian tradition. Good Friday is a moment of reflection on sacrifice, while Easter symbolises victory and new hope.
It should be noted, however, that there are no collective leave days at all in April 2026. This makes the number of holidays feel fewer compared to other months that typically include additional collective leave to extend the holiday period.
In total, there are two red dates. However, effectively for workers, only one workday is truly affected, as the other falls on a Sunday.
Long Weekend in April 2026
Despite the scarcity of red dates, April 2026 still offers one strategic long holiday period. The long weekend in April 2026 forms at the beginning of the month thanks to the national holidays for Good Friday and Easter. The sequence is as follows:
Friday, 3 April 2026: National holiday for Good Friday
Saturday, 4 April 2026: Weekend
Sunday, 5 April 2026: National holiday for Easter (Resurrection of Jesus Christ)
This arrangement creates a three-day consecutive holiday. Readers can use this opportunity to travel or spend time with loved ones.
However, since there are no additional collective leave days before or after, this long weekend cannot be extended into a longer break unless personal leave is taken on surrounding workdays.
List of National Holidays and Collective Leave from April to December 2026
Looking at the calendar after April, the number of national holidays and collective leave days increases and becomes more varied. In accordance with the Joint Decree of the Minister of Religious Affairs, the Minister of Manpower, and the Minister of PANRB No. 1497 of 2025, No. 2 of 2025, and No. 5 of 2025, here is the list of national holidays and collective leave from April to December 2026.
In May, there are several major observances such as:
1 May: International Labour Day
14 May: Ascension of Jesus Christ
15 May: Collective leave for Ascension of Jesus Christ
Then at the end of May:
27 May: Eid al-Adha 1447 Hijriah
28 May: Collective leave for Eid al-Adha
Subsequently:
31 May: Vesak Day
1 June: Pancasila Birthday
Entering mid-to-late year:
17 August: Indonesian Independence Day
25 August: Mawlid of Prophet Muhammad SAW
25 December: Christmas Day
24 December: Collective leave for Christmas
From this arrangement, it is evident that the months after April provide more opportunities for long holidays due to the combination of national holidays and collective leave.
Does Collective Leave Deduct from Annual Leave Quota?
This is one of the most common questions among workers. Many assume collective leave is a ‘bonus holiday’ from the government, but according to regulations, this is not entirely accurate.
Based on Circular Letter of the Minister of Manpower No. M/6/HK.04/XII/2024, collective leave has a clear status in Indonesia’s employment system.
First, collective leave forms part of annual leave. Thus, when workers take leave on a day designated as collective leave, their annual leave quota will be reduced accordingly. This differs from national holidays, which do not deduct from leave at all.
Second, it is important to understand that collective leave is facultative. This means its implementation is not mandatory and depends heavily on each company’s policy. Some companies fully follow the government’s collective leave schedule, while others continue operations due to business needs.
Third, in practice, several scenarios may occur:
If the company follows collective leave and workers take the holiday, the annual leave quota will be reduced.
If the company remains operational and workers report for duty, the annual leave quota is not reduced, and workers receive regular pay.
Fourth, for workers who continue working during collective leave, the day is considered a normal workday, not overtime. This differs from national holidays, where workers who work are entitled to overtime pay.
Fifth, for national holidays, the rules are much stricter. Workers are generally not required to work. However, for certain sectors such as essential services, exceptions may apply under specific regulations.