1 dayThu, Jan 1
New Year's Day — a lone day off, bridge it:
1
Stretch it: take 1 day of leave (Jan 2) for 4 days off (Jan 1 – 4).
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Long Weekends in Zambia 2026
Zambia has 8 long weekends (3 or more consecutive days off) in 2026, counting public holidays and Sat–Sun weekends; the longest natural break runs 4 days (Apr 3 – 6). Placed well, 1 day of leave stretches a break to 4 consecutive days off — every option is below.
- Long weekends
- 8
- Longest break
- 4 days
- Best bridge
- +1 → 4 days
- Weekend
- Sat–Sun
Subscribe to or print Zambia holidays →
Every break in 2026
Public holidayWeekendLeave day
3 daysSat, Mar 7 – Mon, Mar 9
789
Stretch it: take 2 days of leave (Mar 10–11) for 6 days off (Mar 7 – 12).
1 dayThu, Mar 12
Youth Day — a lone day off, bridge it:
12
Stretch it: take 1 day of leave (Mar 13) for 4 days off (Mar 12 – 15).
4 daysFri, Apr 3 – Mon, Apr 6
3456
Stretch it: take 4 days of leave (Mar 30 – Apr 2) for 10 days off (Mar 28 – Apr 6).
1 dayTue, Apr 28
Kenneth Kaunda Day — a lone day off, bridge it:
28
Stretch it: take 1 day of leave (Apr 27) for 4 days off (Apr 25 – 28).
3 daysFri, May 1 – Sun, May 3
123
Stretch it: take 2 days of leave (Apr 29–30) for 6 days off (Apr 28 – May 3).
3 daysSat, May 23 – Mon, May 25
232425
Stretch it: take 4 days of leave (May 26–29) for 9 days off (May 23 – 31).
4 daysSat, Jul 4 – Tue, Jul 7
4567
Stretch it: take 3 days of leave (Jul 8–10) for 9 days off (Jul 4 – 12).
3 daysSat, Aug 1 – Mon, Aug 3
123
Stretch it: take 4 days of leave (Aug 4–7) for 9 days off (Aug 1 – 9).
3 daysSat, Oct 17 – Mon, Oct 19
National Day of Prayers · National Day of Prayers (substitute day)
171819
Stretch it: take 4 days of leave (Oct 20–23) for 9 days off (Oct 17 – 25).
2 daysSat, Oct 24 – Sun, Oct 25
2425
Stretch it: take 4 days of leave (Oct 20–23) for 9 days off (Oct 17 – 25).
3 daysFri, Dec 25 – Sun, Dec 27
252627
Stretch it: take 4 days of leave (Dec 28–31) for 10 days off (Dec 25 – Jan 3).
All bridge plans, ranked by date
Each plan books leave only on working days between two natural breaks, so every one of them returns more than one day off per day of leave.
| Days off | Leave | Span |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | 4d · Dec 26 + Dec 29–31 | Dec 25 – Jan 1 |
| 6 | 3d · Dec 29–31 | Dec 27 – Jan 1 |
| 9 | 4d · Dec 29–31 + Jan 2 | Dec 27 – Jan 4 |
| 4Best value | 1d · Jan 2 | Jan 1 – 4 |
| 6 | 2d · Mar 10–11 | Mar 7 – 12 |
| 9 | 3d · Mar 10–11 + Mar 13 | Mar 7 – 15 |
| 4 | 1d · Mar 13 | Mar 12 – 15 |
| 10 | 4d · Mar 30 – Apr 2 | Mar 28 – Apr 6 |
| 10 | 4d · Apr 7–10 | Apr 3 – 12 |
| 4 | 1d · Apr 27 | Apr 25 – 28 |
| 9 | 3d · Apr 27 + Apr 29–30 | Apr 25 – May 3 |
| 6 | 2d · Apr 29–30 | Apr 28 – May 3 |
| 9 | 4d · May 26–29 | May 23 – 31 |
| 9 | 3d · Jul 8–10 | Jul 4 – 12 |
| 9 | 4d · Aug 4–7 | Aug 1 – 9 |
| 9 | 4d · Oct 20–23 | Oct 17 – 25 |
| 9 | 4d · Dec 21–24 | Dec 19 – 27 |
| 10 | 4d · Dec 28–31 | Dec 25 – Jan 3 |
Computed from Zambia's public holidays plus Sat–Sun weekends. Substitute days count as days off; observances don't. Bridges spend at most 4 leave days, booked only on working days.