Peru Holidays – The Best Time to Visit 2026

There’s no experience quite like traveling to another country during a holiday. It’s the best way to truly immerse yourself in a foreign culture. That’s why we’ve put together this useful guide of Peru holidays 2026 — so you can think about traveling to see Peru holidays and festivals. Below you’ll also find a few of the major Peru festivals that travelers love to experience alongside these 2026 public holidays.

Peruvian Public Holidays 2026

---

Below is the complete list of all 16 public holidays in Peru for the year 2026, with information on the holidays and how they’re celebrated, so you can get a sense of the best time to go to Peru and experience them.

Año Nuevo (New Year’s Day): January 1

New Year’s Day is celebrated throughout Peru with festivities, fireworks, and family gatherings. The holiday falls on a Thursday in 2026, making it perfect for an extended weekend getaway.

Semana Santa (Holy Week – Easter): April 2–3

As a predominantly Catholic country, Holy Week is one of Peru’s most important holidays. The main festivities begin on Maundy Thursday (April 2) and continue through Good Friday (April 3), with Easter Sunday on April 5.

While the historic mountain city of Ayacucho is known for having the biggest Easter celebrations, you’ll find celebrations essentially anywhere you go. (Here’s our pick of the best Ayacucho tours.)

For a deep dive into what makes Ayacucho’s Holy Week so moving for visitors, see our Holy Week in Ayacucho guide, which covers processions, practical tips, and where to stay.

If you’d like to experience the celebrations with a seamless itinerary, ask us about tailoring a Peru holiday that pairs Ayacucho’s Semana Santa with Cusco or Machu Picchu. We can also coordinate Ayacucho’s Semana Santa with domestic flights and private transfers so you don’t lose precious time in transit.

Día del Trabajo (Labor Day): May 1

As with the U.S., Labor Day isn’t characterized by traditions and celebrations, but rather by a long weekend.

Día de la Batalla de Arica y Día de la Bandera (Battle of Arica and Flag Day): June 7

This civic holiday commemorates the Battle of Arica during the War of the Pacific and also celebrates Peru’s national flag. It’s a day of national pride and patriotism.

Día de San Pedro y San Pablo (Saint Peter and Saint Paul): June 29

While this is a national holiday, it’s celebrated chiefly in coastal fishing communities, as Saint Peter was a fisherman. In the city of Chimbote, you’ll find the biggest celebrations, including a procession of a statue of St. Peter through the city, as well as many more festivities.

Inti Raymi (Festival of the Sun) – June 24 (not an official public holiday)

Just days before the Fiestas Patrias season, Cusco explodes with color for Inti Raymi, the re-creation of the Inca Empire’s most important winter solstice ceremony. It’s not a legal public holiday, but in practice Cusco runs on festival time, with grand processions, music, and a full-day historical performance at Sacsayhuamán.

If you want guaranteed seats and a smooth experience around the crowds, check out our Inti Raymi festival package or talk to our travel planners about building Inti Raymi into a broader Peru itinerary.

Día de la Fuerza Aérea del Perú (Air Force Day): July 23

This holiday honors the Peruvian Air Force (FAP) and commemorates the heroism of its personnel. The date marks the birth of José Abelardo Quiñones, a national hero and pilot who sacrificed his life in combat.

Fiestas Patrias (Independence Day): July 28–29

July 28 is Peru’s national independence day, and certainly the biggest secular festival that the country offers. Much like American independence day, the fiestas patrias are full of fireworks, patriotism, and general revelry. You can find fiestas patrias celebrations everywhere around the country that weekend.

Batalla de Junín (Battle of Junín): August 6

This holiday commemorates the Battle of Junín, one of the most important battles in Peru’s fight for independence. It celebrates the courage and determination of those who fought for Peru’s freedom.

Festividad de Santa Rosa de Lima (Saint Rosa of Lima Festival): August 30

This holiday commemorates a Peruvian saint (Saint Rosa of Lima). Some Peruvians make a pilgrimage to Lima to the site of her miracles.

Celebración del Combate de Angamos (Battle of Angamos Celebration): October 8

Paying tribute to an epic naval battle that occurred during the War of the Pacific, the Battle of Angamos celebration honors Admiral Miguel Grau and results in a long spring weekend.

Día de Todos los Santos (All Saints Day): November 1

All Saints Day is among the most prominent Christian holidays, and in Peru, it is marked by a national holiday.

Día de la Inmaculada Concepción (Day of the Immaculate Conception): December 8

This is another religious feast holiday celebrated in Peru (and Catholic countries all around the world).

Batalla de Ayacucho (Battle of Ayacucho): December 9

This holiday commemorates the decisive Battle of Ayacucho in 1824, which secured Peru’s independence and marked the end of Spanish rule in South America. It’s one of the most significant military victories in Peruvian history.

Navidad (Christmas): December 25

Christmas is an important holiday in Peru just as in the United States. However, Peruvians have some of their own Christmas traditions. Check out our post on Christmas dinner traditions for more information.

---

Key Peru Festivals to Plan Around

Many of Peru’s most unforgettable cultural experiences cluster around these holidays and festival periods. If you’re flexible with dates, it’s worth timing your trip to catch at least one of them:

• Semana Santa in Ayacucho – A week of candlelit processions, alfombras (sawdust carpets), and street-corner devotionals that transform this Andean city every evening. Learn more in our Semana Santa Ayacucho guide and ask us to combine it with Lima and Cusco.
• Inti Raymi in Cusco (June 24) – The Inca Festival of the Sun, staged across Cusco’s Plaza de Armas, Qorikancha, and the Sacsayhuamán fortress with hundreds of costumed performers. See our in-depth Inti Raymi festival article and our 8-day Inti Raymi tour for seat options, logistics, and sample itineraries.
• Fiestas Patrias (July 28–29) – Independence Day parades, criollo music, and festive long weekends nationwide, especially lively in Lima and Cusco.

Our team can match these festivals with the right hotels, domestic flights, and private tours so you enjoy the celebrations without worrying about crowds, closures, or sold-out tickets.

---

Custom Peru tours by Fertur

If you’re thinking about taking your holidays to Peru, or are just looking for the best website for vacation packages to Peru — look no further. Fertur offers a variety of packages to experience these Peru Holidays 2026, so we encourage you to contact us via WhatsApp or the Contact Us Form.

---

Note: The Peruvian government may also declare additional non-working days (días no laborables) throughout 2026 to promote tourism and create extended holiday weekends. Check closer to your travel dates for any additional long weekends that may be announced.