Chile's year peaks at the Fiestas Patrias on 18 and 19 September — independence and the army day — which together form the dieciocho, the longest national break of the year.

How people take the days

When the dieciocho falls midweek, the government frequently declares extra days off, producing breaks of up to five days. Many firms simply close for the week.

If you're visiting

Fondas and ramadas fill parks with cueca dancing, empanadas and terremoto. Almost everything else closes, including supermarkets on 18 September itself.

If you live here

Some holidays are irrenunciable — retail workers legally cannot be asked to work them, so shops and malls genuinely shut on 1 May, 18 September, 25 December and 1 January.

What these days actually mean

Observance, business closures and transport impact for the next few dates.

National holiday

18 Sep 2026

Public

Observance: Officially recognised as a public holiday, so most people have the day off work.
Business: Expect offices, banks and the majority of shops to be closed.
Transport: Public transport usually runs a Sunday or holiday timetable.

General guidance based on this day's official classification, not country-specific reporting.

Army Day

19 Sep 2026

Public

Observance: Officially recognised as a public holiday, so most people have the day off work.
Business: Expect offices, banks and the majority of shops to be closed.
Transport: Public transport usually runs a Sunday or holiday timetable.

General guidance based on this day's official classification, not country-specific reporting.

Columbus Day

12 Oct 2026

Public

Observance: Officially recognised as a public holiday, so most people have the day off work.
Business: Expect offices, banks and the majority of shops to be closed.
Transport: Public transport usually runs a Sunday or holiday timetable.

General guidance based on this day's official classification, not country-specific reporting.

Reformation Day

31 Oct 2026

Public

Observance: Officially recognised as a public holiday, so most people have the day off work.
Business: Expect offices, banks and the majority of shops to be closed.
Transport: Public transport usually runs a Sunday or holiday timetable.

General guidance based on this day's official classification, not country-specific reporting.

CLChile · 2026

Bridge days worth booking

How the holiday year works in Chile

The calendar

How people take the days

If you're visiting

If you live here

What these days actually mean

National holiday

Army Day

Columbus Day

Reformation Day

Chile · 2026