Dominican Republic Holiday on Thursday 21 January

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DOMINICAN REPUBLIC · HOLIDAYS

The Dominican Republic holiday on Thursday 21 January 2027 honors Our Lady of Altagracia, the country’s patron saint, and it is a nationwide day off. The Ministry of Labour, the government office that enforces work rules, kept this date in place in its 2021 and 2026 notices.

Duarte Day, honoring the founding father Juan Pablo Duarte, falls on Tuesday 26 January and will probably move to Monday 25 January. This guide shows what closes, what the law says and what the ministry has not yet announced.

The Dates at a Glance

This Dominican Republic holiday falls on Thursday 21 January 2027, and the Ministry of Labour has not moved it in recent calendars. In 2026 the ministry told workers to return the day after the holiday, so Friday 22 January 2027 should be a working day.

Duarte Day sits on Tuesday 26 January 2027 in the calendar. The ministry describes its 1997 law as moving Tuesday-to-Friday holidays to a Monday, which would mean Monday 25 January.

If that move happens, the long weekend runs from Saturday 23 January to Monday 25 January. Thursday 21 January stays a separate day off, with one working day between the two.

What Happened in 2021, the Same Calendar

The year 2021 had the same weekdays as 2027, so its Dominican Republic holiday calendar is the best precedent. The Ministry of Labour announced that calendar on 20 November 2020.

For Altagracia Day it wrote that Thursday 21 January “no se cambia”, meaning the date does not change. For Duarte Day it moved the holiday to 25 January, and workers were told to work on the 26th.

That precedent is the best guide we have, but it is not a 2027 announcement. The ministry published the 2021 calendar in November, so the 2027 notice may still come.

How the 1997 Holiday Law Works

Law 139-97 is dated 19 June 1997 and took effect on 27 June 1997, according to the Ministry of Labour. The ministry says it moves holidays that fall on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday to a Monday.

The law does not move every date, and in 2026 several holidays stayed put, including Altagracia Day and Duarte Day. Epiphany, Labour Day and Constitution Day moved to a Monday.

Altagracia Day fell on a Wednesday in 2026, and the ministry still published a notice saying the date does not change. That notice cited Law 139-97 and said every establishment in the country must apply it.

What Closes and What May Stay Open

The ministry says every establishment must apply the rule, so plan as if offices and shops are closed on Thursday 21 January. The notices do not name banks, government counters or any other sector.

Article 205 of the Labour Code says work on a Dominican Republic holiday earns double the usual daily wage, according to the ministry. Hotels, restaurants and tour operators set their own hours, and we found no official list of which ones will open.

Visiting Higüey on the Feast Day

Higüey, a city in the east of the country, is where the Basilica of Our Lady of Altagracia stands. The ministry calls 21 January the day of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, so the feast and the Dominican Republic holiday share one date.

We found no official 2027 program, Mass times or road plan for the feast, so treat any schedule you see online as unconfirmed. No official visitor estimate for 2027 exists.

Higüey is in the east of the country. Ask your hotel about transport and book any driver in advance.

What It Means for You

Do banking, paperwork and landlord visits on Wednesday 20 January or Friday 22 January, and again after Monday 25 January. If Duarte Day does not move, Tuesday 26 January is the day to avoid instead.

Carry enough cash and confirm restaurant and tour bookings in writing before the long weekend. The hotel front desk can tell you what opens on Thursday 21 January.

The US State Department rates the Dominican Republic Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, and says violent crime is a concern throughout the country. It adds that resorts tend to be better policed than cities such as Santo Domingo, and our safety guide explains the risks.

Airlines have added winter seats to the island, as our winter flights guide shows. We found no airline notice that flights stop on 21 January, so check your own route.

This holiday follows the Christmas and New Year closures we cover in our holidays guide. Epiphany on Wednesday 6 January 2027 is likely to move to Monday 4 January, which is also unannounced.

What Is Not Confirmed Yet

The ministry has not published its 2027 Dominican Republic holiday calendar, and its news page showed only 2026 notices on 31 October. Friday 22 January and Monday 25 January are our reading of the law and the 2021 notice.

We found no official program for the Higüey feast, no list of bank or office hours and no airline notice for 21 January. Ask the ministry, your bank or your airline before you plan around these dates.

Check the ministry’s news page in November and December for the 2027 Dominican Republic holiday dates. Book nothing that depends on Monday 25 January until it appears.

More: Dominican Republic news in English, every day from The Rio Times.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 21 January 2027 a public holiday in the Dominican Republic?

Yes. Thursday 21 January 2027 is Our Lady of Altagracia Day, and the ministry left it in place in its 2021 and 2026 calendars. The 2027 calendar is not yet published.

When is Duarte Day in 2027?

Duarte Day is Tuesday 26 January 2027. It will probably move to Monday 25 January, as in 2021, but the ministry has not confirmed it.

Do banks and shops close on Altagracia Day?

The ministry says the rule applies to all establishments, so expect closures. Hotels, restaurants and tours set their own hours, so ask them directly.

Sources: Dominican Ministry of Labour, notice that Altagracia Day on Wednesday 21 January does not change, citing Law 139-97, 16 January 2026; Dominican Ministry of Labour, notice that Duarte Day on Monday 26 January is not moved, citing Law 139-97 and Article 205 of the Labour Code, 22 January 2026; Dominican Ministry of Labour, notice on 2026 public holidays, applying Law 139-97, 17 November 2025; Dominican Ministry of Labour, notice on 2021 public holidays (Altagracia unchanged, Duarte moved to 25 January), 20 November 2020; US State Department, Dominican Republic travel advisory, Level 2, read 31 October 2026.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief