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Public Holiday
Nationwide
Vodoun Festival
Friday, January 9, 2026
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Holiday selected
🏪 What's open
- Banks Closed
- Government offices Closed
- Schools Closed
- Shops Varies
- Restaurants Varies
- Public transit Reduced
- Stock market Closed
- Post office Closed
🛋️ Long weekend potential
3-Day Block
FRI
09
Holiday
SAT
10
Weekend
SUN
11
Weekend
3-day weekend (January 9 – January 11)
📣 Traveler notes
Benin offers a blend of history, culture, and nature, featuring attractions such as palatial ruins and temples linked to the Kingdom of Dahomey. Much of the country's tourism is connected to its Vodoun history and the slave trade. Highlights include national parks, the Grand Popo beach, and artisan markets. The environment is noted for its stability and vibrant culture.
- January 1: New Year's Day
- January 10: Traditional Day (Fête de Vodoun)
- August 1: Independence Day
- October 26: Armed Forces Day
- Respect local customs and religious traditions.
About this holiday
The Vodoun Festival (Fête du Vodoun) is an annual national holiday in Benin, celebrating the local West African religion of Vodoun. The festivities take place nationwide, with major events typically held in Ouidah, and historically involve rituals, singing, and dancing, sometimes beginning with animal sacrifice.