Panama, January 3, 2026 — A decree signed on January 3, 2026, orders the closure of all national and municipal public offices on Monday, February 16, and Wednesday, February 18, 2026, for the Carnival festivities, and dictates other provisions. The decree stipulates that public servers must work one additional hour after their regular working hours on the following dates: January 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and February 2, 2026. The closure on February 16 and 18 does not apply to public offices that must remain operational due to the nature of their services. These include: Idaan, Minsa and CSS health institutions, postal services, firefighters, Sinaproc, ATTT, Panama Metro, Metrobus, Migration, the Public Force, Civil Aviation, Tocumen Airport, Customs, Cleaning Services, Etesa, Egesa, Agricultural Quarantine, APA, and auxiliary entities to international trade providing services at ports and airports. It is recalled that Article 46 of the Labor Code establishes that Carnival Tuesday (which falls on February 17 this year) is a mandatory day off.
