Key Dates for Holy Week 2026: March 29 to April 5

Holy Week 2026 already has its dates confirmed. In Argentina, this most important religious celebration of Christianity will take place from Sunday, March 29 to Sunday, April 5, offering a special opportunity for the faithful and for those looking to take advantage of their free time. This festival commemorates the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, fundamental pillars of the Catholic faith.

What makes Holy Week 2026 in Argentina special is that it will coincide with an extended period of rest. Holy Thursday falls on April 2, which, in addition to being a non-working day, is the date commemorating Veterans and Fallen Soldiers Day in the Falklands War, granting it a status of holiday in the country. Meanwhile, Good Friday (April 3) remains a national holiday. This overlap of religious and national festivities would create a four-day long weekend (from April 2 to 5), although the official holiday calendar for 2026 has yet to be confirmed by the National Government.

The 2026 Holy Week calendar: each day has its meaning

The dates of Holy Week 2026 are distributed as follows:

• Palm Sunday: March 29
• Holy Monday: March 30
• Holy Tuesday: March 31
• Holy Wednesday: April 1
• Holy Thursday: April 2 (public holiday in Argentina)
• Good Friday: April 3 (national holiday in Argentina)
• Holy Saturday (Holy Night): April 4
• Easter Sunday: April 5

This sequence varies each year due to a rule established over sixteen centuries ago. At the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, the Catholic Church determined that Holy Week 2026 and all future celebrations of this kind should be calculated based on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere (or the autumn equinox in the southern hemisphere). For this reason, the dates are never fixed and can fall between March 22 and April 25.

Why Holy Week 2026 generates anticipation in Argentina

For Argentinians, Holy Week 2026 means more than just a religious celebration: it symbolizes a prolonged break. Law 27.399 establishes holidays and long weekends in the country, and this year circumstances align favorably. Holy Thursday is considered a non-working day, meaning employers have discretion over whether employees must attend work. However, since it coincides with April 2 — a significant national date — rest is guaranteed for the entire population.

This four-day consecutive period makes it easier for many families to plan trips or take advantage of spiritual reflection time. The Lenten tradition, which precedes Holy Week 2026, has already prepared believers with 40 days of spiritual preparation since Ash Wednesday. Thus, the break coincides with a time of deep reflection in the liturgical calendar.

The spiritual significance of each day of Holy Week 2026

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week 2026, recalling Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. On this day, crowds acclaimed him saying “Son of God” and laid olive branches to celebrate him. Parishioners continue this tradition by bringing blessed branches home to keep throughout the year.

Holy Monday, also known as “Monday of Authority,” commemorates the moment Jesus revealed his power over creation and humankind. The curse of the barren fig tree symbolizes judgment upon those who do not produce fruits of repentance.

Holy Tuesday or “Tuesday of Controversy” prepares the transition to the Easter Triduum — the three culminating days of the liturgical year. It recalls Jesus’ confrontations with his accusers and those who held the power to condemn him.

Holy Wednesday remembers Judas’ betrayal, one of the twelve apostles, who handed Jesus over to the Sanhedrin for thirty coins. This act sets in motion the plan for the crucifixion, which is why many call it “the first day of mourning in the Church.”

Holy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus with his apostles. During this gathering, he established the Eucharist by blessing bread and wine, instituting the central elements of Christian sacramental practice. Afterwards, he went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray before his arrest.

Good Friday is the day of greatest solemnity in Holy Week 2026. It remembers Christ’s Passion and death on the cross. The practice of the Way of the Cross (“the path of suffering”) allows the faithful to recall Jesus’ sufferings step by step during the Mass.

Holy Saturday is especially dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who witnessed her son’s death. It is a day marked by hope, based on Jesus’ promise: “On the third day I will rise from the dead.” According to the Church, it is a day for deep spiritual contemplation.

Easter Sunday or Resurrection Sunday is the most important celebration in Christianity. It commemorates Jesus’ resurrection, confirmed by the empty tomb and the appearances of the risen Lord to his apostles.

Holy Week 2026: beyond a religious calendar

Holy Week 2026 represents the convergence of deep spiritual tradition and cultural value. For the Catholic Church, it is the heart of the liturgical year, the period in which the fundamental mysteries of faith are remembered and experienced: the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The rites, fasts, and Easter gatherings characteristic of this week have endured for centuries, passing down the essence of the Christian creed from generation to generation.

In the Argentine context, Holy Week 2026 takes on an additional dimension by allowing a prolonged rest that combines religious devotion with national remembrance. The recognition of April 2 as Veterans and Fallen Soldiers Day in the Falklands War intertwines spiritual commemoration with the country’s collective memory.

For those wishing to prepare properly, it is important to remember that Holy Week 2026 is preceded by Lent, a 40-day period of preparation that already has its calendar set. This ritual sequence, maintained since the early Church councils, ensures that each date has its purpose and meaning within the plan of Christian salvation.