It’s official — August 21, 2026 is confirmed as a special non-working holiday nationwide. The date is set out in Proclamation No. 1006, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on behalf of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., which lays out the full 2026 Philippine holiday calendar.
Malacañang has already locked in the country’s 2026 holiday schedule — nearly a year ahead of time — through Proclamation No. 1006, signed on September 3, 2025. Among the dates it confirms: August 21, 2026 (Friday), observed nationwide as Ninoy Aquino Day.
Here’s what the proclamation actually says, and what it means for workers, schools, and government offices.
New to this cluster? Start with Walang Pasok: Is August 21, 2026 a Holiday in the Philippines? for the full breakdown of the holiday itself.
WHAT THE PROCLAMATION SAYS
President Marcos, through Proclamation No. 1006, laid out the full slate of regular holidays, special non-working days, and special working days for 2026. The proclamation confirms Ninoy Aquino Day’s standing basis: Republic Act No. 9256, which permanently declares August 21 of every year a national non-working holiday commemorating the death anniversary of former Senator Benigno S. Aquino Jr.
Unlike some dates on the 2026 calendar — Chinese New Year, Black Saturday, or the additional non-working days around All Souls’ Day and Christmas Eve — which needed to be affirmatively declared each year, Ninoy Aquino Day’s observance is already fixed into law via RA 9256. Proclamation No. 1006 simply restates and confirms it as part of the complete annual holiday list, giving businesses, schools, and government offices a full calendar to plan around well in advance.
Curious what it means for your paycheck? See Ninoy Aquino Day Pay Rules: What You’re Entitled to If You Work.
WHO SIGNED IT, AND WHEN
- Proclamation: No. 1006
- Signed by: Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, by authority of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
- Date signed: September 3, 2025
- Released to the public: September 4–5, 2025
- Effect: Immediate, covering the full 2026 calendar year
The proclamation also directed the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to issue implementing guidelines, which take effect alongside it — the same guidelines that govern the holiday pay computations covered in our companion article.
WHERE AUGUST 21 FITS IN THE FULL 2026 CALENDAR
Proclamation No. 1006 covers the entire year, not just August. A few other dates it confirmed alongside Ninoy Aquino Day:
| Date | Occasion | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 17, 2026 (Tue) | Chinese New Year | Special non-working day |
| Feb. 25, 2026 (Wed) | EDSA People Power Anniversary | Special working day |
| Apr. 4, 2026 (Sat) | Black Saturday | Special non-working day |
| Aug. 21, 2026 (Fri) | Ninoy Aquino Day | Special non-working holiday |
| Aug. 31, 2026 (Mon) | National Heroes Day | Regular holiday |
| Nov. 2, 2026 (Mon) | All Souls’ Day (additional) | Special non-working day |
| Dec. 8, 2026 | Feast of the Immaculate Conception | Special non-working day |
| Dec. 24, 2026 (Thu) | Christmas Eve (additional) | Special non-working day |
Note: Eidul Fitr and Eidul Adha dates are issued separately once the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos confirms them against the Islamic (Hijra) calendar.
WHY THIS MATTERS
A few practical reasons an early, confirmed proclamation is useful:
- Businesses and HR teams can plan payroll and staffing well ahead of the date, rather than waiting on a last-minute advisory.
- Schools can finalize academic calendars a full year out.
- Travelers can book flights and accommodations around confirmed long weekends — like the one August 21 creates — without worrying about a date shifting.
- Workers have legal certainty on which pay rules apply, since the classification (special non-working, in this case) is what determines the “no work, no pay” versus premium-pay computation.
Planning around the confirmed date? See August 2026’s Double Long Weekend: Where to Go and When.
FAQS
It’s the official document, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin under President Marcos’s authority, declaring the full list of regular holidays and special non-working days for 2026.
September 3, 2025 — well ahead of the calendar year it covers.
It confirms it. The holiday’s legal basis is Republic Act No. 9256, which permanently sets August 21 as a national non-working holiday every year.
It’s highly unlikely at this point, since the proclamation is already signed and in effect, but any changes would be announced through a separate presidential proclamation or DOLE advisory.
It’s published through the Presidential Communications Office and the Official Gazette.
THE BOTTOM LINE
August 21, 2026 isn’t a last-minute “will there be class suspensions” situation — it’s been locked in as a special non-working holiday since September 2025. Between Proclamation No. 1006 and the standing authority of RA 9256, Filipinos can plan their long weekend with confidence.
🏛️ Continue exploring our Ninoy Aquino Day coverage: Walang Pasok: Is August 21, 2026 a Holiday in the Philippines? · Ninoy Aquino Day Pay Rules: What You’re Entitled to If You Work · August 2026’s Double Long Weekend: Where to Go and When
SOURCES / FOOTNOTES
- Presidential Communications Office, “PBBM issues proclamation declaring regular holidays, special non-working days for 2026”, September 2025.
- Presidential Communications Office, “Proclamation No. 1006: Declaring the regular holidays and special (non-working) days for the year 2026”.
- Philippine News Agency, “Palace releases official list of 2026 holidays”.
- Human Resources Online, “Philippines public holidays 2026: Full list of regular and special non-working days”.
- Philippine Daily Inquirer, “LIST: 2026 regular holidays, special non-working days”.
- LawPhil, “Proclamation No. 1006”.
