National and municipal public offices across Panama will close for two days during the 2026 Carnival season. The closures are scheduled for Monday, February 16, and Wednesday, February 18, which coincides with Ash Wednesday. President Laurentino Cortizo’s administration formalized the plan through Executive Decree No. 3, signed on January 12, 2026.
The decree also outlines a mandatory compensation mechanism for public sector employees. To offset the lost workdays, civil servants must work one extra hour per day for a period of sixteen days.
Extended Work Hours Schedule for Public Employees
According to the official document, the additional hour must be completed after an employee’s regular departure time. The specific dates for this extended schedule are January 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and February 2, 2026. This structure allows the government to maintain official operational hours without incurring extra payroll costs for the holiday closures.
A government spokesperson explained the rationale behind the compensatory measure. The goal is balancing cultural tradition with public service continuity and fiscal responsibility.
“This decree respects our national festivities while ensuring the state fulfills its functions,” the official stated. [Translated from Spanish] “The compensatory hour system is a fair and organized method to recover the time corresponding to both closure days, safeguarding the provision of essential services.”
The mandatory national holiday of Carnival Tuesday, falling on February 17, 2026, remains unaffected by this new decree. That day’s closure is already enshrined in Article 46 of the nation’s Labor Code of Panama.
Essential Services to Remain Operational
Not all government entities will shutter their doors. The decree provides explicit exceptions for institutions deemed critical. These agencies must maintain normal operations to protect public health, safety, and commerce.
The list of exempted services is extensive. It includes the National Institute of Aqueducts and Sewer Systems (Idaan), all Ministry of Health facilities, and the Social Security Fund hospitals. The Benemérito Fire Department, the National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc), and the National Migration Service are also excluded from the closure order.
Transportation and infrastructure will continue running. The Panama Metro, the Land Transit and Transportation Authority (ATTT), and the Civil Aviation Authority will operate normally. Key economic and logistical hubs like the Tocumen International Airport, the National Customs Authority, and the Panama Ports Authority are required to stay open. This ensures that the flow of international trade and travel experiences minimal disruption during the holiday period. Entities like the Urban and Household Sanitation Authority and the agricultural quarantine service are also on the exemption list.
This approach highlights the government’s focus on maintaining security and commerce. Keeping ports and the main aeropuerto internacional operational is a priority for both economic and security reasons. The entire Public Force will remain on active duty throughout the Carnival celebrations.
Government officials have begun notifying department heads to implement the extended hour schedule in January. The plan aims to minimize any potential impact on citizens who need to conduct business with the state before the festive closures in February.