Emancipation Day 2024, 2025 and 2026 in Puerto Rico

Many of the holidays in Puerto Rico are the same as in the United States, but on 22 March, Puerto Rico celebrates its own unique holiday called Emancipation Day.

Year	Date	Day	Holiday
2024	22 Mar	Fri	Emancipation Day
2025	22 Mar	Sat	Emancipation Day
2026	22 Mar	Sun	Emancipation Day
Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates.

Emancipation Day looks back to the day in 1873 when, while still under Spanish rule, slavery was officially abolished throughout the island. Nonetheless, “freed” slaves were forced to work three more years for their former masters to reimburse them for the loss of their “property”. In addition, slave owners were given money by the government to compensate them for their loss.

But even though it took a little longer for slavery to fully and truly end in Puerto Rico, it’s the date of the passing of the anti-slavery law on 22 March 1873 that’s the basis of the holiday’s date.

For Emancipation Day, Puerto Ricans throw colourful, boisterous parties, fill themselves with traditional cuisine, and remember the history of slavery in Puerto Rico and how it was abolished.

Previous Years

Year	Date	Day	Holiday
2023	22 Mar	Wed	Emancipation Day
2022	22 Mar	Tue	Emancipation Day
2021	22 Mar	Mon	Emancipation Day
2020	22 Mar	Sun	Emancipation Day
	23 Mar	Mon	Emancipation Day Holiday
2019	22 Mar	Fri	Emancipation Day
2018	22 Mar	Thu	Emancipation Day
2017	22 Mar	Wed	Emancipation Day