US

Washington DC Capitol dome detail with waving US flag © Andrea Izzotti / shutterstock.com

The United States Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate General in Lagos have released their remaining public holiday schedule for 2026, with both missions set to close on eight occasions between August and December in observance of Nigerian and American holidays.

According to the schedule on the US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria website, consular and other routine public services will be unavailable on the designated dates.

The first of the remaining closures will be on Tuesday, August 25, to mark Eid-El-Maulud, the celebration of the birth of Prophet Muhammad, which is recognised as a public holiday in Nigeria.

The missions will also close on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labour Day in the United States and again on Thursday, October 1, for Nigeria’s Independence Day.

Another closure is scheduled for Monday, October 12, to commemorate Columbus Day in the United States.

In November, the embassy and consulate will suspend operations on Wednesday, November 11, for Veterans Day, and on Thursday, November 26, for Thanksgiving Day.

The diplomatic missions will also be closed on Friday, December 25, for Christmas Day, which is observed in both Nigeria and the United States.

The final holiday closure for the year will be on Saturday, December 26, for Boxing Day, a recognised public holiday in Nigeria.

The embassy advised visa applicants and those seeking passport, notarial or other consular services to schedule their appointments with the holiday timetable in mind, as regular public services will not be available on those dates.

It, however, noted that emergency assistance for US citizens would remain available throughout the holiday periods.

The remaining US Embassy and Consulate holiday closures for 2026 are:

Date Day Holiday Observed by August 25, 2026 Tuesday Eid-El-Maulud Nigeria September 7, 2026 Monday Labour Day United States October 1, 2026 Thursday Nigeria Independence Day Nigeria October 12, 2026 Monday Columbus Day United States November 11, 2026 Wednesday Veterans Day United States November 26, 2026 Thursday Thanksgiving Day United States December 25, 2026 Friday Christmas Day Nigeria and United States December 26, 2026 Saturday Boxing Day Nigeria