Custom Chief’s Day 2025, 2026 and 2027 in Vanuatu

Custom Chief’s Day honours the important role of chiefs in Vanuatu culture and society.

Year	Date	Day	Holiday
2025	5 Mar	Wed	Custom Chief's Day
2026	5 Mar	Thu	Custom Chief's Day
2027	5 Mar	Fri	Custom Chief's Day
Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates.

In the widely scattered, South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, chiefs have always been the most powerful and influential of local political figures. Even today, after a century of British-French rule and the erection of parliamentary national government, local chiefs retain “clout.”

The council of chiefs called the “Malvatu Mauri” still gives parliament guidance on cultural matters, and the national holiday called “Custom Chief’s Day” honours the ancient role of chiefs every March 5th. The holiday has continued since 1977, and each of the nation’s 83 islands has its own unique ways of celebrating it.

While events vary from island to island and village to village, look for large feasts featuring native cuisine, traditional singing and dancing, public sports matches, carnivals, agricultural shows, arts displays, and other intriguing cultural events.

Previous Years

Year	Date	Day	Holiday
2024	5 Mar	Tue	Custom Chief's Day
2023	5 Mar	Sun	Custom Chief's Day
	6 Mar	Mon	Custom Chief's Day Holiday