Independence Day (Madagascar)

Independence Day is a public holiday in Madagascar, observed on June 26 each year. The holiday commemorates the anniversary when Madagascar gained independence from France on this day in 1960.

Madagascar is an island country in the Indian Ocean. The archaeological evidence found people may have inhabited the island for thousands of years. European contact started in the 1500s when Portuguese explorers first sighted the island.

The French arrived and established trading posts in the late 17th century. Due to the trans-Atlantic slave trade, Madagascar gained prominence among European traders. In 1883, the French invaded Madagascar, gained the northern part of the island, and became a French protectorate in 1890. By 1896, France annexed the whole island and declared it a colony the following year.

Under French rule, plantations were established, and the economy in Madagascar prospered. However, the nationalist movement has also been making progress. On October 14, 1958, the Malagasy Republic proclaimed an autonomous state within the French Community, and on June 26, 1960, Madagascar gained its full independence.

The following is the list of Independence Day in Madagascar from 2022 to 2026.

Please check more public holidays in Madagascar: