Independence Day is a public holiday in Vanuatu, and it is observed on July 30 each year. The holiday commemorates the anniversary when Vanuatu gained its independence in 1980.
Vanuatu, formerly the New Hebrides, is an island country located in the South Pacific Ocean. People began to inhabit the islands about 3000 years ago. The Portuguese explorer Pedro Fernandes de Queirós became the first European to arrive at the archipelago in 1606. Europeans and whaling ships began visiting the islands regularly in the following years.
France and the United Kingdom were both interested in the islands and they agreed to administer the islands jointly in 1906. After World War II, the joint government started to focus on modernization and economic development.
Following the decolonization after World War II, independent movements in Vanuatu started in the early 1970s. Walter Lini established the New Hebrides National Party (NHNP) in 1971. In 1977, the representatives from France, Britain, and Vanuatu held a conference in Paris and agreed that Vanuatu will become independent.
On July 30, 1980, Vanuatu gained independence, and Walter Lini became the first Prime Minister.
The following is the list of Independence Day in Vanuatu from 2022 to 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Independence Day | Jul 30, 2022 | Saturday |
| Independence Day | Jul 30, 2023 | Sunday |
| Independence Day | Jul 30, 2024 | Tuesday |
| Independence Day | Jul 30, 2025 | Wednesday |
| Independence Day | Jul 30, 2026 | Thursday |
Please check more public holidays in Tuvalu:
