Liberation Day is a public holiday in Guam, and it is observed on July 21 each year. The holiday commemorates the arrival of the US military forces on July 21, 1944, which ended the Japanese occupation of Guam in 1941.
Guam is a territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. People inhabited the island for thousands of years before the first European travelled here in 1521. Guam became one of the Spanish colonies in 1565.
Guam was ceded to the United States in 1898 following Spain's defeat in the Spanish-American War. During World War II, Japanese troops invaded and occupied Guam on December 8, 1941, and the residents suffered forced labour and families separation during this period.
On July 21, 1944, the United States returned and fought the Battle of Guam to recapture the island. The battle ended with the victory of the United States on August 10, 1944.
Liberation Day is one of the most important festivals in Guam, and the holiday is marked with a grand parade in the capital Hagåtña and fireworks around the island.
The following is the list of Liberation Day in Guam from 2022 to 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Liberation Day | Jul 21, 2022 | Thursday |
| Liberation Day | Jul 21, 2023 | Friday |
| Liberation Day | Jul 21, 2024 | Sunday |
| Liberation Day | Jul 21, 2025 | Monday |
| Liberation Day | Jul 21, 2026 | Tuesday |
Please check more public holidays in Guam: