Is it a holiday or not? What you need to know about August 15 and the long weekend

With the arrival of August, many wondered  whether this Friday the 15th would be a national holiday or a non-working day. The answer determines who will have a long weekend and who will work as usual.

According to the official calendar of the Cabinet Office, the date has been declared a non-working day for tourism purposes. This provision is part of Law 27,399, which authorizes the Executive Branch to set up to three such days per year to promote domestic tourism.

The choice is not random: it is linked to August 17, General José de San Martín's Passage to Immortality Day. Since in 2025 the commemoration falls on a Sunday, it is not moved and will only benefit those who work that day.

Holiday vs. non-working day: the differences

A national holiday means mandatory rest for all workers. If someone provides services that day, the employer must pay double the usual wage, as established by Labor Contract Law 20,744.

Meanwhile, a non-working day is optional for the employer. According to Article 182 of the same law, companies can decide whether to operate or not. If work is performed, the payment is the usual one, with no additional compensation. If no work is performed, the corresponding salary is still paid.

For this reason, August 15 will only be a day off for those who work at companies that decide not to open their doors.

What remains of the 2025 calendar

In addition to August 15, the year offers other key dates for rest and tourism:

August

• Friday the 15th: non-working bridge day
• Sunday the 17th: General José de San Martín's Passage to Immortality Day (movable holiday)

October

• Sunday the 12th: Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity (movable holiday)

November

• Friday the 21st: non-working bridge day
• Monday the 24th: National Sovereignty Day (moved from Thursday the 20th)

December

• Monday the 8th: Immaculate Conception of Mary (non-movable holiday)
• Thursday the 25th: Christmas (non-movable holiday)

In summary, this Friday is not a holiday and only some will have the day off, but there are still several opportunities left to plan getaways for the remainder of 2025.