Friday, April 17, 2026 will be a civic day of Peace with Nature in Colombiaa day established by decree that will modify the operation of public entities and some administrative deadlines, without becoming a national holiday.
The commemoration was instituted by Decree 500 of 2024which stated that The third Friday of April of each year will be considered a civic day. For 2026, the date corresponds to April 17the day on which the entities of the Executive Branch of the national order will suspend their activities and attention to the public.
Civic day in Colombia this April 17. Photo:iStock
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Who rests and who does not on civic day?
The provision applies mainly to ministries, administrative departments and superintendencies. However, it does not make the date a national holiday, so its impact is limited compared to the mandatory rest days defined by law.
The decree establishes that the territorial entities, the Legislative and Judicial branches, as well as autonomous organizations, may decide independently whether or not to adopt the day as a non-working day. This implies that in several regions of the country institutional activity could be maintained without changes.
In addition, The measure does not apply to essential services. Sectors such as health, police, emergency response, mobility and security They must operate normally to guarantee the continuity of essential functions.
In the private sector, the civic day is not mandatory. Companies can decide whether or not to accept it, but there is no obligation to suspend work. nor to grant the day off to workers.
The civic day is not mandatory. Photo:iStock
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Will there be additional surcharges?
Because It is not a legal holiday, the day does not generate additional charges. Workers who provide their services will receive their usual remuneration, as on any ordinary Friday.
The suspension of activities in national entities implies that administrative procedures scheduled for that day must be rescheduled. In particular, the National Tax and Customs Directorate confirmed that the tax deadlines scheduled for April 17 will be moved to Monday, April 20, 2026.
This adjustment generates a chain effect on the fiscal calendar, since the deadlines in Colombia are calculated in business days. Therefore, Taxpayers and companies must review their obligations to avoid non-compliance.
The national government established the Civic Day of Peace with Nature with the aim of promoting environmental awareness and citizen participation. According to the provisions of the decree, the date seeks to encourage reflection on the care of the environment, sustainability and the protection of natural resources.
The day is conceived as a space to develop pedagogical, cultural and social activities aimed at strengthening the relationship between society and ecosystemswithout affecting the provision of essential services or imposing a mandatory rest throughout the country.
*This content was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on publicly known information disclosed to the media. In addition, it was reviewed by a journalist and an editor.
