Araw ng mga Santo 2026 Countdown

In 2026, Araw ng mga Santo, known in English as All Saints' Day, falls on Sunday, 1 November in the Philippines. The observed date is the same as the traditional date, so there is no separate shifted working-day observance to plan around.

Because Araw ng mga Santo 2026 lands on a Sunday, many people combine it with the regular weekend for family gatherings and cemetery visits. Workers who normally have Sundays off may find it easier to travel back to their home provinces, while those in weekend shifts may rely on special company arrangements instead of a separate weekday off.

Araw ng mga Santo in the Philippines is the local expression of the Christian All Saints' Day, a time set aside to honor all saints and holy men and women, both known and unknown. In Filipino culture, it forms part of a wider period often called "Undas," which links All Saints' Day on 1 November with All Souls' Day on 2 November, creating a focused time for remembering the dead.

Historical roots go back to Spanish colonial times, when Catholic observances blended with older Filipino practices of ancestor veneration. Over generations, Araw ng mga Santo has become less formal for many families and more of a reunion-style occasion centered on the cemetery, where relatives gather, light candles, bring flowers, and share stories about loved ones. The local name highlights how the global Christian feast has taken on specifically Filipino customs and meanings.

Araw ng mga Santo is widely treated as a public holiday across the Philippines, and in many years it is classified by the government as a non-working holiday. This usually means many government offices, most schools, and a number of private offices do not operate on 1 November, although exact arrangements can vary by employer and sector.

Daily life does not stop entirely, however. Shopping malls, convenience stores, and many restaurants tend to open, often with adjusted hours that reflect the heavy flow of people to cemeteries and transport hubs. Public transport usually keeps running, and in some areas additional trips are scheduled to handle the movement of people returning to their home towns for Araw ng mga Santo and the following day.

Typical observance of Araw ng mga Santo centers on visits to cemeteries and memorial parks, where families clean and repaint tombs, offer flowers, and light candles. Many bring food and drinks, turning the day and evening into an extended gathering at the gravesites of relatives, with conversations, prayers, and quiet reminiscence.

Church attendance also plays a part for many people, with Masses dedicated to All Saints' Day held throughout the day. Beyond formal religious services, customs vary by region: some families prefer daytime visits to avoid crowds, while others choose to stay into the night, when cemeteries fill with candles and small stalls selling food, drinks, and candles create a unique atmosphere that visitors to the Philippines often find striking.

On Sunday, 1 November 2026, planning ahead for Araw ng mga Santo is important, especially if you intend to travel to cemeteries or provincial towns. Traffic near major burial grounds can be heavy, and parking space is often limited, so many families choose early morning or late evening visits to avoid the peak crowds.

Residents may want to complete urgent errands on the days before the long Undas weekend, since some offices and smaller shops may shorten operating hours on All Saints' Day. For those working on Sunday shifts, checking company schedules in advance can help with arranging time off or swapping shifts, particularly if you need to travel out of the city to join family observances.

Visitors in the Philippines on All Saints' Day 2026 will encounter a slower, more reflective rhythm, especially in cities and towns with large cemeteries. Hotels and major tourist areas generally continue operating, but local traffic patterns shift as many residents focus on family, gravesite visits, and church activities.

Travelers curious about Araw ng mga Santo can respectfully visit public cemeteries, observing local customs such as modest dress, keeping walkways clear, and avoiding loud behavior near families at prayer. It is wise to allow extra time for journeys on and around 1 November, particularly if your route passes near major memorial parks, and to check ahead for any special holiday schedules on public transportation or inter-island travel.