Belize Independence Day for the year 2024 is celebrated/observed on Thursday, September 21st. There are until the next observance.

Belize Independence Day, observed on September 21, signifies a significant accomplishment for the Belizean people, who campaigned for many years for independence from Great Britain. Annually celebrated as a national holiday across the country, joyful celebrations include parades, dazzling costumes, and music. It’s also the perfect time to visit this lovely nation. Belize is a Central American nation located on the eastern shore of the Hondo River. It is bordered to the north by Guatemala and to the northeast by Mexico.

📆 When is Belize Independence Day?

This year, Belize Independence Day is on September 21st. It is the 3rd Thursday in September; in 2024, it is on Saturday.

Countdown to Belize Independence Day

Did you know: Belize has a population of just 355,000 people and spans an area of 22,966 square miles (roughly the size of Massachusetts).

You can also view all fascinating things you didn’t know about and facts about September 21, 2023.

📜 History of Belize Independence Day

Under their “Bay Settlement,” Spain awarded the British rights to the territory in 1638. They did not, however, dwell in or even visit the area for more than 100 years after that date. However, additional Europeans arrived, primarily buccaneers and loggers using Belize as a base for their criminal operations. In 1763, Spain allowed the British permission to chop logwood in order to secure their area from pirates, resulting in a logwood boom that lasted for many years. Pirates like Henry Morgan became legendary during this period, but it wasn’t until 1783 that Spain formally accepted Britain’s claim to the region.

Over the following century, tensions between Britain and Spain remained high due to Britain’s failure to evacuate people from Spanish territory in neighboring Guatemala. On September 21, 1981, Belize declared independence from the United Kingdom. Until 1973, it was known as British Honduras before becoming a self-governing colony. In 1973, the country’s name was changed to Belize to honor its people’s Maya history. It joined the Commonwealth as an independent member in 1981 before joining the Organization of American States (O.A.S.) in 1990 and the United Nations (U.N.) in 1993.

☑️ Belize Independence Day facts

It has an amazing Barrier Reef
Belize’s Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of the world’s second-largest reef system, behind Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, and provides a great habitat for fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, and sailing.

Home to the Great Blue Hole
The famous explorer and marine scientist Jacques Cousteau found the Great Blue Hole, a place to dive in the middle of an offshore coral atoll that is often on lists of the best places to dive in the world.

It’s the capital of ancient Maya
The Mayan Empire spanned over a thousand kilometers, including modern-day Belize.

Things to do on Belize Independence Day

Attend a local parade
Independence Day parades are held across Belize, generally starting in the morning and lasting into the afternoon. Join your fellow Belizeans in dancing to soca music and proudly waving their national flags. The largest parade takes place on Albert Roadway in Belize City, transforming the capital city into a sea of red, blue, and white as marchers make their way down the main street.

Have a barbecue
Barbecues are one of the most popular ways to commemorate Belize’s Independence Day. Throw a party for your family and friends. Serve some typical Belizean food if you’re seeking a certain style of cuisine. Rice and beans, fried jacks, chin mole (a spicy soup), and bile up (a sweet dish made with rice flour) are some of our favorites.

Watch fireworks over the Caribbean Sea
As nightfall approaches, bright fireworks light up the sky along the shore. Find anyplace along The Placencia Sidewalk in Placencia village while enjoying a beverage or ice cream cone from one of the sidewalk’s many stores or eateries.

📅 Belize Independence Day Observances

YEAR DATE DAY
2023 September 21 Thursday
2024 September 21 Saturday
2025 September 21 Sunday
2026 September 21 Monday
2027 September 21 Tuesday

View all September holidays, including Federal and other Civic holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and interesting facts about Belize Independence Day. So be sure to check back soon.