Union Day in Tanzania in 2025

Union Day in Tanzania in 2025
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Image by weissdergeier , via 123RF
  How long until Union Day?
Union Day
  Dates of Union Day in Tanzania
2026 Tanzania Sun, Apr 26 National Holiday
2025 Tanzania Sat, Apr 26 National Holiday
2024 Tanzania Fri, Apr 26 National Holiday
2023 Tanzania Wed, Apr 26 National Holiday
2022 Tanzania Tue, Apr 26 National Holiday
  Summary

Union Day is a public holiday in Tanzania on April 26th. It marks Zanzibar and Tanganyika becoming the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar in 1964.

Related holidays

When is Union Day in Tanzania?

Union Day is a public holiday in Tanzania on April 26th.

It commemorates the union of Zanzibar and Tanganyika on April 26th 1964.

History of Union Day in Tanzania

The first European to visit Tanzania was Vasco da Gama in 1498. European colonialism in the region began on mainland Tanzania during the late 19th century when Germany formed German East Africa.

Following World War I, the mainland came under British control and was ruled as Tanganyika, with Zanzibar remaining a separate colonial jurisdiction.

Tanganyika gained its independence in 1961. The British ended the protectorate status of Zanzibar in December 1963 making it constitutional monarchy under the rule of Sultan Jamshid bin Abdullah. A month later, the Sultan was deposed in a socialist revolution.

On April 26th 1964, Zanzibar and Tanganyika became the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar with the country renamed to Tanzania in October of that year.

Zanzibar is now a semi-autonomous region within Tanzania.

Did you know?

'Tanzania' is a combination of 'Tan' from Tanganyika and 'Zan' from Zanzibar, reflecting the origin of the country.


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