What's on in Tarawa, Kiribati through the year
Tarawa, Kiribati has 5 curated events through the year — 4 holidays and 1 season. The ones to plan around: Independence week (July) and King tides over the causeways (January).
Updated September 2026 · every event curated and sourced · dates for 2026 where they are announced, the usual window where they are not
Tarawa events and crowds by month
January in Tarawa
Tarawa weather in January →Busy — Christmas in the maneaba, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it
- Season
King tides over the causeways
15 Jan – 20 Mar · usuallyFlood seasonSouth Tarawa is a thin line of islets joined by causeways, and the highest tides of the year put seawater across the road and into the wells. It happens on clear days, which is what makes it unnerving.
Still on: Christmas in the maneaba (20 Dec – 2 Jan (usually))
February in Tarawa
Tarawa weather in February →Shoulder season — an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in February.
Still on: King tides over the causeways (15 Jan – 20 Mar (usually))
March in Tarawa
Tarawa weather in March →Busy — Easter
- Holiday
Easter
20 Mar – 27 Apr · usuallyClosuresAmong the biggest holidays in Kiribati: services on Saturday night and Sunday, then Monday and Tuesday go to feasts and dance and song contests in the parish maneaba, with offices and most shops shut. Source ↗
Still on: King tides over the causeways (15 Jan – 20 Mar (usually))
April in Tarawa
Tarawa weather in April →Busy — Easter, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it
Nothing new starts in April.
Still on: Easter (20 Mar – 27 Apr (usually))
May in Tarawa
Tarawa weather in May →Shoulder season — an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in May.
June in Tarawa
Tarawa weather in June →Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in June.
July in Tarawa
Tarawa weather in July →Busy — Independence week, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it
- Holiday
Independence week
10–12 JulNational holidayClosuresThree holidays run together — Gospel Day, culture day and independence on 12 July — and the maneaba fill with dancing from the outer islands. It is the one week of the year Tarawa has visitors. Source ↗
August in Tarawa
Tarawa weather in August →Busy — National Youth Day, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it
- Holiday
National Youth Day
1–7 Aug · usuallyNational holidayClosuresThe first Friday in August, a public holiday in a country where most of the population is under twenty-five. Sport on the causeway fields and offices shut for a long weekend. Source ↗
September in Tarawa
Tarawa weather in September →Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather
Nothing new starts in September.
October in Tarawa
Tarawa weather in October →Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in October.
November in Tarawa
Tarawa weather in November →Busy — one of its best months for weather
Nothing new starts in November.
December in Tarawa
Tarawa weather in December →Busy — Christmas in the maneaba, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it
- Holiday
Christmas in the maneaba
20 Dec – 2 Jan · usuallyChristmas & New YearClosuresVillages along South Tarawa gather after midnight services to eat, sing and dance in the maneaba; expect offices and many shops to close over Christmas and New Year. Source ↗