What does the Americas risk forecast April 2026 cover and when are the Easter closures?
Easter celebrations run from 03 to 05 April, starting with Good Friday on 03 April. Holy Thursday on 02 April is a public holiday in Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, Easter Sunday on 05 April is observed in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Peru and Chile, and Easter Monday follows on 06 April. In Latin America the impact is systemic, with mandated holidays shutting businesses and schools and halting industrial productivity in many areas, while in the United States Easter Sunday is not a federal holiday and transit often runs restricted Sunday schedules, creating bottlenecks in rural areas. Other observances include Argentina’s Malvinas Day on 02 April, Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaría Day on 06 April and Brazil’s Tiradentes Day on 21 April.
Which elections will drive risk in April?
Peru holds general elections on 12 April after the impeachment of interim President José Jerí, with more than 30 candidates, no clear frontrunner and a June runoff highly likely; Prime Minister Denisse Miralles resigned on 17 March, and interim President José María Balcázar named Luis Enrique Arroyo as her replacement. Costa Rica’s runoff process is listed for 05 April, although Laura Fernández of the ruling PPSO took 48.3 percent in the first round and her party holds 31 of 57 seats. Canada holds federal by-elections on 13 April in Scarborough Southwest, University-Rosedale and Terrebonne, framed as a confidence test for Prime Minister Mark Carney’s minority government. New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District votes on 16 April, and Bolivia holds gubernatorial runoffs on 19 April in seven of nine departments, including La Paz, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba. Colombia’s campaign, already marred by violence, builds towards a 31 May first round, with Abelardo de la Espriella and Iván Cepeda near the top of a fragmented field.
What security and geopolitical developments carry into April?
The 10 March shooting at the US Consulate General in Toronto, designated a national security incident, prompted tighter protection of US and Israeli missions across Canada and a new Toronto Counter-Terrorism Security Unit. In the US, the 28 March ‘No Kings’ protests drew millions to more than 3,000 events, with follow-up mobilisation expected. The Shield of the Americas Summit on 07 March launched the Americas Counter-Cartel Coalition, raising compliance and regulatory unpredictability for multinationals. The Middle East war pushed Brent crude above USD 126 per barrel, lifting US gasoline and fertiliser prices, and the Russia–Ukraine war continues. In Peru, Coastal El Niño flooding has led to states of emergency in more than 700 districts, at least 58 deaths and over 900 km of damaged roads, while Argentina’s WHO withdrawal may complicate health compliance.
What are the business continuity risks?
The Americas risk forecast April 2026 highlights governance fragility more than immediate policy reversal. Cabinet turnover and fragmented mandates in Peru and Colombia, and minority governance in Canada, can slow approvals and raise investor caution, particularly in mining, infrastructure and regulated sectors. Easter shutdowns halt commercial operations and public services across Latin America, and holiday travel strains airports, highways and transit. Rallies, polling-day security and post-result gatherings can cause localised congestion and access limits around government buildings, while protests in US cities have disrupted central business districts. Peruvian flooding continues to disrupt roads, agricultural supply chains and workforce attendance, and higher energy prices and possible sanctions or trade restrictions tied to anti-cartel operations add cost and compliance risk.
What should organisations and individuals do to prepare?
Organisations should build Easter shutdowns and travel peaks into production, shipping and payroll plans, avoid scheduling critical activity between 02 and 06 April and confirm supplier availability. Around elections on 05, 12, 13, 16 and 19 April, arrange travel away from polling stations and government districts, and monitor cabinet appointments, protest indicators and official results in Peru, Colombia and Bolivia. Firms with Peruvian exposure should reroute logistics, hold inventory buffers and set employee safety protocols, and multinationals should diversify critical supply chains, prepare scenario plans for regulatory shifts and follow US State Department alerts such as the one for Toronto. Individuals should stay vigilant in crowded areas, monitor local media and check transport schedules before travelling.
Frequently asked questions
When are Good Friday and Easter Sunday in 2026 in the Americas?
Good Friday is 03 April 2026 and Easter Sunday is 05 April 2026; Holy Thursday (02 April) and Easter Monday (06 April) are also public holidays in several countries.
Which countries hold elections in April 2026?
Costa Rica (runoff process, 05 April), Peru (general elections, 12 April), Canada (federal by-elections, 13 April), the United States (New Jersey’s 11th District, 16 April) and Bolivia (gubernatorial runoffs, 19 April); Colombia campaigns throughout April.
How can businesses receive real-time risk alerts?
Datasurfr’s Curated Daily Risk Tracker is delivered at the start of each weekday and its Automated Alerts feature provides real-time updates to subscribers. MitKat can be reached on +91 11 4123 6710 (India), +65 9452 1622 (Singapore) or +44 20 3985 7571 (London).
Download the full forecast now
The Americas risk forecast April 2026 from Datasurfr carries the complete event calendar, country-level analysis, March high-impact updates and escalation snapshots. Download the full forecast now to brief your travel and continuity teams.
Filed under: AmericasRegional Risk Reviews
