In a new policy announcement made public on November 12, 2026, the Government of Belize has confirmed an upcoming goods and services tax (GST)-free shopping weekend scheduled for January 23 and 24, 2027, extending targeted cost relief for local households well beyond the peak 2026 Christmas holiday shopping window. This additional tax break is a core component of the John Briceño administration’s broader strategy to mitigate financial pressure on families during the locally dubbed “maaga season” — the post-holiday period when most residents face severely stretched budgets after depleting savings and discretionary income on Christmas celebrations, gifts, and festive gatherings. The new January GST-free weekend follows two previously announced tax-free shopping periods set to take place in December 2026, creating a consecutive stretch of tax relief spanning the end of the 2026 holiday season and the opening weeks of the new calendar year. Prime Minister Briceño emphasized the rationale behind the extended support in public remarks, noting that the well-known local “maaga” period leaves the vast majority of Belizean residents financially drained immediately after Christmas, prompting policymakers to design an extra targeted measure to deliver modest but meaningful cost savings for everyday shoppers. Alongside the tax-free weekend initiative, the administration has launched a formal review of Belize’s official basic food basket, a curated list of roughly 40 staple products that currently qualify for special tax treatment to support low and middle-income households. Prime Minister Briceño noted that the existing roster of items in the basic food basket includes a number of nutritionally suboptimal products, and the review will prioritize adding healthier, more nutrient-dense staple foods to the list to improve public health outcomes alongside household cost relief. The Ministry of Human Development has been assigned lead responsibility for conducting the full review, consulting with nutrition experts, consumer advocacy groups, and local food suppliers to revise the basic food basket framework in the coming months.