Public Holidays in Libya (LY) 2026 | Islamic & National

Libya has 14 individual statutory public-holiday dates in 2026 under Law No. 5 of 2012 and subsequent year-specific government decisions. The calendar includes national commemorations, Labour Day and several Islamic holidays. Because Islamic holiday dates depend on the Hijri calendar and official confirmation, the 2026 dates for Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Islamic New Year and the Prophet Muhammad's Birthday were confirmed separately during the year.

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Next Public Holiday in Libya

[next_public_holiday country="Libya"]

Public Holidays in Libya 2026

[public_holidays country="Libya" year="2026"]

How Many Public Holidays Are There in Libya in 2026?

There are 14 individual statutory public-holiday dates in Libya in 2026. This total counts each legally recognized day of the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha periods separately.

The principal legal basis is Law No. 5 of 2012 concerning official holidays. The law establishes Libya's official holiday schedule and allows the competent legislative authority to amend the schedule when necessary.

Islamic Public Holidays in Libya

Libya's statutory calendar includes the Islamic New Year, the Prophet Muhammad's Birthday, three days of Eid al-Fitr, Arafat Day and three days of Eid al-Adha.

Unlike fixed Gregorian holidays, the corresponding Gregorian dates of these religious holidays must be confirmed for each year. Moon sighting and official government announcements therefore play an important role in determining the final dates used in the public-holiday calendar.

Eid al-Fitr 2026

Prime Ministerial Decision No. 117 of 2026 designated the first, second and third days of Shawwal as official Eid al-Fitr holidays.

Libya's Dar al-Ifta subsequently confirmed that the first day of Shawwal fell on Friday, 20 March 2026 after the Shawwal crescent was sighted. The statutory Eid al-Fitr holiday therefore covered 20, 21 and 22 March 2026.

The official announcement can be checked through the Libyan News Agency's report on the 2026 Eid al-Fitr decision.

Was the Fourth Day of Eid al-Fitr an Official Public Holiday?

Decision No. 117 of 2026 also granted the fourth day of Shawwal as leave for employees of public entities and equivalent bodies. However, Libya's statutory holiday schedule identifies only the first three days of Eid al-Fitr as official holidays.

The additional fourth-day public-sector leave is therefore kept separate from the primary nationwide statutory public-holiday dataset.

Arafat Day and Eid al-Adha 2026

The Libyan government officially designated Tuesday, 26 May 2026 as Arafat Day. Eid al-Adha then covered Wednesday, 27 May through Friday, 29 May.

Libya's Dar al-Ifta independently confirmed 27 May as the first day of Eid al-Adha. The Libyan News Agency's government announcement confirms the complete Arafat Day and Eid al-Adha holiday period.

Islamic New Year 2026

The Government of National Unity declared Tuesday, 16 June 2026 an official holiday for the Islamic New Year 1448 AH.

The announcement was published by the Libyan Government Communication Center.

Prophet Muhammad's Birthday 2026

Tuesday, 25 August 2026 was officially declared a public holiday for the Prophet Muhammad's Birthday. The date corresponded to 12 Rabi al-Awwal 1448 AH.

The year-specific declaration was reported by the Libyan News Agency.

National Public Holidays in Libya

Libya's statutory calendar also includes several fixed Gregorian dates associated with the country's political and national history.

17 February Revolution Day

17 February is included in Libya's statutory holiday framework. For 2026, Prime Ministerial Decision No. 55 of 2026 expressly declared Tuesday, 17 February an official holiday marking the anniversary of the 17 February Revolution.

Martyr's Day

Martyr's Day is observed on 16 September and commemorates the martyrdom of Omar al-Mukhtar. In 2026, the government issued a specific decision confirming Wednesday, 16 September as an official holiday.

Liberation Day

Liberation Day is a fixed statutory public holiday observed on 23 October. Law No. 5 of 2012 identifies the date as the anniversary of Libya's 2011 liberation.

Independence Day

Libyan Independence Day is observed on 24 December. The statutory holiday commemorates Libya's independence in 1951 and is fixed directly by Law No. 5 of 2012.

International Labour Day in Libya

International Labour Day on 1 May is included in Law No. 5 of 2012 as an official holiday.

For 2026, the Government of National Unity issued Decision No. 171 of 2026 confirming Friday, 1 May as an official holiday in public institutions and bodies.

How Are Islamic Holiday Dates Confirmed in Libya?

Islamic holidays follow the Hijri calendar, so their Gregorian dates can vary from one year to another. For holidays tied to the beginning of an Islamic month, religious confirmation may be required before the final Gregorian date is established.

In 2026, Libya's Dar al-Ifta confirmed the beginning of Shawwal following reports from crescent-sighting committees, establishing 20 March as the first day of Eid al-Fitr. It also confirmed the beginning of Dhu al-Hijjah, establishing Arafat Day on 26 May and the first day of Eid al-Adha on 27 May.

For this reason, projected religious dates should not be treated as confirmed Libyan public holidays until an appropriate authority or government decision establishes the applicable date.

Do Essential Services Close on Public Holidays in Libya?

Not necessarily. Several 2026 holiday decisions expressly excluded institutions and facilities providing urgent humanitarian or security services from complete closure.

The announcements also preserved the legal rights of employees required to work during those holidays. The exact arrangements depend on the applicable legislation and the nature of the institution.

Fixed and Variable Public Holidays in Libya

Some Libyan holidays are fixed to the same Gregorian date each year. These include 17 February Revolution Day, Labour Day on 1 May, Martyr's Day on 16 September, Liberation Day on 23 October and Independence Day on 24 December.

Islamic New Year, the Prophet Muhammad's Birthday, Eid al-Fitr, Arafat Day and Eid al-Adha move through the Gregorian calendar. Their dates should therefore be checked against current official announcements each year.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many public holiday dates are there in Libya in 2026?

There are 14 individual statutory public-holiday dates in the verified 2026 Libya dataset. Multi-day Eid holidays are counted as separate calendar dates.

What is the next public holiday in Libya?

The next holiday changes throughout the year. The live VisaBoards section near the top of this page displays the upcoming Libyan public holiday using the current holiday database.

When was Eid al-Fitr in Libya in 2026?

The first day of Eid al-Fitr was Friday, 20 March 2026. The three statutory Eid al-Fitr holiday dates were 20, 21 and 22 March.

Was 23 March 2026 an official Eid al-Fitr public holiday?

The fourth day of Shawwal was granted as leave to employees of public entities under the 2026 government decision, but Libya's statutory holiday schedule defines only the first three days of Eid al-Fitr as official holidays. It is therefore not included in the primary nationwide statutory-holiday dataset.

When was Eid al-Adha in Libya in 2026?

Arafat Day was observed on 26 May 2026, followed by the three statutory Eid al-Adha holidays on 27, 28 and 29 May.

When was the Islamic New Year holiday in Libya in 2026?