Public Holidays in Maldives 2026 – Islamic & National Days
Maldives observes a combination of national, Islamic, and government holidays. Some are fixed dates (e.g., Independence Day, Republic Day), while Islamic holidays follow the lunar calendar and may shift by one day depending on moon sighting.
Overview of Maldives’ Public Holidays
Maldives’ holiday calendar includes:
- Fixed national holidays such as New Year’s Day, Labour Day, Independence Day, Victory Day, Republic Day, National Day
- Islamic holidays: Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Islamic New Year, and other observances tied to the Hijri calendar
- Government / bank holidays linked to presidential addresses, special government observances, and weather contingencies
Because Islamic holidays depend on lunar sighting, the exact Gregorian date can vary slightly. Always check local announcements closer to the time.
List of Public Holidays in Maldives (2026)
| Date | Day | Holiday | Remarks / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Thursday | New Year’s Day | Fixed national holiday |
| January 2 | Friday | New Year Holiday | Additional government holiday |
| February 5 | Thursday | Majlis Presidential Address | Government holiday |
| February 18 | Wednesday | Beginning of Ramadan (approx.) | Islamic observance |
| March 20–23 | Fri–Mon | Eid al-Fitr Period (approx.) | Multiple public / government holidays |
| March 24–26 | Tue–Thu | Eid al-Fitr Holiday | Continuation of Eid holidays |
| May 1 | Friday | Labour Day / May Day | Fixed workers’ holiday |
| May 26 | Tuesday | Hajj Day (approx.) | Islamic observance |
| May 27–30 | Wed–Sat | Eid al-Adha (approx.) | Multiple days of Eid celebration |
| June 16 | Tuesday | Islamic New Year (1 Muharram) (approx.) | Hijri New Year |
| July 26 | Sunday | Independence Day | Marks independence from the UK (1965) |
| July 27 | Monday | Independence Day Holiday | Observed in lieu |
| August 13 | Thursday | National Day (Qaumee Dhuvas) (approx.) | Islamic-calendar based national day |
| August 26 | Wednesday | Milad un Nabi / Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (approx.) | Islamic observance |
| September 24 | Thursday | The Day Maldives Embraced Islam | Historic national observance |
| November 3 | Tuesday | Victory Day | Commemorates 1988 coup failure |
| November 11 | Wednesday | Republic Day | Anniversary of the republic (1968) |
| December 31 | Thursday | Bank Holiday / New Year’s Eve | Banks and government offices closed |
List of Public Holidays in Maldives (2025)
| Date | Day | Holiday | Remarks / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Wednesday | New Year’s Day | Fixed national holiday |
| January 2 | Thursday | New Year Holiday | Additional government holiday |
| February 6 | Thursday | Majlis Presidential Address | Government holiday |
| March 1 | Saturday | Beginning of Ramadan | Islamic observance (tentative) |
| March 2 | Sunday | Extreme Weather Holiday | Government-declared due to weather |
| March 20–March 30 | Thu–Sun | Eid al-Fitr period | Multiple days of public / government holidays |
| March 31 – April 3 | Monday–Thursday | Eid al-Fitr Holiday | Continuation of Eid holiday days |
| May 1 | Thursday | Labour Day / May Day | Fixed holiday for workers |
| June 5 | Thursday | Hajj Day | Islamic observance (tentative) |
| June 6–9 | Fri–Mon | Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) | Multiple days of Eid celebration / observance |
| June 26 | Thursday | Islamic New Year (1 Muharram) | First day of the Hijri year |
| July 26 | Saturday | Independence Day | Marks independence from the UK (1965) |
| July 27 | Sunday | Independence Day Holiday | Compensatory day when main day falls on weekend |
| August 24 | Sunday | National Day (Qaumee Dhuvas) | Also known as Gaumee Dhuvas |
| September 4 | Thursday | Milad un Nabi / Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday | Islamic holiday (tentative) |
| September 24 | Wednesday | The Day Maldives Embraced Islam | Historic / national observance |
| November 3 | Monday | Victory Day | Commemorates failure of the 1988 coup attempt |
| November 11 | Tuesday | Republic Day | Anniversary of the republic (1968) |
| December 31 | Wednesday | Bank Holiday / New Year’s Eve | Banks closed; government holiday |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many public holidays does Maldives have in 2026?
Maldives observes a high number of holidays each year, including national, Islamic, bank, and government-declared holidays, many of which span multiple days.
Why do Eid holidays last several days?
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are major Islamic festivals. The government often extends celebrations with additional public and government holidays.
What is the Day Maldives Embraced Islam?
This holiday marks the historic adoption of Islam in the Maldives and is observed annually on September 24.
Do Islamic holidays change every year?
Yes. Islamic holidays follow the lunar Hijri calendar and may shift by one day depending on moon sighting.
Conclusion
Public holidays in Maldives reflect Islamic tradition, national history, and government administration. With multi-day religious festivals, commemorative national events, and occasional emergency declarations, Maldives’ holiday calendar is dynamic and distinctive. Due to lunar variation, always confirm dates close to the event.
